Ahmad Shah Durrani's Afghan army defeats the Maratha Empire in one of the bloodiest battles of the 18th century.
The East India Company under Robert Clive defeats Siraj ud-Daulah, Nawab of Bengal, beginning British dominance in India.
A global conflict among the European powers fought in Europe, North America and India; Britain gains colonial supremacy and Prussia confirms its great-power status.
Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of Gorkha, takes the Kathmandu Valley, laying the foundation of the unified Kingdom of Nepal.
Nader Shah of Persia defeats the Mughals at Karnal and sacks Delhi, carrying off treasures including the Peacock Throne.
Ranjit Singh captures Lahore and unites the Sikh confederacies into an empire in the Punjab.
The death of Aurangzeb, under whom the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent, begins the empire's rapid decline.