Who founded the Maratha Empire in the seventeenth century in western India?

Introduction / Context:
The Maratha Empire played a crucial role in early modern Indian history, especially in resisting Mughal power and later influencing British expansion. Knowing the founder of the Maratha state is a basic requirement for exams on Indian history. This question checks whether you can correctly identify the leader who laid the political and military foundations of the Maratha power in the seventeenth century.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The topic is the foundation of the Maratha Empire.
• The time frame is the seventeenth century in western India.
• The options include famous rulers from different dynasties.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this, remember that the Marathas emerged as a regional power in the Deccan region. The person associated with this rise is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who carved out an independent kingdom by challenging the Adil Shahi rulers of Bijapur and confronting Mughal forces. The other names in the options belong to Maurya and Mughal dynasties and are not linked with the Maratha Empire.

Step by Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shivaji Maharaj was born at Shivneri in the seventeenth century and grew up in the Deccan region. Step 2: He organized local Maratha chiefs and soldiers, captured forts, and established his own administration in western India. Step 3: In sixteen seventy four he was crowned as Chhatrapati at Raigad, symbolizing the formal establishment of the Maratha kingdom. Step 4: Over time, this kingdom expanded and came to be known as the Maratha Empire. Step 5: Therefore Shivaji Maharaj is recognized as the founder of the Maratha Empire.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history textbooks on medieval and modern India clearly state that Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha kingdom which evolved into a larger Maratha Empire under his successors and the Peshwas. Akbar and Jahangir were Mughal emperors based in North India, while Ashoka was an ancient Mauryan emperor from an entirely different period. This confirms that only one option matches both the region and the time frame of the Maratha rise.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Akbar: He was a Mughal emperor who expanded the Mughal Empire but did not found the Maratha power, so this option is incorrect.
Ashoka: He was a Mauryan emperor from ancient Indian history, many centuries earlier than the Marathas, therefore this cannot be correct.
Jahangir: Another Mughal emperor, son of Akbar, who ruled North India but had no role in founding the Maratha Empire.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse different dynasties due to repeated names in history, such as mixing up Mughal and Maratha leaders. Another mistake is to think that an older and more famous ruler such as Ashoka might have founded several empires. It is important to link each leader with the correct region, time period, and dynasty to avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
The founder of the Maratha Empire was Shivaji Maharaj.