Class 8 History Chapter 1 Notes - How, When and Where

How Important are Dates? 

• History is all about understanding how things change over time. When we look at history, we're comparing the past to the present, and to do that, we need to think about time. We use words like 'before' and 'after' to help us understand when things happened.
• Tea and coffee are great examples. It's hard to say exactly when people started drinking these beverages because it wasn't a sudden change. People gradually began to enjoy tea and coffee, and there wasn't a specific day when it all started. So, we can only talk about a general time period when these drinks became popular.

• Despite this, there are good reasons why we link history with specific dates. In earlier times, historians focused on important battles and events, writing about what rulers did and when. They recorded the years when things like a king's crowning, wedding, or battle happened.
• For instance, people in China started drinking tea around the 3rd century AD, and coffee was first enjoyed in Ethiopia before it spread to other places.

Which Dates? 

• Specific dates hold significance not because of the numbers themselves, but due to the events they are associated with. They derive their meaning from the context of historical occurrences.
• The British perspective on Indian history, along with the actions of various Governor-Generals, was instrumental in shaping British policies in India. This historical narrative begins with the first Governor-General, Warren Hastings, and ends with the last Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten.

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How do we Periodise? 

• James Mill, a Scottish economist and political thinker, published A History of British India in 1817, dividing Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and British.
• We divide history into different periods to showcase the distinct characteristics of each era, using specific terms to highlight their differences.
• Mill believed in improving Indian society through European influence. He portrayed a history where Hindu and Muslim leaders ruled India before British intervention, viewing religious intolerance and caste restrictions as prevalent issues that British rule could help address.

James Mill

• The British perspective on Indian history was biased and unjustifiable, as both Hindu and Muslim periods had their own challenges.
• Historians outside the British framework have also classified Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern periods. However, this classification is flawed as it reflects a Western viewpoint, associating the modern era with the emergence of concepts like science, reason, and democracy.

What is Colonial? 

• The term "medieval" refers to a society that lacks the characteristics of modern times. However, during the period of British rule, India did not exhibit these modern features. As a result, many historians prefer to call this era colonialism.
• Colonialism began when the British took control of India, marking the start of a process that would dominate the Indian subcontinent and bring about significant political, economic, social, and cultural changes.
• Colonisation is the process whereby one country exerts control over another, leading to profound political, economic, social, and cultural transformations.

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How do We Know?

Administration Produces Records

• Historians depend on various sources to document the last 250 years of Indian history, with a primary focus on the official records produced by the British administration. The British considered writing to be a crucial task, necessitating clear documentation of instructions, plans, and policies.
• They also believed in the careful preservation of all important documents and letters, leading to the establishment of record rooms in administrative offices. Specialized institutions, such as archives, were created to protect these administrative records, while museums focused on collecting items and documents related to cultural history.

Surveys become Important 

• The practice of surveying also became common under the colonial administration.
• By the early 19th century detailed surveys were being carried out to map the entire country.
• In villages, revenue surveys were conducted.
• From the end of the 19th century, Census operations were held at the interval of every ten years. It prepared all the detailed records of the number of people in all the provinces of India, noting information on castes, religions and occupation.

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What do Official Records not Tell?

• Official records, while valuable, do not always capture the feelings and motivations of the people in a country.
• To gain insight into these aspects, we can turn to diaries, accounts from pilgrims and travelers, and autobiographies of notable individuals.
• However, it's important to note that these sources were created by literate individuals, which means we miss out on the perspectives of tribals, peasants, mine workers, and the impoverished population in cities.

Words that Matter: 

• Historian:. person who writes about past events and how they have evolved over time.
• Debate:. discussion on an important public issue.
• Periodisation: The process of categorising events into specific time periods.
• Ancient: Refers to very old times.
• Medieval: Pertains to the era before the features of modern society were present.
• Colonization: The process by which one country takes control of another, leading to political, economic, social, and cultural changes, often accompanied by local resistance.
• Subjugation: The act of gaining control over a country.
• Calligrapher:. person skilled in the art of beautiful writing.
• Survey: The process of examining and recording the characteristics of a land area to create a map or plan.
• Archives:. place where historical documents or records of a government or organization, as well as personal collections, are stored.
• 1773: Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of India.
• 1782: The first map of India was produced by James Rennel.
• 1817: James Mill published a comprehensive three-volume work titled "A History of British India."
• 1920s: The National Archives of India were established.