NCERT Solutions for Class 10 History Chapter 3 - The Making of a Global World

Q1. Give two examples of different types of global exchanges which took place before the seventeenth century, choosing one example from Asia and one from the Americas.
Ans:

Global Exchange
(i) Asia 

• The Silk Routes were vital trade paths connecting Asia with Europe and northern Africa.
• These routes facilitated the exchange of goods such as Chinese pottery and spices from India and Southeast Asia.
• Gold and silver flowed from Europe to Asia, while noodles are believed to have travelled from China to Europe.

(ii) America 

• America was abundant in various foods and minerals.
• Common foods like potatoes, tomatoes, chillies, and maize were introduced to Europe and Asia after the discovery by Christopher Columbus.

Q2. Explain how the global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in the colonization of the Americas.

Ans: The global transfer of disease significantly aided the colonization of the Americas. The native populations had no immunity to the diseases brought by Europeans, leading to devastating consequences.

• Before European contact, the Americas were isolated for millions of years.
• This isolation meant that indigenous people lacked defences against foreign diseases.
• Smallpox was particularly lethal, causing widespread death.
• The disease spread rapidly, often ahead of European explorers.
• As communities were decimated, it paved the way for European conquest.

Q3. Write a note to explain the effects of the following:
Ans: (a) The British government’s decision to abolish the Corn Laws.

• The abolition of the Corn Laws led to cheaper food imports in Britain.
• British agriculture struggled to compete, resulting in vast areas of land being left uncultivated.
• Many workers lost their jobs and migrated to towns and cities.
• This migration contributed to global agriculture and rapid urbanisation, which were essential for industrial growth.

(b) The coming of Rinderpest to Africa

• Rinderpest, a devastating cattle disease, arrived in Africa in the late 1880s.
• Within two years, it spread across the continent, reaching Cape Town in five years.
• The disease had a severe impact, killing about 90% of cattle.
• This situation allowed planters, mine owners, and colonial governments to strengthen their power and force Africans into the labour market.

(c) The death of men of working-age in Europe because of the World War.

• World War I, fought from 1914 to 1918, resulted in millions of soldiers being recruited.
• The war caused the death of approximately 9 million and injured 20 million, mainly men of working age.
• This led to a significant reduction in the able-bodied workforce in Europe.
• Household incomes declined, prompting women to take on jobs traditionally held by men, strengthening the feminist movement.

(d) The Great Depression on the Indian Economy

• During the 19th century, colonial India became an exporter of agricultural goods and an importer of manufactured items.
• The Great Depression severely impacted Indian trade, with exports and imports nearly halving between 1928 and 1934.
• As international prices crashed, so did prices in India, with wheat prices falling by 50%.
• The colonial government did not reduce taxes, leading to increased indebtedness among peasants.

(e) The decision of MNCs to relocate production to Asian countries.

• Relocating production to low-wage countries provided a cheap labour source for MNCs.
• This move stimulated world trade and increased capital inflow into Asian countries.
• New technology and production methods were introduced to these regions.
• It also created greater employment opportunities for local populations.

Q4. Give two examples from history to show the impact of technology on food availability.
Ans:  Examples of Technology Impacting Food Availability are: 
(i) Improved Transportation Systems: Improved transportation systems helped the foods get delivered on time to the markets without any harm. Faster railways, lighter wagons and larger ships helped move food cheaply and quickly from faraway farms to final markets.
(ii) Refrigerated Ships: The development of refrigerated ships enabled the transport of perishable foods over long distances. Animals were slaughtered for food at the starting point -in America, Australia or New Zealand – and then transported to Europe as frozen meat. This reduced shipping costs and lowered meat prices in Europe.

Q5. What is meant by the Bretton Woods Agreement?
Ans: The Bretton Woods Agreementwas established to ensure economic stability and full employment after World War II. Key points include:

• The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference took place in July 1944 in Bretton Woods, USA.
• It created the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to manage member nations' external surpluses and deficits.
• The World Bank was formed to assist with post-war reconstruction.
• Financial operations began in 1947, with currencies pegged to gold, and the US dollar serving as the reserve currency.
• Decision-making was primarily influenced by Western industrial powers.

Q6. Imagine that you are an indentured Indian labourer in the Caribbean. Drawing from the details in this chapter, write a letter to your family describing your life and feelings.
Ans:
Dear Family,
I hope you all are fine there. I am working in the Caribbean as an indentured labourer. Through this letter, I want to tell you about my work life and hardships. I have been hired by the colonisers under a contract that included wrong information regarding the place of work, mode of travel and living and working conditions. The contractor uses harsh and abusive language for us. There is a lot of work at the plantations with a heavy workload and sometimes I have to finish all of it in just one day. The contractor cuts my wages if he is not satisfied with my work. I am living here a slave’s life. I know you will be very upset to know my situation but the governments here are thinking to introduce new laws to protect the labourers like us. So, I hope this situation will pass soon.
Your Loving,
ABC

Q7. Explain the three types of movements or flows within the international economic exchange. Find one example of each type of flow that involved India and Indians, and write a short account of it.
Ans: The three types of movements or flows within international economic exchange are:

• Flow of trade: This involves the exchange of goods, such as textiles and wheat.

  For example, India has a long history of exporting textiles and spices to Europe in exchange for gold and silver.

• Flow of labour: This refers to the migration of people seeking employment.

  In the nineteenth century, many Indian labourers migrated to work on plantations and in mines worldwide. They were often hired as indentured labourers, with contracts promising their return to India after five years. Unfortunately, they faced harsh living conditions and limited legal rights.

• Flow of capital: This includes both short-term and long-term loans between nations.

  During World War I, Britain borrowed heavily from the USA. Since India was under British rule, the impact of these loans was felt in India, leading to increased taxes and reduced prices for Indian goods, which severely affected the Indian economy.

Q8. Explain the causes of the Great Depression.
Ans: There were various factors that led to the Great Depression:

• The post-war global economy was weak, with problems starting from agricultural overproduction and falling food grain prices, leading to declining agricultural incomes.
• To maintain incomes, farmers increased production, worsening market oversupply and pushing prices down further.
• In the 1920s, prosperity in the USA created a cycle of higher employment, incomes, and increased consumption and demand, which led to speculative tendencies.
• This speculation contributed to the Great Depression, starting with the stock market crash in 1929, causing panic among investors and depositors who then stopped investing and saving.
• Countries dependent on US loans faced severe economic crises as American lenders reduced loans.
• In Europe, major banks failed, and currencies collapsed.
• The USA doubled import duties to protect its economy.
• These factors collectively led to the Great Depression from 1929 to the mid-1930s.

Q9. Explain what is referred to as the G-77 countries. In what ways can G-77 be seen as a reaction to the activities of the Bretton Woods twins?
Ans:

• G-77 countries is a group of developing countries that demanded a new International Economic Order (NIEO). By the NIEO they meant a system that would give them:
  (i) Real control over their natural resources.
  (ii) Fairer prices for raw materials.
  (iii) Better access for their manufactured goods in the markets of the developed countries. 
• The Group of 77 (G77) at the United Nations is a coalition of 134 developing countries, designed to promote its members’ collective economic interests.
• The Bretton Woods twins i.e., the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have been established by the developed countries. 
• These institutions were set up to meet the financial needs of the industrialised countries and had nothing to do with the economic growth of the former colonial countries and developing nations. 
• G-77 was created entirely to cater to the needs of developing nations. 
• Thus it was a reaction to the activities of the Bretton Woods system and to protect the interests of the developing countries.