Notes for Bangladesh Studies (BDS) – Cambridge Lower Secondary Grade 8
Chapters: Bengal During the Mughals and the Nawabs & Bengal During the Rule of the British
Topic 1: Bengal During the Mughals and the Nawabs
(Bangladesh Studies Chp-3: 3a, 3b, 3c; Pg-75–107)
1. Bengal Under the Mughals
The Mughal Empire took control of Bengal after defeating the local rulers (notably at the
Battle of Rajmahal, 1576) [1] [2] .
Bengal became a Mughal province (Subah) and was one of the wealthiest and most
important regions of the empire [2] [1] [3] .
Economy:
Major center for textiles (especially muslin and silk), shipbuilding, and trade [2] [4] [3] .
Dhaka became a major city with a population over a million and a hub for skilled textile
weavers [2] [1] .
Administration:
The Mughals set up a centralized administration with appointed governors (subahdars)
and a structured tax system [1] [3] .
They encouraged agricultural expansion and new crops, leading to prosperity [1] .
2. Isa Khan and the Baro Bhuiyans
Baro Bhuiyans:
A confederacy of twelve powerful landlords who resisted Mughal rule in Bengal during
the late 16th and early 17th centuries [1] .
Isa Khan:
The most famous leader of the Baro Bhuiyans.
Known for his resistance against both Afghan and Mughal attempts to control Bengal [1] .
Eventually, the Mughals subdued the Baro Bhuiyans and consolidated their power.
3. Causes for Mughal Decline in Bengal
Weakening of Central Mughal Power:
Later Mughal emperors were less effective; corruption and inefficiency grew [3] .
Rise of Local Powers:
Local governors (subahdars) became more independent, eventually establishing
hereditary rule as Nawabs [3] [5] .
Economic and Political Challenges:
Wars, internal conflicts, and European trading companies (especially the British East
India Company) increased their influence [5] [3] .
4. Impact/Result of Mughal Decline & Rise of the Nawabs
Emergence of the Nawabs of Bengal:
Nawabs became de facto independent rulers in the early 18th century, though they still
acknowledged the Mughal emperor nominally [5] [6] [3] .
Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab, establishing the capital at Murshidabad [5] [1] .
Economic Growth:
Bengal continued to prosper, becoming a center for trade and proto-industrialization [5]
[6] .
The Nawabs allowed various European trading companies to operate, increasing
Bengal’s international trade [5] [6] .
Cultural Flourishing:
The Nawabs promoted art, literature, and architecture, blending Mughal and Bengali
traditions [3] .
Conflicts with the British:
The British East India Company gradually gained power, culminating in the defeat of the
last independent Nawab, Siraj-ud-Daulah, at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 [5] [4] [3] .
5. Compare and Contrast: Mughals vs Nawabs
Feature Mughals (in Bengal) Nawabs of Bengal
Political Power Centralized, under Mughal emperor Hereditary, locally independent rulers
Administration Imperial bureaucracy, appointed governors Local officials, more autonomy
Economy Agricultural expansion, textile trade, taxes Proto-industrialization, global trade
Culture Persian-Mughal influence, imperial patronage Fusion of Mughal, Persian, Bengali
Foreign Policy Controlled European traders Allowed more European trading posts
Decline Due to weak emperors, corruption, local rise Due to British intervention, defeats
Topic 2: Bengal During the Rule of the British
(Bangladesh Studies Chp-4: 4a, 4b; Pg-108–130)
1. British Takeover
Battle of Plassey (1757):
British East India Company defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, marking the start of British
dominance [5] [4] [3] .
Battle of Buxar (1764):
Further consolidated British control after defeating Nawab Mir Qasim and allies [5] .
Dual Government (1765):
British collected revenue, Nawab handled law and order; led to corruption and
exploitation [7] .
Direct Company Rule:
By 1772, the British East India Company took direct control, reducing Nawabs to
figureheads [5] [8] .
2. Administrative Changes
Permanent Settlement (1793):
Zamindars became landowners, paying fixed revenue to the British; led to wealth for
some, hardship for peasants [9] [10] .
Acts and Reforms:
Regulating Act (1773): Governor of Bengal became Governor-General of India [7] .
Pitt’s India Act (1784): Increased British government control over the Company [7] .
Civil Services and Police introduced by Lord Cornwallis to strengthen British
administration [7] .
Education:
British established schools, colleges, and libraries, but access was limited and often
neglected scientific/technical education [8] [11] .
3. Economic and Social Impact
Economic Policies:
British focused on maximizing revenue, often ignoring local needs [10] .
Bengal’s traditional industries (like muslin) declined due to British policies favoring
imports and raw material exports [8] .
Famines:
Rigid tax collection and profiteering led to disasters like the Great Famine of 1770,
causing millions of deaths [10] .
Infrastructure:
Introduction of railways, postal system, and telegraphs improved connectivity but
mainly served British interests.
4. Political Developments and Resistance
Partition of Bengal (1905):
British divided Bengal for administrative reasons, leading to widespread protests and
the Swadeshi movement [12] .
Rise of Nationalism:
British education policies unintentionally inspired Indian nationalism, leading to
organized resistance [11] .
Key Takeaways for Grade 8
Bengal was a wealthy and important region under both the Mughals and the Nawabs,
known for trade and culture [2] [6] [3] .
The decline of Mughal power allowed the Nawabs to rule independently, but their rule
ended with British conquest [5] [3] .
The British brought major changes-some modernizing, many exploitative-leading to
economic, social, and political transformations [10] [8] .
The legacy of these periods shapes the history and identity of modern Bangladesh.
For further study:
Review the relevant textbook pages (Chp-3: 75–107, Chp-4: 108–130).
Check your Teams Classwork and posts for additional materials and assignments.
⁂
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Subah
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bengal
3. https://www.poojn.in/post/22384/bengal-under-mughal-rule-nawabs-a-history
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zx8sf82
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawabs_of_Bengal
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal
7. https://www.evidyarthi.in/a/class-8-mh/history-class-8-mh/history-notes-chapter-3-effects-of-british-
rule-class-8-maharashtra-board
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Presidency
9. https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/Images/569944-june-2019-paper-01-mark-scheme-.pdf
10. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/history-of-bangladesh/british-impact/C788250C5797D948CED
731EB5CFC6BB4
11. https://www.studiestoday.com/concept-social-science-cbse-class-8-social-science-education-and-brit
ish-rule-notes-241487.html
12. https://www.britannica.com/event/British-raj
