Explore detailed insights into Class 8 History Chapter 1 “How, When, and Where” from NCERT. Understand the important of dates, periodisation, colonial impact, and sources used by historians, along with exercise, explanations, and historical interpretations. Perfect for students preparing for exams or enhancing their knowledge!
How Important are Dates?
Earlier, historians were fascinated by dates related to rulers and battles.
History is about over time comparing the past with the present, and understanding processes rather than just specific dates.
Many historical events cannot be fixed to one precise date (e.g., British rule or the development of tea-drinking).
Early histories focused on kings, wars, and policies with fixed dates. Modern histories focus on social, cultural, and economic changes.
Which Dates?
Dates are chosen based on the focus of study; they become significant because of the events are tied to.
British historians emphasised Governor-Generals and Viceroys.
Changing the focus of history changes the importance of dates (e.g. , from rulers to common people).
How Do We Periodise?
James Mill (1817) divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.
- Problems: over-simplifies history, ignores coexistence of religions, and undermines contributions of others.
Alternative Periodisation: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Periods (borrowed from Europe).
- Issues: Modern in Europe meant progress, liberty, and equality, but British rule in India did not provide these.
What is Colonial?
Colonisation: Political, economic, social, and cultural domination of one country by another.
British rule in India led to changes in administration, economy, culture, and values.
Historians call this period colonial to reflect the British imapct.
How do We Know?
What sources do historians use in writing about the last 250 years of Indian history?
Official Records
British administration documented everything (memos, reports, instructions).
Record rooms were set up in offices and specialized institutions like archives and museums.
Records provide insights into British priorities and perspectives but often ignore the common people.
Surveys
Surveys (e.g., revenue, topography, census) were conducted to understand and administer the country.
Detailed information on castes, religions, occupations, and local geography was recorded.
Other Sources
Diaries, travelogues, autobiographies, newspapers, and literary works.
These sources reflect the views of literate people but often miss the experiences of the marginalized (e.g., tribals, peasants).
Important Figures and Concepts
James Mill: Proposed the controversial Hindu-Muslim-British periodisation.
Colonial Institutions Archives, museums, and botanical gardens collected an preserved information.
Examples:
- Mapping by James Rennel to aid British conquest.
- Surveys emphasized the “scientific” nature of British administration.
Important Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why do some people find history boring?
Answer: Many people find history boring because they think it is all about memorizing dates, which is a common misconception.
Question 2: what does history help us understand?
Answer: History helps us understand the changes that have occurred over time, how things were in the past, and how they have evolved to the present.
Question 3: Why is it incorrect to fix precise dates to certain historical processes?
Answer: Many processes, like the introduction of tea drinking or British rule, happened over time and cannot be attributed to a single date.
Question 4: why was history previously associated with dates?
Answer: Earlier, history focused on rulers, battles, and big events, making specific dates like the crowing of kings or battles fought significant.
Question 5: What are the new areas of focus for historians today?
Answer: Modern historians study how people earned their livelihood, what they produced, cultural changes, development of markets and cities, and societal transformations.
Question 6: How did British historians in India periodise history?
Answer: they focused on the rule of Governor-Generals and Viceroys, narrating history based on their policies and achievements.
Question 7: why do we divide history into chapters?
Answer: Chapters provide coherence and make the narrative easier to understand by focusing on significant events or themes.
Question 8: What was James Mill’s periodisation of Indian history?
Answer: James Mill divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.
Question 9: What was the problem with James Mill’s periodisaiton?
Answer: It oversimplified history by focusing only on the religion of rulers, ignoring the diversity of faiths and the lives of common people.
Question 10: How do historians divide Indian history today?
Answer: Historians often divide it into ancient, medieval, and modern periods, though this classification also has limitations.
Question 11: Why do some historians prefer the term “colonial”over “modern”?
Answer: The British rule in India did not bring equality, freedom, or economic progress, which are usually associated with modernity.
Question 12: What were the main sources by historians for the last 250 years of Indian history?
