ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Urbanization

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Urbanization

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Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

  1. Cities offer the migrant better education prospects for him or his children.
  2. Workers in cities get higher wages.
  3. Rural areas act as the push factor while urban areas are the pull factor.
  4. Satellite towns or cities are socially and economically independent, either completely or partially.
  5. In India, 60 cities have been selected as Smart Cities.

B. Match the following columns
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 4 Urbanization 1

Answer:

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 4 Urbanization 2

C. State whether the following are true or false

1. Rapid industrial growth in and around the city leads to lack of job opportunities.
Answer. False.
Rapid industrial growth in and around the city leads to plenty of job opportunities.

2. People in the urban areas have less access to health, educational, cultural and social services than in rural areas.
Answer. False.
People in the urban areas have greater access to health, educational, cultural and social services than in rural areas.

3. Slums are usually located on land not owned by the slum dwellers.
Answer. True.

4. Satellite towns/cities are connected to the metropolis by trains and motorways.
Answer. True.

5. Mumbai is one of the 20 cities selected as Smart Cities.
Answer. False.
Mumbai is not one of the 60 cities selected as Smart Cities.

D. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1.
Define urbanization ?
Answer:
Urbanization is the process in which more and more people start to live and work in towns and cities rather than villages.

Question 2.
List any three factors responsible for the urbanization of a place.
Answer:
Factors responsible for the urbanization of a place are :

  1. Rapid industrial growth in and around cities provide plenty of job opportunities.
  2. Modern lifestyle and freedom from social practice like caste system in villages.
  3. Better medical facilities and health care services.
  4. Better education prospects for migrants and their children.
  5. Cities offer higher wages to workers.

Question 3.
Mention three ways in which the environment is affected as a result of increased urbanization.
Answer:
With the increase in urbanization, the environment is affected in many ways as :

  1. There is a steep rise in air pollution due to more factories and motor vehicles plying on the roads.
  2. The expansion of cities leads to the destruction of flora and fauna. Demand for more housing leads to deforestation and destruction of wetlands which drive away many birds and animals from their natural habitats.
  3. In many areas close to the sea, urbanization damages the ocean ecosystem.
  4. Destruction of green areas and increase in buildings leads to an increase in city temperatures.
  5. Rise in air pollution leads to respiratory diseases and allergies.

Question 4.
What are satellite cities ?
Answer:

  • Satellite cities : are smaller cities that come around larger cities but are independent of them. Its main objective is to relieve pressure from the main city. For example :
  • Main city : New Delhi — Satellite cities are Noida and Gurugram.
    Main city Mubai — Satellite cities are Thane and Navi Mumbai.

Question 5.
Briefly mention the aspects of urban life which serve as the basis for the smart cities.
Answer:
The different aspects of urban life which are normally the basis of smart cities are economy, environment, governance, human capital, international outreach, mobility and transportation, public management, social cohesion, technology, and urban planning.

Question 6.
What do you understand by Smart Cities ?
Answer:
Smart Cities : are urban regions that are highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability. The main purpose of a smart city is to improve the quality of life of the people by using information technology (IT) and to push economic growth. For example : In India, 60 cities have been selected as — ‘Smart Cities’ under Smart Cities mission. It include Jaipur, Pune, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Raipur, Indore, Bhopal, Kochi, etc.

Question 7.
Mention any five smart cities of India.
Answer:
Smart Cities : Hyderabad, Vadodara, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durgapur, Indore, Gwalior, Rourkela, Jabalpur and Bhopal.

Question 8.
Mention the top ten smart cities in the world.
Answer:
The top 10 smart cities in the world (as in 2017)
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 4 Urbanization 3
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 4 Urbanization 4

E. Answer the following questions in detail

Question 1.
What are the positive impacts of urbanization ?
Answer:
Positive impacts of urbanization :

  1. There is development and expansion of essential services like clean water, electricity and transport in cities.
  2. People in urban areas have greater access to health, educational, cultural and social services than in rural areas.
  3. More schools, colleges, training centers and universities provide better prospects to the children of migrants.
  4. Urbanization creates harmony among people coming from different strata of society, allowing people of different castes, groups, languages and religions to live and work together, breaking down the social and cultural barriers.
  5. Urbanization allows people to acquire modern communication skills, knowledge of computers, smartphones, languages, etc which enable them to get jobs.
  6. Urbanization also provides people the opportunity to acquire training and work experience in hi-tech industries, enhancing their skills and facilitating them to migrate to other countries.

