A Period of Transition

Read the two statements given below about the impact of Industrial Revolution. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): European countries acquired colonies in Asia and Africa.

Reason (R): Industrial Revolution led to mass production of goods which could not be consumed locally.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other

Answer

(R) is the reason for (A)

Explanation — During the Industrial Revolution, European industries produced goods on a large scale. They needed new markets to sell their surplus goods. They also needed raw materials (like cotton, rubber, coal, etc.) to feed their factories. Thus, European powers expanded into Asia and Africa to:

• Obtain raw materials.
• Sell their manufactured goods.
• Exploit cheap labour and gain strategic advantages.

Identify the main reasons for the rise of Imperialism.

P: Surplus production

Q: Greed for wealth

R: Need for raw materials

S: Cultural superiority of European countries

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Answer

P and R

Aditi is preparing a project on "Major inventions which drove the Industrial Revolution'. Which of the following inventions, she is most likely to highlight?

1. Invention of macadamised road
2. Invention and development of steam engine
3. Invention of cotton gin
4. Invention of spinning jenny

Answer

Invention and development of steam engine

Which of the following aspects is being depicted by the given picture?

1. Cause of imperialism
2. Cause of Industrial Revolution
3. Impact of Imperialism
4. Reformation

Answer

Impact of Imperialism

Identify the ODD ONE out of the following main features of the Renaissance.

1. Rationalism
2. Humanism
3. Spirit of inquiry
4. Reformation

Answer

Reformation

James Hargreaves: Spinning Jenny:: Arkwright: ?

1. Powerloom
2. Waterframe
3. Steam engine
4. Cotton gin

Answer

Waterframe

Usha is preparing a speech on the Reformation Movement. Which of the following person's contribution she MUST mention in her speech?

1. Johannes Gutenberg
2. Martin Luther
3. John Calvin
4. Zwingli

Answer

Martin Luther

Fill in the blanks.

1. The term Reformation refers to two major developments, the ............... and the ............... .

2. Vasco-da-Gama reached ............... on the west coast of India.

3. The Industrial Revolution began in England in about ............... .

4. Eli Whitney invented a ............... .

Answer

1. Protestant reformation, Catholic reformation

2. Calicut

3. 1750

4. Cotton gin

Which one among the following pair is correctly matched?

Answer

Correctly matched pairs are given below:

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. The Renaissance and the Reformation along with new voyages ushered in the Modern Age.

2. The Industrial Revolution began in Germany.

3. The Rise of capitalism and imperialism can be attributed to the Industrial Revolution.

4. The East India Company gradually became rulers from being traders.

Answer

1. True

2. False
   Correct Statement — The Industrial Revolution began in England.

3. True

4. True

How did the Renaissance, Reformation and the new geographical discoveries lead to the Modern Age?

Answer

The Renaissance, Reformation, and new geographical discoveries led to the Modern Age by bringing about major changes in European society.

• The Renaissance marked a rebirth of learning and a revival of ideas from ancient Greece and Rome, influencing many fields of life and thought.

• The Reformation challenged the authority of the Pope and led to the rise of Protestant Churches and the Catholic Reformation, weakening the old religious order.

• The new geographical discoveries expanded man’s knowledge of the world and opened new opportunities for trade and exploration.

Together with the social and economic changes within feudal society, these developments caused the collapse of the feudal order and marked the beginning of the Modern Age in Europe.

Give reasons why the Industrial Revolution first began in England.

Answer

The Industrial Revolution first began in England because of the following factors:

1. Accumulation of Capital – Through overseas trade, including the slave trade, England had gained vast profits that could fund industrial ventures and had become the strongest European power.
2. Access to Raw Materials – England’s large number of colonies ensured a steady supply of raw materials.
3. Availability of Labour – After the decline of serfdom and the enclosure movement, many peasants became landless and unemployed, providing a large workforce for factories.
4. Stable Government – A stable political system gave commercial classes more power and prevented interference from feudal classes.
5. Natural Resources – England had abundant iron and coal, with both resources located close to each other, facilitating industrial development.
6. Developed Transportation – England had a large shipping industry, solving transportation problems for goods and raw materials.

