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Difficulty: HardInternal and External Challenges to State Power

The following passage is adapted from a Mughal court chronicle written in the early eighteenth century:

'In the thirteenth year of the Emperor’s reign [1670], the leader Shiva, following his rebellious nature, broke his treaty and rebelled against the shadow of God [the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb]. He plundered the imperial port city of Surat for the second time, seizing vast treasures and causing distress to the merchants... The imperial commanders were ordered to march with a powerful army to punish this rebel. However, Shiva and his band of mountain-dwelling troops avoided pitched battles, retreating instead into their strongholds in the Western Ghats and attacking the royal supply lines. This rebellion has severely disrupted the collection of land revenue and shaken the peace of the Deccan provinces.'
—Saqi Must'ad Khan, *Ma'asir-i-Alamgiri*, official chronicle of the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Based on the passage, the resistance led by Shivaji is best understood as a reflection of which of the following developments in the period 1450–1750?

  1. The difficulty land-based empires faced in consolidating power over diverse regional populations and local elites.Answer
  2. B
    The adoption of European mercantilist practices to monopolize maritime trade networks in South Asia.
  3. C
    The implementation of devshirme-style military recruitment systems to centralize administrative authority.
  4. D
    The expansion of Safavid Shia political influence into the southern territories of the Indian subcontinent.

Answer

The difficulty land-based empires faced in consolidating power over diverse regional populations and local elites.
The correct answer is correct because the Maratha rebellion against the Mughal Empire is a prime example of an internal challenge to state power in the early modern period. As land-based empires expanded and attempted to centralize tax collection and administrative control, they frequently clashed with local elites who sought to maintain their traditional autonomy and regional power.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document to identify the creator, perspective, and subject matter.
The document is a Mughal court chronicle (state perspective) describing the rebellion of Shivaji (Maratha leader) against Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1670.
Understanding the context and perspective of the source is essential for source analysis on the AP World History exam.
2
Identify the historical process illustrated by the conflict in the Deccan and the plundering of Surat.
It shows a regional leader (Shivaji) resisting central Mughal rule through guerrilla warfare, disrupting land revenue, and challenging the state's authority.
This directly connects the document to the learning objective of internal and external challenges to state power in the early modern era.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that best frames this local resistance within a broader global development of the period 1450–1750.
Land-based empires like the Mughals frequently faced resistance from local elites (such as the Marathas) as they tried to centralize administrative and fiscal control over vast, diverse regions.
This places the local event into the wider early modern context of imperial expansion and the internal challenges that accompanied it.

Key Concept

Internal challenges to state power in the early modern era, specifically the resistance of regional elites to imperial centralization.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Internal and External Challenges to State Power

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