Question 2.
How does urbanization negatively impact the lives of people?
Answer:
Negative effects of urbanization :

  1. Migrants from village to cities end up being labourers and lead to the creation of slums.
  2. Slum owners can easily throw out the slum dwellers from their houses.
  3. Growth in slums puts extra pressure on essential utilities like clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity supply, etc.
  4. Overcrowding in slums lead to the outbreak of diseases such as malaria and dengue.
  5. unemployment increases as the number of people looking for jobs is more than jobs available.
  6. Unemployment and poverty force people to do crimes.
  7. With urbanization, environment is affected is many ways.
  • There is a steep rise in air pollution due to more factories and motor vehicles plying on the roads.
  • The expansion of cities leads to the destruction of flora and fauna. Demand for more housing leads to deforestation and destruction of wetlands which drive away many birds and animals from their natural habitats.
  • In many areas close to the sea, urbanization damages the ocean ecosystem.
  • Destruction of green areas and increase in buildings leads to an increase in city temperatures.
  • Rise in air pollution leads to respiratory diseases and allergies.

Question 3.
Briefly explain ways of reducing the negative impact of urbanization.
Answer:
Ways to reduce the negative impact of urbanization : There are various steps that the government can take to check and reduce the negative effects of urbanization.

  1. Sustainable and environment-friendly cities : The government should plan and provide environment-friendly cities with smart growth techniques and should pass laws to this effect. It is quite unhealthy for people to reside in unsafe and polluted areas. Therefore, the government should aim to build sustainable cities with improved environmental conditions and habitats which are safe and clean for people living in urban areas.
  2. Provision of essential services : The government at the local level must ensure,that all populations living within the urban areas have access to adequate essential services such as education, health, sanitation and clean water, technology, electricity and food. Jobs and earning opportunities must be provided so that people can earn a living and lead a good quality life. Subsidies should also be provided by the government so that the costs of basic healthcare, education, public transportation, communication systems, energy and technology can be reduced.
  3. More job creation : More employment opportunities should be created to lessen the negative impact of rapid urbanization. Private investments should be encouraged in order to effectively utilize natural resources and create more job opportunities. For example by exploiting natural resources optimally and promoting tourism, more job opportunities can be created for the urban population. In order to encourage job creation, subsidies and grants should be provided to foreign and private investment in environment-friendly development projects.
  4. Population control : The government at the local level in urban areas must provide medical health clinics and family planning centers to help reduce the high rates of population growth. Effective medical counselling and campaigns directed towards health care and hygiene and family planning options must be provided across the entire urban area with the sole purpose of controlling diseases and population growth.

Question 4.
Elaborate the features of a satellite city.
Answer:
Satellite cities are smaller cities close to a larger or main city but are independent of them. Some of the features of a satellite city are :

  1. It is smaller than the main city and is located nearby.
  2. Satellite towns or cities are socially and economically independent, either completely or partially.
  3. Being physically separated front the metropolis by a wide corridor of rural land or a green belt or even a river, satellite cities develop their own urbanized area in the course of time.
  4. Satellite towns or cities are connected to the metropolis by trains and motorways.
  5. Many satellite towns or cities do not encourage the setting up of high pollution generating industries and factories.
  6. Satellite towns and cities encourage development of small- scale industries such as dairy farms, cottage industries, handicraft industries, jam factories, etc.
  7. Satellite cities are mostly ‘bedroom communities’ or residential areas. People go to work in the main city and return to their homes in the satellite cities.
  8. Satellite cities set up the their own municipalities.
  9. Satellite cities have their own museums, art galleries, theatres and multiplexes.

Question 5.
What are the essential features of a Smart City ?
Answer:
Smart cities are urban regions that are highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure. The IT (information technology) is the core basis of providing essential services to all residents. Other essential infrastructure, apart from IT in a smart city, includes —

  1. proper sanitation and waste management systems
  2. round the clock electricity supply
  3. round the clock and adequate water supply
  4. efficient urban mobility and public transport with a network of good, well-connected roads
  5. well-designed and affordable housing which even people in the low-income brackets can buy
  6. good governance, particularly e-governance where everything and everyone is connected digitally
  7. sustainable environment with more than adequate green cover
  8. safety and security of women, children and the elderly
  9. quick and efficient functioning of law enforcement officials
  10. adequate health centers and nursing homes
  11. good schools equipped with the latest teaching aids and smart classes.