Explain the impact of the Industrial Revolution on society, economy and polity.

Answer

The Industrial Revolution had profound effects on society, economy and polity.

Social Impact:

1. New towns and cities grew with large-scale trade and factories. The crowding of people in towns created housing shortages, rise of slums and poor health and sanitation.
2. It divided the society into two classes - industrial capitalists (owners) and workers (wage earners), leading to social inequalities and exploitation.

Economic Impact:

1. Mass production of many goods created surpluses that could not be consumed at home. To sell these goods and get raw materials, countries pushed exports overseas, encouraging the acquisition of colonies in Asia and Africa.
2. Growth of trade and commerce on a very large scale led to rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system concentrating economic power in a few hands.

Political Impact:

1. Early on during Industrial Revolution Laissez-faire ("let us alone") gained momentum. Later on, opposition to laissez-faire grew; due to inhuman working conditions, governments passed Factory Acts in England to protect workers’ rights.
2. Expansion and competition for colonies strengthened imperialism, which, along with rising capitalism, eventually contributed to the two World Wars.

What is imperialism? Discuss the factors which led to the rise of imperialism.

Answer

The practice of establishing a country's rule and dominance over the economic and political life of people of another country is called Imperialism. The imperialist country is called the Mother Country whereas the subjugated country is called a Colony.

The factors which led to the rise of imperialism are given below:

1. Surplus Production – European industries produced more goods than could be sold locally, prompting colonies as new markets.
2. Need for Raw Materials – Colonies supplied raw materials for European industries.
3. Modern Transportation & Communication – Steamships, railways, telegraphs, and posts made it easier to conquer and control colonies.
4. Population Pressure – Rapid population growth in Europe created a need for new territories to settle surplus population.
5. Industrial Capitalism – Merchants, traders, and bankers sought new markets and investment opportunities.
6. Christian Missionaries – Spread of Christianity supported imperial expansion.
7. Geographical Explorations – Discoveries of new lands in Asia, Africa, and America facilitated imperialism.

Describe the general impact of imperialism with special reference to South Asia.

Answer

The general impact of imperialism with special reference to South Asia is given below:

1. Political Subjugation: Most countries in South and South-East Asia became colonies of European powers. The East India Company became rulers in India, China was divided into spheres of influence, and countries like Sri Lanka, Malaya, Indonesia, Indochina, and Burma came under European control.
2. Economic Changes: European powers introduced large-scale plantations, such as tea and rubber in Sri Lanka, and integrated colonies into their economic systems for their own benefit.
3. Destruction of Local Systems: In some regions, like China, social, economic, and political systems were annihilated under European influence.
4. Rise of Nationalism: Imperialism provoked resistance; people of different classes united to fight colonial rule, as seen in India and Vietnam.

Give Reason:
Most of the countries in South Asia became colonies of Europe.

Answer

Most of the countries in South Asia became colonies of Europe because their economic and political systems were backward, and the Industrial Revolution had not reached this part of the world, making them easy targets for European powers. European nations, motivated by economic gains, strategic interests, and the spread of influence, gradually subjugated these regions politically.

Give Reason:
New inventions and discoveries led to the Industrial Revolution.

Answer

New inventions and discoveries led to the Industrial Revolution because they introduced modern means of transportation and communication, such as steamships, railways, telegraphs, and posts, which made production, trade, and the movement of goods much faster and easier. Additionally, technological innovations in machinery, like the steam engine, spinning jenny, and cotton gin, enabled mass production of goods, which fueled the growth of industries in Europe.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

A source is something which provides information or from which information can be obtained. Historical sources tell us about history. They can be divided into primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources are original documents, first hand accounts on a topic. Manuscripts, letters, newspapers, art facts, etc. are examples of primary sources. Secondary sources are created by interpreting the primary sources. Scholarly books, articles, interpretation of data are some of the examples of secondary sources.

(i) Manuscript, news letters, etc. are associated with ............... .

1. Traditional sources
2. Primary sources
3. Basic sources
4. Trade sources

(ii) Interpretation of data is associated with ............... .

1. Professional sources
2. Primary sources
3. Tertiary sources
4. Secondary sources

Answer

(i) Primary sources

(ii) Secondary sources