History Mains Test – 2

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GS MAINS (HISTORY) TEST- 2 MODEL ANSWER

Q1. Why was the Industrial Revolution experienced first in Britain? Discuss its
consequences.
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: The term Industrial Revolution is normally reserved for a set of events unleashed
in Britain roughly from 1760 to 1830. The historical events in question consisted of a set of
technological, economic, and social changes that, in the long run, revolutionized not just the British
economy but that of the rest of Western Europe, North America, and eventually much of the rest of
the world.

The Body: Highlight the factors which led to Industrial Revolution and discuss its impact in brief.

The Conclusion: It was the decline of feudalism and the rise of agrarian capitalism in Britain by the
beginning of the sixteenth century that paved the way for the Industrial Revolution in the 18th
century. The process was marked by multiple changes in the realms of economy, society, polity and
culture.

A number of factors or conditions coalesced in Britain to produce the first Industrial Revolution.
Political factors: Britain’s government played a significant role in the process of industrialization.
Parliament contributed to the favourable business climate by providing a stable government and passing
laws that protected private property. Moreover, Britain was remarkable for the freedom it provided for
private enterprise. It placed fewer restrictions on private entrepreneurs than any other European state.
Finally, a supply of markets gave British industrialists a ready outlet for their manufactured goods. A
crucial factor in Britain's successful industrialization was the ability to produce those articles cheaply,
most in-demand abroad.
Economic factors:
• The agricultural revolution of the eighteenth century: The changes in the methods of farming
and stockbreeding that characterized this agricultural transformation led to a significant increase
in food production. British agriculture could now feed more people at lower prices with less
labour.
• Surplus labour: At the same time, the rapid growth of population in the second half of the
eighteenth century provided a pool of surplus labour for the new factories of the emerging British
industry. Rural workers in cottage industries also provided a potential labour force for industrial
enterprises.
• Surplus Capital: Britain had a ready supply of capital for investment in the new industrial
machines and the factories that were needed to house them. In addition to profits from trade and
cottage industry, Britain possessed an effective central bank and well-developed, flexible credit

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facilities. Nowhere in Europe were people so accustomed to using paper instruments to facilitate
capital transactions.
Geographical factors: Britain was richly supplied with important mineral resources, such as coal and iron
ore, needed in the manufacturing process. Britain was also a small country, and the relatively short
distances made transportation readily accessible. Unlike the continental countries, Britain had no internal
customs barriers to hinder domestic trade.
Technological factors: England also was the first to experience a technological revolution, a series of
inventions built on the principles of mass production, mechanization, and interchangeable parts.
Example- Flying Shuttle, Spinning Jenny, Water Frame, Steam Engine, etc.
Consequences: There were several important impacts that emerged from the major events of the
Industrial Revolution. For example, the growth of socialist movements and labour unions led to increased
rights for working-class people, which has left a legacy of rights enjoyed by modern people. These
movements helped establish basic rights such as child labour laws and minimum wage laws. Next, the
economic opportunities created by the Industrial Revolution allowed entrepreneurs and inventors to take
risks and establish businesses. This process helped create a strong middle class since the benefits were no
longer exclusively held by the wealthy. Finally, the rights movements of the workers in the Industrial
Revolution extended to other groups, including women, who protested and won the right to vote in the
early 20th century.

Q2. What were the main treatises in arts and aesthetics that were composed in early
India? What were the main principles they set forth?
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: Early India is mind-boggling for the volume, calibre and variety of knowledge it
produced. Early Indians seem to have been so fond of and so good at systematizing and detailing and
thinking through all they knew, that they composed treatises and manuals, known as shastras, on
virtually every branch of human knowledge possible: astronomy, logic, mathematics, grammar,
phonetics, painting, sculpture, architecture, poetry, drama, philosophy, statecraft, medicine, erotics,
and so on.

The Body: Mention all-important treatises in arts and aesthetics in early India and briefly mention
what ideas they contain.

