Question

Analyse how geography (particularly mountains and coastlines) guided Maratha military strategy and state formation.

Answer 1

The Marathas lived mainly in the Western Ghats and along the western coast of India. The mountainous region helped them build strong forts and use hidden routes for surprise attacks. The coastline also allowed them to develop a powerful navy to protect maritime trade. These geographical advantages played an important role in making the Marathas militarily strong and successful.