NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 1 How, When, and

Where Notes

How Important Are Dates?

Historians were once obsessed with dates especially when they were into arguments with each
other related to questions like when kings got crowned or on which date a particular battle was
fought. Meanwhile, people were generally seen to scratch their heads regarding memorising the
particular dates.

But do you think that History is all about all these complications? Let us understand these
complications and see how History helped in understanding this difficulty:

● History aims to understand how things change over time and compare the past to the
present.
● Historical questions arise from curiosity about the events of the past such as the origins
of tea and coffee consumption or pre-train era travel methods.
● The questions about History prompt considerations of periods rather than the specific
dates.
● Instead of pinpointing the exact dates, History examines the period of change and
evolution.
● Historians used to prioritise big events and battles focussing on specific dates.
● Now in the present scenario Historians study a variety of events, lifestyles and changes
in society over time.
● It is important to note that the study of Modern History goes beyond memorising dates to
explore how ideas, society, and cities have evolved.

Which Dates?
In history, we choose some dates that are important regarding the events. These dates are just
not important by themselves instead they are significant because of the events we prioritise
them. A change in our focus changes the date simultaneously.

For example, historians focused on the rule of the British Governor-General. They started
learning from Warren Hastings, the first governor-general and ended with Lord Mountbatten, the
last Viceroy.

● These Governor-Generals played pivotal roles in shaping different eras in British India
through their decisions and actions.
● However, sometimes we fail to acknowledge the contributions of diverse groups within
Indian society.

CBSE Notes of Class 8 History

Now the question arises, can we approach the specific period of History differently? How do we
highlight the activities of various groups and classes in Indian society keeping the
Governor-General in the centre framework?

● To address this oversight, historians are actively seeking new approaches to narrate
history that reflect everyone's experiences.
● By dividing history into chapters, we can better organize and comprehend the vastness
of historical events.
● It's crucial to ensure that the stories of all individuals and communities are represented in
history books.
● This inclusive approach may lead us to reconsider which dates we deem most important
in understanding history.

How Do We Periodise?
James Mill, a Scottish economist and political philosopher, published a three-volume work
named ‘A History of British India’ in 1817. In his work, James divided Indian history into three
periods—Hindu, Muslim and British. This division of work was widely accepted, however there
are certain problems with this way of looking at Indian history.

● History is divided into periods to capture the features of each time and reflect our ideas
about the past.
● James Mill believed that India before the Britishers was under Hindu and Muslim
dictatorships which further caused the British conquest for progress.
● Further, Mill also advocated for the introduction of European manners, arts, institutions,
and laws to civilise India.
● British rule is seen as representative of progress and civilisation while the pre-British
period is considered irrelevant.
● The modern perspective rejects Mill's conception noting it is inaccurate to label the
periods solely as for Hindus or Muslims as there were multiple faiths in co-existence.
● Historians traditionally divided Indian history into ancient, mediaeval and modern
periods, borrowed from the Western classification system.
● The modern period was associated with growth and modern force, for instance, Science,
Reason, Democracy, Liberty, and Equality.
● India lacked equality, freedom, and economic progress under the rule of the Britishers.
This further challenged the traditional classification of Indian roots.
● Many historians preferred referring to this period as ¨Colonial¨ instead of ¨Modern¨ due to
the lack of traditional modern features.

What Is Colonial?
In this chapter, the students will learn how the Britishers conquered and ruled the country by
defeating the local Nawabs and Rajas. Also, they will learn how they gained control over the

CBSE Notes of Class 8 History

economy and society, collected the revenue to cover their expenses, purchased goods at low
prices, and cultivated the crops for export.

● Students will learn about the changes resulting from British rule influencing Indian
values, tastes, customs, and practices.
● Further, British rule has also influenced the values, tastes, customs, and practices of the
Indian people
● When a country brings another country to heel and leads to political, economic, social,
and cultural changes is called colonisation.
● British colonisation led to political, economic, social, and cultural changes in the
colonised countries.
● All the classes and groups experienced these changes differently which further led to
plural perspectives in the book “Our Pasts”.

How Do We Know?
As far as we studied the above information of history and historians it can be said as a
conclusion that Historians rely on the different sources for writing about the last 250 years of
Indian history.

Administration Produces Records

For fulfilling the purpose official records of the British administration are important sources. The
Brtisihers believed in the importance of documentation, leading to a culture of writing memos,
notings, and reports for every instruction, plan or even policy decision. They ensured the careful
preservation of important documents and letters.

● Records rooms were established in administrative institutions such as the tahsildar's

office, collectorate, and commissioner's office.
● Specialised institutions such as archives and museums were created to preserve the
records.
● The practice of circulation of letters, memos, and reports came into existence in the early
19th century. This can still be found in archives.
● Documents were carefully copied by calligraphy in the early 19th century.
● The advancement of printing in the mid-19th century led to the printing of multiple copies
of records which helped in the proceedings of each government department.

Surveys Become Important

It should be noted twice that under colonial rule, surveying became famous worldwide. The
specific reason for this was that Britishers believed that effective administration required a
comprehensive understanding of the country.

● In the early nineteenth century, detailed surveys were conducted across the entire
country and the revenue surveys in the villages.

CBSE Notes of Class 8 History

 ● The surveys aimed to collect information on topography, quality of soil, flora, fauna, local
histories, and cropping patterns to aid the administration.
● Further, the census operations were carried out every ten years from the end of the
nineteenth century. These operations provided detailed demographic information
regarding the detailed demographic records including castes, religions, and occupations.
● Other surveys conducted in the nineteenth century were botanical, zoological,
archaeological, and forests.

What Official Records Do Not Tell

Despite the wealth of information in official records the census only represents the perspective
of the official population and does not reflect the thoughts and actions of the other people in the
country.

Sources such as diaries, accounts of pilgrims and travellers, autobiographies of important

figures, popular booklets sold in local bazaars, newspapers and writings of leaders, reformers,
poets and novelists can be taken into account.

Although these sources represent the literate population and may not cover the experience of
marginalised groups such as tribals, peasants, mine workers or the urban poor.

Additional Notes
Other than the notes of the chapter NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 1 How, When, and Where
Notes here are some important points to ponder that the student must consider while learning
about dates, appointments, establishments and announcements:

Brahman Offers Shastras to Britannia The depiction suggests Brahman providing

historical texts willingly to British symbols of
electricity, promoting British rule.

1922 Lipton Tea Advertisement This announcement suggests worldwide royal

approval of Lipton tea, featuring Queen
Victoria's son.

Appointment of Warren Hastings as Warren Hastings became the first

Governor-General Governor-General in 1773, marking the
beginning of British rule in India.

1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny In 1946, unrest erupted within the Royal
Indian Navy, with mutinies suggested in
Bombay, Karachi, and Visakhapatnam
dockyards.

CBSE Notes of Class 8 History

Establishment of Botanical Gardens and The British set up gardens and museums,
Natural History Museums amassing plant samples and commissioning
nearby artists for illustrations.

CBSE Notes of Class 8 History