The Conclusion: India's long and vast artistic heritage stands testimony to its vibrant civilization.
Although criticized for her lack of proper historical record, India's art has silently documented all stages
of her growth. From Bhimbetka paintings to Chola temples, from Harappan craft to the poetry of
Kalidāsa, from Bharatanāṭyam to the Mughal miniatures, there are many faces of Indian art. They are
the milestones of the flowering of Indian culture, the reflections of its deep-rooted philosophy.
India produced many literatures on the arts of painting, sculpture and architecture that flourished from
the earliest times. The Chitrasutra is a detailed manual on the style of painting best represented in the
cave frescoes of Ajanta of circa 5 th century CE; it prescribes techniques, colours and the ways to create

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them from natural sources, as well as themes and their meaning. A class of texts called Shilpashastras
developed in the middle of the first millennium CE; they were treatises on architectural planning and
construction of not only buildings like palaces and temples but entire cities and forts. Texts like the
Samaranganasutradhara and Aparajitaprichchha are examples of this genre while the Mayamata and
Manasara from the early second millennium CE are full-fledged texts of the kind. Certain Puranas like the
Vishnudharmottara and the Yuga Purana also devoted sections to explaining principles of art and
architecture. Texts that spoke of architecture also often spoke of painting and sculpture since these were
an integral part of structural constructions, decorating them as well as representing philosophical
concepts to which the construction, like stupas and temples, may have been devoted.

Q3. What were the chief contributions/discoveries in mathematics and sciences in

early India?
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: Science and Mathematics were highly developed during the ancient period in
India. Ancient Indians contributed immensely to the knowledge of Mathematics as well as various
branches of Science.

The Body: Discuss the contributions of ancient Indians in mathematics and sciences. Briefly
mention what the authors and their texts contain.

The Conclusion: The present mathematical knowledge and development is not being achieved as a
fruit from the sky, nor is it a result of some magical tricks. Actually, these developed and finest facts
and theories have been achieved by the continuous and effortless practices and research of
hundreds of mathematicians and scholars for centuries. It is the need of today's time to promote
ahead the heritage of great mathematicians and astronomers so as to encourage and cherish the
magnificent tradition of the country in mathematics and sciences.

It is well known that India was among the leaders in early times in scientific and mathematical thought.
While the beginnings of geometry and astronomy can be traced to post-Vedic Vedanga texts, like the
Shulvasutras and the works on jyotisha, the earliest historical astronomer and mathematician known is
Aryabhata I. His Aryabhatiya and the Aryabhata Siddhanta (the latter text has not survived except in
references to it in other works) belong to circa 5 th century CE. These works were the first to give a
scientific and correct explanation of solar and lunar eclipses, to discover that the earth rotated on its
axis, and to calculate the orbit of a planet and the length of a year. They also contain important
mathematical discoveries: deriving square roots and cubes (which shows knowledge of the decimal
system), calculating the value of pi accurately, working out the sine functions and tables (modern
trigonometry), and solving complex simultaneous equations (algebra).
Later texts like Brahmagupta's Brahmasputasiddhanta (7th century CE) contain a detailed discussion of
astronomical instruments and methods, while Varahamihira's Panchasiddhantika (6th century CE)
summarizes five schools of astronomical thought of the time as well as gives us the earliest datable

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reference to zero as a number (it had already been introduced as a symbol/concept, but not a number, in
a work on metrics of the post-Mauryan period). Varahamihira's Brihatsamhita, among other things,
explained the seasons and meteorological phenomena like clouds, winds and volume of rainfall. A less
known text, the Yavanajataka of the 3rd century CE, is the first known to mention the decimal system of
notation that revolutionized mathematical calculation and is India's contribution to the world of science;
and the Shulvasutras, mentioned earlier, contain the principle of what later came to be known as the
Pythagoras Theorem. The works of later scholars like Bhaskara I (early 7th century) and Bhaskara II
(12th century) made further contributions, including the concept of calculus.

