CLASS VIII (2022-23) TERM 1

History Chapter 1: Modern Period in Indian History. - NOTES

Q1. Why do Indian historians refer to modern period as the colonial period?
a) Modern period began in Europe with the coming of the Industrial Revolution which changed forever
the way goods were produced.
b) It led to social and political changes which became characteristic of modern period. However, the
situation in India was different.
c) India did not witness the scientific and industrial changes in this period to the extent that Europe did.
This is because India became a supplier of raw materials at cheaper rates, which helped British industries
to progress.
d) It also served as a market for goods manufactured in British factories. Local Indian industries declined
which affected the standard of living of the common people. India became a colony being exploited by an
imperialist power. Therefore, Indian historians refer to this period as the colonial period instead of
the modern period.
Q 2. The British supported Indian reformers in the eradication of evil practices”- What were the
social reforms supported by British?
a) Child Marriage: The practice of marrying a girl child at a very early age, usually even before
she reached the age of 10, was widely prevalent in India.
b) Abolition of Sati: Sati was an inhuman practice of a widow immolating herself on the funeral
pyre of her deceased husband as proof of her loyalty. In 1829, the British government prohibited
sati and declared it illegal and punishable by criminal courts.
c) Widows’ Remarriage Act: Reformers like Swami Dayanand Saraswathi and Mahatma Phule
raised their voice against social evils like child marriage and encouraged widow remarriage. The
Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act was enacted on 25 July 1856. It legalized the remarriage of
Hindu widows.
Q3. What is Renaissance Movement?
a) The Renaissance Movement was a time of great social and cultural change in Europe.
b) This period was characterized by innovation, imagination, creativity, increased reasoning,
independent thinking, and strive for perfection.
Q5. What are the modern sources of Indian History?
a) Historical Monuments: Monuments like Parliament House, India Gate in Delhi, Victoria
Memorial in Kolkata and Gateway of India in Mumbai were built during British rule and give us
glimpses into the architecture of that era.
b) Literature: Discovery of India written by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru describes the rich cultural
heritage of India, its history, and its philosophy. The book is considered one of the finest modern
works on Indian history.
c) Books, Magazines, and Newspapers: Printing press was available in India by the 18th century.
Several regional and English language newspapers thrived in India. The published materials of

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 the time help historians in reconstructing the time period accurately. The Tranquebar Press was
set up in 1712. The first newspaper printed in India was the Bengal Gazette in 1780.
d) Government Records: The government records provide an excellent source of historical
information. The National Archives of India located in New Delhi preserves historical
information.
e) National Museum of India: The National Museum in New Delhi is one of the largest museums
in India. It was established in 1949. It has a wide range of articles from pre-historic era to modern
works of art.
Q6. How did surveys become important under the colonial administration?
a) The British gave much importance to the practice of surveying because they believed that a
country had to be properly known before it could be effectively administered. Therefore, they
carried out detailed surveys by the early 19 th century in order to map the entire country:
b) They conducted revenue surveys in villages. They made efforts to know the topography, the soil
quality, the flora, the fauna, the local histories and the cropping pattern.
c) They also introduced census operations, held at the interval of every ten years from the end of the
19th century. They prepared detailed records of the number of people in all the provinces of
India, noting information on castes, religions and occupation separately.
d) The British also carried on several other surveys such as botanical surveys, zoological surveys,
archeological surveys, forest surveys, etc. In this way, they gathered all the facts that were
essential for administering a country.
Q7. How dates are important for studying History?
a) Dates are extremely important for history. They help historians to put events in a chronological
order.
b) They help in comparing events, civilizations, and rulers. Some events mention dates.
c) For some events, we cannot fix specific dates as they do not happen on a particular date. They
happen over a stretch of time. So, only an approximate period can be fixed, and this is called the
time-span.
Q 8. What is colonialism?
Colonialism is defined as control by one power over a dependent area or people. When subjugation of
one country by another, leads to political, economic, social and cultural changes, the process is known as
colonization. In Indian History, the word colonial refers to British influences and practices.
Q9. What is Nationalism?
Nationalism is an idea and movement that promotes the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of
people), especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty (self-governance)
over its homeland.
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