Answer: The main sources were official records, letters, memos, surveys, autobiographies, newspapers, and popular literature.
Question 14 : Why did the British produce and preserve official documents?
Answer: They believed that written records were essential for proper administration and decision-making.
Question 15: What role did surveys play under British administration?
Answer: Surveys helped the British map the country, assess revenue, understand local topography, and prepare for effective governance.
Question 16: What kinds of surveys were conducted by the British in India?
Answer: Revenue surveys, census operations, botanical, anthropological, and forest surveys.
Question 17: What do official records tell us about history?
Answer: They reveal the perspectives, priorities, and interests of the British official but not the views and experiences of the common people.
Question 18: what additional sources can historians use to understand the lives of common people?
Answer: Diaries, travellers’ accounts, autobiographies, local newspapers, and popular booklets.
Question 19: Why is it difficult to understand the history of tribals and poor people?
Answer: Most historical sources were produced by literate individuals, often neglecting the experiences of the illiterate and marginalised groups.
Question 20: What can old advertisements tell us about history?
Answer: They provide insights into how markets were created, new tastes popularised, and consumer preferences shaped.
Question 21: Why was James Rennel asked to prepare maps of India?
Answer: Rennel’s maps were essential for British conquest and domination, as they helped in understanding and controlling the territories.
Question 22: How do images from history, like those of the 1857 rebellion, reflect viewpoints?
Answer: Images often project the creators’ perspectives, such as portraying the rebels as greedy or brutal in British illustrations.
Question 23: what is the significance of the National Archives of India?
Answer: It was established to preserve important records and reflects the importance of written documentation in British administration.
Question 24: How is the information in old newspapers different from police reports?
Answer: Newspapers often include public debates, opinions, and broader societal issues, whereas police reports focus on specific and official views.
Question 25: What can historians learn from modern surveys, such as those conducted by toy companies?
Answer: historians can understand consumer preferences, societal trends, and economic conditions of a particular time through such surveys.
True/False Questions and Answers with Explanation
Question 1: Historical questions always require precise dates to be meaningful.
Answers: False
Explanation: History does not always require precise dates, especially for processes that happen over a period of time. For example, people in India did not drinking tea on a specific day; it developed gradually.
Question 2: James Mill viewed British rule as a force of progress and civilization in India.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mill believed that British rule brought enlightenment and civilization to India, which he thought was incapable of progress without British intervention.
Question 3: The British believed that written records were essential for effective governance.
Answer: True
Explanation: The British administration emphasized the importance of writing, and they meticulously documented plans, policies, and decisions for systematic governacne.
Question 4: James Rennel’s were created as an act of cultural preservation by the British.
Answer: False
Explanation: Rennel’s maps were created to aid British conquest and domination of India, not to preserve Indian culture.
Question 5: Historians can rely solely on official records to understand the experiences of ordinary people.
Answer: False
Explanation: Official records often reflect only the perspectives of the administration. To understand the lives of ordinary people, historians must explore diaries, autobiographies, newspapers, and other sources.
Question 6: The National Archives of India was established in the 1920s near the Viceregal Palace.
Answer: True
Explanation: The location of the National Archives near the Viceregal Palace symbolised the importance of documentation in the British administrative imagination.
Question 7: The British conducted surveys to map the topography, soil quality, and local histories of India.
Answer: True
Explanation: Surveys were a key tool for British administration to gather detailed knowledge about the regions they governed.
Question 8: James Mill divided Indian history into ‘ancient,’ ‘medieval,’ and ‘modern’ periods.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and British, which reflects his Eurocentric perspective.
Question 9: The spread of printing in the 19th century led to the mass production of government records.
Answer: True
Explanation: Printing allowed multiple copies of government documents to be produced, making administration more systematic.
Question 10: The 1857 rebellion was represented in British illustration as a noble struggle for independence.
Answer: False
Explanation: British illustrations often depicted the rebels as greedy, vicious, and brutal, reflecting their biased perspective.