Q4. Explain Shankara's advaitavada. What is the nature of the jagat/world, according
to Shankara?
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: The early medieval period saw a great deal of philosophical writings related to
the various darshanas. One of the most influential thinkers of the time was Shankara, who lived in
the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Shankara was one of the most influential proponents of Vedanta.
His version of Vedanta is known as Advaita Vedanta.

The Body: Explain the concept of advaitavada and how Shankara explained Jagat/World.

The Conclusion: The goal of Advaita Vedanta is liberation from the cycle of rebirth, which consists of
the realization of the oneness of the atman with brahman.

The philosophy of Shankaracharya is called non-dualism or Advaitavada. Shankara rejects all the schools
that posit matter as a source of the universe. The atomic philosophy of the Nyaya, the materialistic
philosophy of Lokayata, and the dualism of Sankhya posit matter as the source, while according to
Shankara, unconscious matter cannot create this complex world. And so the ultimate source has to be a
single, part-less Brahman or consciousness. Brahman is the common underlying essence or atma,
behind the multiple forms and names. The names and forms are not actual transformations, but mere
appearances in Brahman.
The world, which comprises of names and forms are unreal, for they do not persist. The term "unreal"
here does not however mean that they are totally non-existent like a sky flower (khapushpa). The world
has a relative existence because worldly transactions are happening and cannot be denied entirely.
Brahman/Atman or Consciousness has an absolute existence; it is believed to exist without being
negated or sublated. The world is simply but a superimposition on Brahman, the nondual substratum.
So long as the superimposition lasts, the world appears to be real with all its varied transactions. The
superimposition is caused by the timeless illusory principle called "Maya".

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Q5. To what extent did the tradition of bhakti draw upon earlier religious practices
and culture, and to what extent did it mark a fundamentally new departure?
Analyze.
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: The Sanskrit word bhakti comes from the root bhaj, which means to share or
participate. By extension, the bhakta is one who shares or participates in the divine. The Tamil word
that is used by Alvars and Nayanmars to express their devotion to their God was anbu, which means
love.

The Body: Show how the roots of Bhakti were based upon earlier religious traditions and the
changes it brought.

The Conclusion: The Bhakti movements were an important force in the religious history of South
India between the 7th and 12th centuries. There were two streams to the movement -- Shaiva and
Vaishnava -- and they left behind hymns of tremendous beauty which dealt with human love and the
love of God and reached out to all sections of society alike.

Important Feature of Bhakti:

The poems of the saints are marked by neither ritual prescriptions nor orthodox learning. Theirs was a
personal experience of God, an ecstatic knowledge, a deep-rooted love.
How Bhakti drew from earlier ideas:
While the bhakti movements represented a new trend, they also drew from the earlier religious
traditions of South India. Similarities exist between the bhakti hymns and early Tamil poetry. Later
classical texts such as the Paripatal praise the gods Murugan and Mayon in terms which anticipate the
early medieval hymns. Similarly, the sixth-century poem, the Tirumarukarrupattai (Guide to the Lord
Murugan), advises devotees to approach the Lord and seek his grace. Each of the six parts of the poem
describes a sacred site of Murugan or one of his temples. In the earliest Tamil poems, Murugan was the
heroic deity of the mountains, presiding over acts of love and war. But now he becomes a God to whom
the devotee must offer worship.
New changes brought by Bhakti:
The bhakti saints thought little of orthodox religion, stressing the futility of ritual acts. The shift, such as it
occurs, is towards a new religious language and ritual. The earlier ritual space was the platform of
sacrifice, which involved the services of Vedic priests. Now, worshippers congregated in the public space
of the temple to perform puja or worship. Instead of absolute, impersonal gods, there is the new world
of mythology where the Gods have personalities, exploits and faces. Image worship assumed
importance in this period. Both Shiva and Vishnu could take shape in many images, but this did not
detract from their universal form. Idols helped devotees to visualize God and concentrate their devotion
in one place. Although the bhakti hymns are not exercises in iconography, they provide vivid and

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immediate descriptions that bring the Gods before our eyes. These poetic images were to inspire
sculptures, idols and paintings in medieval temples. However, for the poet, the image was not an
object. The image was the God.

