Subject: Social Science
Topic: Beginning of the Modern Period
Reference Notes
Grade: 8
Name of the Student: ………………………………………………………………
Critical Thinking Questions
Q1) Why did the British conduct so many surveys in India? (Two points)
Ans. The British conducted surveys in India for the following reasons:
• To know the country better.
• For better administration
• To consolidate their control and establish their power and authority.
• To know the country’s topography and local history.
• To understand social demographics – people’s caste, religion and languages.
Q2) Since the British recorded our history, they gave it their version. What
according to you would have been that version? (Three points)
Ans.
• The Britishers ruled our country for many years. They made Indians their slaves.
and grabbed all our riches. They did not record these things, as they would be
pointed out for their injustice towards Indians. So, according to their version they
wrote what they thought is right.
• These records do not always help us to understand what ordinary people in the
country felt and what lay behind their actions. When we search for other records,
we find them in plenty.
• We have autobiographies of important personalities, accounts of travelers’ etc. Yet
these were only written by people who were educated or who knew how to read
and write. So, we cannot understand how history was experienced by tribes and
ordinary people.
Q3) What led the British to record every aspect of their administration in India?
Do you think they were answerable to someone? Give reasons to support
your argument.
Ans. India with its diverse culture and many dialects posed an administrative
challenge for the British. Thus, to ensure smooth administration, the British
recorded every aspect of their administration in India.
The British were answerable to the English East India Company for their day-to-
day actions in India. This can be concluded from the official records maintained
meticulously by the British.
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SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. What is history? How has the study of history evolved over time?
• The study of changing patterns in society is called history.
• The study of history has evolved over time. Earlier, it revolved around the
life of powerful people, that is, the study of history was more personality-
based.
• Today, however, history revolves around common people, their lives and
their ideas. It has, in other words, become a study of how societies and
economies change with time.
Q2. List the defining features of the modern era. Why do historians not want to
call the British rule in India a “modern period?
• Some of the defining features of the modern era are scientific progress,
industrialization, colonization, and urbanization.
• Indian historians do not want to call the British rule in India a 'modern' period
because for a very long time the British did not promote any industrialization.
• They treated India as a colony. They took away raw materials from India and
made her an importer of finished British goods.
Q3. What are the literary sources for the modern period? Write a note on time
in history.
Ans3.The literary sources available for the study of this period include official (government)
records, survey maps and reports and indigenous records.
In history, a span of time is more important than a specific date. It is because
while dates can be assigned to political events, the same does not hold true for
social, economic and cultural events and processes. For example, we cannot
pinpoint when did the feeling of nationalism begin to develop among Indians.
Similarly, we cannot assign an exact date to British colonization of India. To put
exact dates to historical events would be to defy the very nature of the subject.
VERY SHORT ANSWER-TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Why is the Modern Period in India significant to the Indian people?
• It marked major political, social, and economic changes due to British rule.
• It led to the rise of nationalism and the struggle for India's independence.
Q2. How are newspapers important as a literary source?
• Newspapers provide firsthand accounts of historical events and public
opinions.
• They help historians understand the social and political atmosphere of a
particular time.
Q3. Why do we divide History into different periods?
• It helps in organizing and understanding historical events better.
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• Each period reflects specific social, political, and economic features.
Q4. What do you understand by the term colonialism?
• Colonialism is when a powerful country controls a weaker one politically
and economically.
• It involves exploitation of resources and suppression of local culture and
freedom.
Q5. Why did the British introduce a special kind of mapping?
• The British used mapping to control and administer territories efficiently.
• It helped them exploit resources, plan infrastructure, and strengthen their
rule
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. What do you understand by periodization in history?
1. History has been divided into periods on the basis of something which has had a
deep impact on our lives.
2. When profound changes occur in the way of life of the people, we say that a new
historical period has begun.
3. History has been divided into three periods— ancient, medieval, and modern.
4. These broad divisions mark how the polity, society, economy, and culture of one
period differed from that of the preceding or the succeeding periods.
5. Periodization is however valid only for cataloging political events. Since societies
and economies take a long time to change, they often cannot be periodized.
Q2. Why do interpretations differ in history? Give an example to support your
answer.
Ans 2. Interpretations differ in history as individuals and groups interpret events
differently
For example, the events of 1857 are interpreted differently by British and
Indian historians. The former view it as a mutiny by the sepoys on the issue
of the greased cartridges. The masses, they say, were left untouched by the
events that unfolded The Indian historians, however, treat it as a popular
uprising. According to them, both the sepoys and the common people fought
together to end the exploitative British rule.
Q3. Write short notes on official records and surveys.
• Official Records - Though the Mughals introduced the practice of recording
everything, it was perfected by the British Every administrative decision was
recorded and carefully preserved. Every executive, legislative and judicial body
had record rooms in which even the smallest records were kept, well-
catalogued. Many of these official records are now preserved in the National
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Archives of India. These official records have helped historians immensely in
their study of the period.
• Surveys - The practice of conducting surveys was introduced by the British.
Thus, population surveys, revenue surveys, land surveys and many other
types of surveys were conducted. Mapping was an important part of these
surveys. All these surveys are a valuable source of information for historians
studying the modern period
Q4. How important are dates in history?
• Dates help us place events in the correct sequence.
• They allow us to understand cause and effect in historical events.
• Dates make it easier to compare events across regions and periods.
• They help in organizing historical information clearly for study and
analysis.
• Dates provide a timeline to track progress, decline, or changes in societies.
• They help connect historical events to global developments happening at
the same time.
• Important dates remind us of key moments and milestones in our heritage
and identity.
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