Question 6.
Why is there a need to build a Smart City ?
Answer:
The main purpose of a smart city is to improve the quality of life of the people by harnessing information technology and to push economic growth. Also, smart cities encourage area- based development by transforming existing areas, including slums, into better planned places so that people can live happily and comfortably. New areas are identified so that more people can be accommodated in the future.

F. Picture study
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 4 Urbanization 5
This is the picture of a smart city.

Question 1.
What is a smart city?
Answer:
A smart city is an urban region which is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability.

Question 2.
Mention any three essential infrastructure requirement of a smart city.
Answer:
In a smart city, information technology (IT) is the core infrastructure and the basis of providing essential services to- all residents. Other essential infrastructure, apart from IT in a smart city, would include :

  1. Proper sanitation and waste management systems.
  2. Round the clock electricity supply.
  3. Round the clock and adequate water supply.
  4. Efficient urban mobility and public transport with a network of good, well-connected roads.
  5. Well-designed and affordable housing which even people in the low-income brackets can buy.
  6. Good governance, particularly e-governance where everything and everyone is connected digitally.
  7. Sustainable environment with more than adequate green cover.

G Map work
On an outline map of the world mark any ten smart cities of the world.
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 4 Urbanization 6

Extra Questions

Question 1.
What are slums ? How do they effect the cities ?
Answer:
Slums are urban areas that are heavily populated with poor housing and living conditions. They have the following effect on cities :

  1. Since slums are usually located on land not owned by the slum dwellers, they can be easily evicted (thrown out) from their houses by the owners.
  2. Growth of slums in urban areas puts pressure on essential utilities such as clean drinking water, sanitation, power, etc.
  3. Overcrowding in slums lead to the outbreak of diseases such as malaria and dengue.
  4. Crimes begin to increase in slum areas due to unemployment and poverty. It makes difficult to enforce law and order in the city.

Question 2.
According to 2011 Census, what is the urban population of India ?
Answer:
According to Census 2011, 377.1 million people live in urban areas in India which is nearly 31 per cent of the country’s total population.

Question 3.
Give some examples of satellite cities in India.
Answer:
Main City :

  • New Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Kolkata
  • Hyderabad
  • Pune

Satellite City :

  • Gurugram, Noida
  • Navi Mumbai, Thane
  • Rajarhat, Salt Lake City
  • Hi tech City
  • Pimpri- Chinchwad.

Question 4.
Give the names of few cities which have been selected under Smart Cities Mission in India ?
Answer:
In India 60 cities have been selected as ‘Smart Cities’ as part of the Smart Cities Mission. It includes Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Surat, Pune, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Vadodara, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Raipur, Bilaspur, Durgapur, Indore, Gwalior, Rourkela, Jabalpur and Bhopal.

5. Fill in the blanks

  1. In India 31% people live in urban areas.
  2. Thousands of youth having good knowledge of the English language are hired at call centers across the country.
  3. Urbanization provides people the opportunity to acquire training and work experience in hi-tech industries.
  4. Slums are urban areas that are heavily populated with poor housing and living conditions.
  5. Urbanization leads to creation of slums.
  6. Overcrowding in slums leads to the outbreak of diseases such as malaria and dengue.
  7. A rise in air pollution leads to rise in allergies and respiratory diseases.
  8. Satellite cities are mostly ‘bedroom communities’ or residential areas.
  9. Increase in the number of motor vehicles over the years has led to a huge increase in air pollution in New Delhi.
  10. In smart cities, information technology (IT) is the core infrastructure and the basis of providing essential services to all residents.
  11. In India 60 cities have already been selected as ‘Smart Cities’.
  12. Smart cities are urban regions that are highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure.
  13. Urbanization is the process in which more and more people j start to live and work in towns and cities rather than villages.

 

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Great Uprising of 1857

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Great Uprising of 1857

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APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi.
  2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help.
  3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt.
  4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 1
Answer:
Column A                                          Column B
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 2

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration.
    True
  2. The British supported Sati.
    False.
  3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British counterparts.
     True.
  4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses.
    True.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
How were the economic policies of the British responsible for the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
The British had changed the entire economic structure of India.

  1. Introduction of the new land revenue system which allowed the government to confiscate land and accept revenue in cash caused and suffering to the Indian peasants.
  2. Due to Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. Indian Industries could not compete with them and thus declined.
  3. When an Indian state was annexed, the administration was replaced by the company. This created unemployment and caused resentment.