Q6. The colonization of Africa was a loot; the colonization of China was a scheme;
then what epithets can be attached to colonization of India and why?
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction:
Define Colonialism
In essence, colonialism is an act of political and economic domination involving the control of a
country and its people by settlers from a foreign power. In most cases, the goal of the colonizing
countries is to profit by exploiting the human and economic resources of the countries they
colonized. In the process, the colonizers—sometimes forcibly—attempt to impose their religion,
language, cultural, and political practices on the indigenous population.

The Body: Define the colonization of Africa and China briefly and then show how colonization of
India is understood.

The Conclusion: The control of the world by Europe in an imperialist frame was a long-drawn
process. They adopted different means at different places.

The colonization of Africa was loot because the European nations at least from 1885 did not show any
respect to international conventions in capturing African resources and people:
1. A Christian priest David Livingstone went to the interiors of Africa. Before this European sailors,
traders, priests and adventurers went to coastal regions only. One journalist Henry Stanely went
in search of him and reached him. Stanely was enterprising. He, along with the Belgian king
Leopold, controlled a large area, including Congo.
2. Bismarck was not interested in African loot but was forced by German entrepreneurs, he
organized a conference in Berlin to decide on Africa in 1885 and then there were other
conferences, but nothing could stop France, England, Germany and others to simply plunder
Africa
In China the British first entered into an agreement for trade with China, they then exported British
textiles, they wanted to sell opium and forced two wars, then the Americans made an agreement and
then France made an agreement. There were 18 ports called agreement ports over which China had no
control. China was colonized through a scheme.
In India, the situation was different, the Mughal Empire when the British came was very powerful,
and the later regional powers were powerful. So, the British made all use of deceit, diplomacy and
organized military force to contain Marathas, conquer Tipu and isolate the Neezam. The Indian
colonization by Britain has been called by various names, the most popular is incorporation.

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Q7. What were the causes of decolonization becoming very sharp in the middle of the
20th century? What were the reasons that Asia awakened first and Africa took its
own time?
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: “Decolonization” is a technical and rather undramatic term for one of the most
dramatic processes in modern history: the disappearance of empire as a political form, and the end
of racial hierarchy as a widely accepted political ideology and structuring principle of world order.

The Body: Highlight the factors that initiated the process of Decolonization.

The Conclusion: One of the most important effects of decolonization is the instability of the post-
colonial political systems, which entails another, far-reaching consequence. These include deep
economic problems, inhibiting growth and widening disparities between the northern and southern
parts of the globe.

Nationalist movements had started in almost countries in the 19th century itself. There were many
reasons why it could become massive proportions in the middle of the 20th century:
1. Second World War weakened almost all imperialist countries and they were in no position to hold
on to their colonies
2. The rise of the Soviet Union as the second most powerful nation and encouragement to freedom
movements also led to their more intensity.
3. In many imperialist countries, anti-colonial movements started, which encouraged the people of
the colonies
4. the USA particularly took up a policy to encourage freedom movements, and it emerged as the
most powerful country in the world
5. In many colonies, charismatic leaders had emerged to lead their countries, like Gandhi in India,
Soekarno in Indonesia etc.
In most of the Asian countries, a relatively large middle class had emerged earlier than in Africa, In Asia,
the economy had developed to some extent, and there were indigenous traders and industrialists who
could have financed the movements. Africa lacked all this, so it took a longer time

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Q8. Discuss the impact of World War I in general and in the context of India in
particular.
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: The First World War destroyed empires, created numerous new nation-states,
encouraged independence movements in Europe’s colonies, forced the United States to become a
world power and led directly to Soviet communism and the rise of dictatorship in Europe.

The Body: Discuss the impact of World War I with reference to India.

