How, When and Where Class 8 Worksheet History Chapter 1

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1: What is the importance of dates in historical inquiry? 

A) Dates are crucial for understanding historical developments and changes across time.
B) Dates are only important for major events and rulers in history.
C) Dates are not necessary for historical inquiry as it focuses on broader topics.
D) Dates are tedious to memorize and do not contribute to understanding history. 

Ans. A) Dates are crucial for understanding historical developments and changes across time.

Q2: What was the purpose of James Mill's book "A History Of British India"?

A) To highlight the significant role of Indian Governor-Generals in British history.
B) To advocate for the equality and freedom of Indian society under British rule.
C) To classify Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.
D) To emphasize the importance of British colonization in introducing progress to Asian societies. 

Ans. C) To classify Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.

Q3: What was one of the significant aspects of British colonial rule? 

A) Manipulating trade for their benefit.
B) Establishing control over the economy, society, and governance.
C) Exploiting resources and producing crops for export.
D) All of the above. 

Ans. D) All of the above.

Q4: Why do historians question the validity of labeling historical periods solely as "Hindu" or "Muslim"? 

A) Because it aligns with modern political ideologies.
B) Because such labels do not accurately reflect the complex interplay of diverse faiths and rulers' varying beliefs.
C) Because these terms were not used historically.
D) Because it simplifies history too much, making it easier for students to understand. 

Ans. B) Because such labels do not accurately reflect the complex interplay of diverse faiths and rulers' varying beliefs.

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: Historical inquiries are rooted in time but don't always require precise dating, especially for gradual processes. 

Q2: Modern historians explore a broader array of topics, such as livelihoods, production, urbanization, governance, and cultural 

Q3: The British emphasized the significance of documentation to ensure clarity in communicating administrative instructions and decisions.

Q4: The practice of periodization in history aims to capture the defining features of a time. 

Q5: Surveying surveys became important during the colonial rule for thorough understanding and effective administration of the country.

True/False

Q1: Historically, history was often equated with memorizing dates related to royal coronations and battles. 

Ans. True

Q2: James Mill's perspective on Indian history was criticized for being Western-centric and for overlooking the coexistence of diverse faiths in India. 

Ans. True

Q3: Official records always provide a complete and unbiased view of historical events. 

Ans. False (Official records reflect the views and interests of those who produced them, and they do not always reveal the sentiments or motivations of the general populace.)

Q4: Colonial rule uniformly affected all classes and groups in the colonized regions. 

Ans. False (Colonial influences varied among different classes and groups, resulting in diverse experiences and impacts.)

Q5: Diaries, pilgrims' accounts, and newspapers are considered alternative historical sources that offer deeper insights into the past. 

Ans. True

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1: Why do many historians refer to modern period as colonial?

Ans. Under British rule people did not have equality, freedom or liberty. Nor was the period one of economic growth and progress. Many historians therefore refer to this period as ‘colonial’.

Q2: When The National Archives of India came up?

Ans. The National Archives of India came up in the 1920s.

Q3: Mention the events for which specific dates can be determined.

Ans. The year a king was crowned, the year he married, the year he had a child, the year he fought a particular war, the year he died, and the year the next ruler succeeded to the throne.

Q4: How did paintings project Governor-Generals?

Ans.Paintings projected Governor-Generals as powerful figures.

Q5: What were the things that official records did not tell?

Ans. Official records do not always help us understand what other people in the country felt, and what lay behind their actions.

Q6: Who became the first governor general of British India?

Ans. Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of India in 1773.

Q7: What did James Mills think about all Asian societies?

Ans. Mill thought that all Asian societies were at a lower level of civilisation than Europe.

Q8: How have historians divided Indian history?

Ans. Historians have usually divided Indian history into ‘ancient’, ‘medieval’ and ‘modern’.

Q9: What do you mean by the term ' colonisation'?

Ans. When one country subjugate another country which leads to political, economic, social and cultural changes refer to colonisation.

Q10: Who was James Mill?

Ans. James Mill was a Scottish economist and political philosopher, who published a massive three-volume work, A History of British India.

Q11: Who wrote the book ‘A History of British India’?

Ans. In 1817, James Mill, a Scottish economist and political philosopher, published a massive three-volume work, A History of British India.

Q12: What do you understand by history?

Ans. History is certainly about changes that occur over time. It is about finding out how things were in the past and how things have changed.