Class 8 History Chapter 1 Question Answers - How, When and Where

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Name the events for which specific dates can be determined.
Ans: The events for which specific dates can be determined include:

• The year a king was crowned.
• The year he married.
• The year he had a child.
• The year he fought a particular battle.
• The year he died.

Q2. What was an important aspect of the histories written by the British historians in India?
Ans: An important aspect of the histories written by British historians in India is the rule of each Governor-General. This period significantly influenced India’s political and social landscape, as the actions and policies of each Governor-General shaped the trajectory of British rule in the subcontinent.

Q3. Who was James Mill?
Ans: James Mill was a Scottish economist and political philosopher. He is best known for his influential work, A History of British India, which critically examined British colonial rule and its impact on India.

Q4. What was Mill’s opinion about the Asian societies?
Ans: Mill’s opinion was that all Asian societies were at a lower level of civilization compared to Europe.

Q5. What evil practices, according to James Mill, dominated the Indian social life before the British came to India?
Ans: According to James Mill, the evil practices that dominated Indian social life included:

• Religious intolerance
• Caste taboos
• Superstitious practices

These elements were seen as significant obstacles to social progress prior to the arrival of the British in India.

Q6. How did paintings project Governor-General?
Ans: Paintings projected Governor-Generals as powerful figures in society. They were often depicted in grand attire, symbolising their authority and influence. These artworks served not only as representations of their status but also as tools for political propaganda, reinforcing the perception of their dominance.

Q7. Why do many historians refer to the modern period as colonial?
Ans: Many historians refer to the modern period as colonial because, under British rule, people lacked equality, freedom, and liberty—the essential symbols of modernity.

Q8. Mention one important source used by historians in writing about the last 250 years of Indian history.
Ans: One important source used by historians in writing about the last 250 years of Indian history is the official records of the British administration.

Q9. What is done under census?
Ans: The census records the number of people living in all the provinces of India. It also gathers information on castes, religions, and occupations.

Q10. What do official records not tell?
Ans: Official records do not reveal what other people in the country felt or the motivations behind their actions.

Q11. Why do we try and divide history into different periods?
Ans: We divide history into different periods to effectively capture the characteristics of each era and to highlight its central features as they are perceived over time.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: How did James Mill view India?
Ans: James Mill did not cherish any positive idea about India. He was of the opinion that all Asian societies were at a lower level of civilization than Europe. According to his telling of history, before the British came to India, the Hindu and the Muslim despots ruled the country. Religious intolerance, caste taboos, and superstitious practices dominated social life. He felt that only British rule could civilize India. He suggested that the British should conquer all the territories of India to ensure the enlightenment and happiness of the Indian people. India was not capable of progress without the help of the British.

Q2: Historians divide Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern. But this division, too, has its problems. What are these problems?
Ans: The division of Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern periods poses several challenges. This periodization has been largely borrowed from Western frameworks, where the modern period is linked to the rise of various forces of modernity such as science, reason, democracy, liberty, and equality. The term "medieval" is often used to describe a society that lacks these characteristics. In the Indian context, this classification is problematic. For instance, during the colonial period, Indians did not experience equality, freedom, or liberty under British rule. Moreover, the country faced significant economic stagnation and lacked overall progress during this time. Consequently, many historians prefer to refer to the modern period as the colonial period, highlighting the unique challenges and circumstances that define this era in Indian history.

Q3: What did the British do to preserve important official documents and letters?
Ans: 

British official documentThe British felt the need to preserve all the important official documents and letters. For this, they set up record rooms attached to all administrative institutions. The village tahsildar’s office, the collectorate, the commissioner’s office, the provincial secretariats, the lawcourts—all had their record rooms. The British also established specialized institutions such as archives and museums to preserve important records.

Q4: What do official records not tell? How do we come to know about them?
Ans: Official records do not always help us understand what other people in the country felt and what lay behind their actions. For that, we have diaries of people, accounts of pilgrims and travelers, autobiographies of important personalities, and popular books, etc. that were sold in the local bazaars. With the spread of the printing press, newspapers came to be published and issues began to be debated in public. Leaders and reformers wrote. To spread their ideas, and poets and novelists wrote to express their feelings.

Q5: How did the British conquer India and establish their rule?
Ans: The British conquered India through several key strategies:

• Subjugation of local nawabs and rajas, effectively diminishing their power.
• Economic control was established, allowing the British to collect revenue to cover their expenses. They purchased goods at lower prices and produced crops necessary for export.
• They implemented changes in rulers, as well as in local tastes, customs, and practices.
• Consequently, they molded various aspects of Indian society to serve their interests, leading to swift subjugation of the country.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: How do the official records of the British administration help historians to write about the last 250 years of Indian history?
Ans: The British believed that the act of written documentation was vital. Consequently, they meticulously recorded every instruction, plan, policy decision, agreement, and investigation. They felt that this practice would enable proper study and debate. This belief fostered an administrative culture rich in memos, notations, and reports. The British were particularly committed to preserving all significant documents and letters. To achieve this, they established record rooms within various administrative institutions, such as the village tahsildar’s office, the collectorate, and law courts. They also created archives and museums to safeguard important records. Letters and memos exchanged among different branches of the administration during the early 19th century can still be accessed in these archives. Historians benefit from the notes and reports prepared by district officials, as well as the instructions and directives sent by higher officials to provincial administrators. This extensive documentation provides a comprehensive resource for understanding the last 250 years of Indian history.

Q2: How did surveys become important under the colonial administration?
Ans: The British placed significant importance on the practice of surveying because they believed that a country needed to be well understood before it could be effectively administered. Consequently, they conducted detailed surveys by the early 19th century to map the entire country:

• They carried out revenue surveys in villages.
• They sought to understand the topography, soil quality, flora, fauna, local histories, and cropping patterns.
• They introduced census operations, conducted every ten years from the end of the 19th century, preparing detailed records of the population across all provinces of India, noting information on castes, religions, and occupations separately.
• The British also conducted several other surveys, including botanical, zoological, archaeological, and forest surveys. This comprehensive data collection was essential for effective governance.