The Conclusion: World War I has been described as ‘the primordial catastrophe of the twentieth
century.’ It was the world's first "total war" meaning that it had involved not just armies and navies
but entire populations, and was the first giant conflict between modern, industrialized nations.
Because of this it resulted in outcomes the scale, magnitude, and horror of which were
unprecedented. Entire generations of youth were traumatized by the misery of the war, whilst their
countries struggled to recover from the severe economic downturns that resulted from the war.

The conclusion of World War I saw the emergence of new and powerful politico-ideological forces in the
world. Four mighty empires of the World, and along with those, the old imperial dynasties were swept
away, yielding place to new and smaller nation-states, which conformed to republican forms of
government. For a time, democracy seemed to be spreading its wings. But soon, there appeared a distrust
of democracy owing to the inability of new governments to cope with the post-war problems. Such a
failure led to the rise of dictatorial credos like Bolshevism, Fascism and Nazism. But still, the world looked
for the resolution of conflicts through the League of Nations. Labour assumed increased importance.
Women were widely enfranchised. Scientific advances were also made in such fields as medicine, aviation
and, as in the previous century, in the creation of efficient machines of destruction.
Although not a direct participant, India could not, however, escape the effect of the war. The world war
affected Indian society and economy very profoundly. But it is important to note that the war had a
different impact on a different section of the population. Among the poorer class of Indians, it meant
increased misery and impoverishment. It also brought heavy taxation on the people. War demands
created a scarcity of agricultural products as well as other daily necessities of life. As a result, there was a
phenomenal increase in their prices. Driven to desperation, the people became ready to join any
movement against the government. Consequently, the war years also became years of intense nationalist
political agitation. Soon India was to witness a massive mass movement, called the Non-Cooperation
Movement, led by Gandhi. On the other hand, the war brought fortunes for the industrialists. It created
an economic crisis in Britain, and for the war demand, they had to depend on Indian industries. The Indian
industrialist took the maximum advantage of the opportunities offered. Thus, the war helped in bringing
about a wave of nationalism among a various sections of the population, although through different
processes.

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Q9. Account for the rise of dictatorships in Germany and Italy after World War I.
Answer:
APPROACH TO THE ANSWER
The Introduction: The Great War period was a turning point in European history. It had reshaped
the economic, political and demographic landscape of Europe. The signing of the Treaty of Versaille
on the twenty-eighth of June had set conditions for drastic change throughout Europe.

The Body: Elaborate on the factors which led to the growth of Nazism and Fascism in Germany and
Italy, respectively.

The Conclusion: Both the rise of Fascism and Nazism were temporary phenomena but had
devastating and some lasting impacts. Both emerged on the international horizon during the inter-
war period. Both took entire Europe in their strides, resorting to authoritarianism and leading to the
Second World War. They deified the nation; thought of the nation as a living being whose purpose
was supreme to the purpose and well-being of an individual. More important than rights are the
duties which individuals owe to the nation. A muscular and militaristic nationalism, preparedness for
war for territorial expansion, innate belief in racism and doctrine of racial superiority, and hatred and
destruction of the 'other' (Jews in the case of Nazi Germany) were the hallmarks of both Fascism and
Nazism.

The end of the Great War was the end of an era and the beginning of a new age in modern history.
Diplomatic relations and foreign policy in Europe had changed tremendously following the defeat of the
Central Powers in 1919. Many of the war reparations imposed on the defeated nations of the Central
Powers were too much to be ever repaid. The economies of European nations were in turmoil after the
war, and many nations were politically unstable. This political instability had pathed the way for new
reforms in many countries in Europe during this period. The early years of the twentieth century ushered
in new radical ideologies that presented new challenges in interstate relations.
The rise and success of right-wing extreme nationalist ideology in the form of Fascism in Italy and later on
in the form of Nazism in Germany were the defining events in what historians today call the inter-war
period between 1919-1939, leading to the Second World War. Both Italian Fascism and German Nazism
had much in common in many aspects.
Fascism in Italy and National Socialism in Germany fed on the frustrations of nationalists who deplored
the failure of their country to achieve the glorious objectives for which they had entered the war. The
peace settlements at the end of the war played a major role in political revision in countries associated
with them. The framework laid out by the Treaty of Versaille meant unfavourable remunerations for Italy.
They felt betrayed, having gained very little out of the cost of having fought on the side of the Entente.
The political instability and social unrest in Italy called for measures long awaited by the Italian people
through the embodiment of Fascism and the ‘Partito Nazionale Fascista’ (National Fascist Party) led by a
charismatic strong-minded and driven leader, Benito Mussolini.
Following were the main causes of the rise of Nazism in Germany:

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➢ The war and the Peace Settlement left Germany disillusioned and crushed spiritually and
materially.
➢ The continuing hostile attitude of France, the quarrels over the Ruhr, the Rhineland occupation,
the Saar, and the reparation it was made to pay.
➢ The ceaseless wrangling over security and disarmament all fed the indignation and anger of many
Germans.
➢ The Republic’s acceptance of unfair disabilities, its policy of reconciliation and its inability to
assert itself more strongly in international affairs rankled in the hearts of many Germans.
➢ During the period of temporary economic revival (1924 to 1929) these factors remained in the
background.
These circumstances were capitalized by the Nazis through propaganda methods, oratory, posters,
banners, songs, uniforms, ceremonies, rituals, discipline, historical traditions, theories of racial superiority
of Germans, anti-Semitism, enthusiasm, the dynamic personality of Hitler etc. were the major points of
attractions for millions of Germans. Germans were strongly convinced that they needed a 'strong man'
who would restore the peace, prestige and prosperity of Germany.

Q10. Explain the nature and means of knowledge according to Mimamsa philosophy.
Answer:

APPROACH TO THE ANSWER

The Introduction: Indian philosophical traditions offered different explanations about the nature of
reality and knowledge, but they usually also had a soteriological aspect (soteriology means a path to
salvation or liberation), and many of them came to be eventually connected with one or other
religious tradition. The indigenous term for philosophy is darshana, which literally means 'view'.

The Body: Briefly discuss the classification of Indian philosophy and then elaborately discuss
Mimamsa philosophy.

The Conclusion: One of the major contributions of Mi-māṁsā has been its emphasis on the study of
language hermeneutics. The system has developed a superb science of sentence interpretation. The
impact of the principles of sentence interpretation can also be seen in the making and functioning of
the present-day judiciary system as well as in other walks of modern life.

Using a classificatory system from within the tradition, early Indian philosophical schools can be classified
into astika and nastika. The astika schools accepted the authority of the Vedas and comprised a number
of schools that later came to be considered the six classical systems of Hindu philosophy. At the opposite
end of the spectrum were the nastika schools, such as the Buddhist, Jaina, and Charvaka, which rejected
the authority of the Vedas. The idea of the ‘six systems’ of the astika tradition is something that emerged
much later, in the medieval period. These schools are often treated as three inter-related pairs —Purva
Mimamsa and Uttara Mimamsa (or Vedanta), Nyaya and Vaisheshika, and Samkhya and Yoga.
Mimamsa means exegesis, i.e., explanation, and the school of this name was devoted to Vedic exegesis. It
aimed at explaining Vedic texts from the point of view of the nature and goals of sacrificial rituals. Its
earliest known important thinker was Jaimini, author of the Mimamsa Sutra, who lived in the 2nd century
BCE. The Mimamsa school held the Vedas to be eternal and the authority on dharma. Jaimini understood

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Vedic ritual texts as embodiments of dharma in which sacrifice was central. He used the rules of language
framed by grammarians in order to explain how statements in the Vedas were to be interpreted as
injunctions related to sacrifice. This school came to be known as Purva Mimamsa in order to distinguish it
from another school rooted in the Vedic tradition— Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta. In early Mimamsa
doctrine, the gods were irrelevant; it was the sacrifice that was central. Later Mimamsakas acknowledged
the existence of a supreme god.

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