Question 2.
Discuss the social and religious causes responsible for the Revolt of 1857.
Answer:

  1. British advocated many reforms such as abolition of Sati, female infanticide, child marriage, widow remarriage. This caused discontent all over. These reforms were interpreted by Indians as interference in their religious and social customs.
  2. Introduction of Railways and telegraph was viewed with fear and suspicion.
  3. Introduction of western Education was viewed as an attack on Indian social and religious customs.
  4. Policy of racial discrimination practiced by British led to anger and resentment.

Question 3.
Why do you think the Revolt of 1857 failed? Discuss four, causes for its failure.
Answer:

  1. Though it was wide spread it failed to involve all sections of the population.
  2. The revolt did not involve the masses. Only those people joined revolt who had been adversely affected by the British. Scindia, Holkar, Raja of Jodhpur did not join it. Instead they supported the British. Merchants, western educated middle class did not join it.
  3. The British soldiers were better equipped. Indians had outdated weapons. The British had experienced and competent Generals. Indian leaders lacked this expertise.
  4. The revolutionaries did not have enough resources. The British were stronger financially and militarily.
  5. The revolt was not planned and organised.
  6. The British had the advantage of post and telegraph. This helped them to communicate and exchange messages, plan strategies and act immediately.

Question 4.
Discuss the nature of the Uprising/Revolt of 1857.
Answer:
There are divergent view regarding the nature of the outbreak of 1857. British historians have called it a Mutiny – confined to the army which did not command the support of the people at large.
Same view was held by .contemporary Indians like Munshi Jiwan Lai, Moinuddin, (Both eye witnesses at Delhi) and Durgadas Bandopadhyaya. Others have described it as racial struggle for supremacy between the Black and White. Some describe it as a struggle between oriental and occidental civilisation and culture.
A few have described it as Hindu-Muslim conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. Some Indian have called it a “well planned struggle” and as “the first war of Indian Independence”.

V. Give reasons why:

1. State of Awadh was annexed by the British.
Ans. The state of Awadh was annexed on account of malad­ministration.

2. Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen lost their means of livelihood.
Ans. With the coming of Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. Indian Industries could not compete

3.The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle.
Ans. The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle as it was rumoured that these cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This enraged the Hindus and Muslims as the cow is a holy animal of Hindus and the pig is considered taboo for the Muslims.

VI. Picture Study –
The picture shows the revolt of 1857
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 3

Question 1.
How far were the greased catridges responsible for the Revolt?
Answer:
It was an immediate cause which supplied the spark to ignite diy firewood awaiting to be ignited. Other causes like oppressive economic policy, aggressive annexation policy, religious social interference by the British were already there waiting to be triggered into Revolt. This was provided by the rumour that cartridges were greased with the fat of cow and pig and hence this enraged the Hindus and Muslims.

Question 2.
Give your opinion as to how the Revolt would have been successful.
Answer:
It would have been successful if it had been well organised and well planned or if it had involved the masses. It would have been successful if merchants, educated middle class and zamindars had supported it and the Indian soldiers had better weapons and goods generals.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
  2. Prior to the outbreak of the Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar lived in Delhi as a Pensioner of the British.
  3. The Revolt of 1857 started as a Mutiny of the sepoys.
  4. The immediate cause of the Revolt was the issue of the greased cartridges.
  5. The Revolt ended the rule of the English East India Company.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 4

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 5

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 6

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. When Awadh/Nagpur/Jhansi was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were confiscated by the British.
Ans. When Awadh was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were confiscated by the British.

2. The rumour regarding greased cartidges started in Madras/ Calcutta/Delhi.
Ans. The rumour regarding greased cartidges started in Calcutta.

3. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy at Barrackpore/Nagpur/Satara, who refused to use the greased cartidges in 1857.
Ans. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy at Barrackpore, who refused to use the greased cartidges in 1857.

4.The Revolt in Lucknow/Meerut/Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb.
Ans. The Revolt in Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb.

5. Nana Saheb/Hazrat Mahal/Rani Lakshmibai led the Revolt in Lucknow.
Ans. Hazrat Mahal led the Revolt in Lucknow.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. Indian rulers were quite satisfied with Lord Dalhousie’s expansionist policies.
    False.
    Correct: Indian rulers were dissatisfied with Lord Dalhousies expansionist policies.
  2. Peasants benefitted from the land revenue system of the British.
    False.
    Correct : Peasants were not benefitted from the land revenue system of the British.
  3. Social reforms such as the abolition of sati and female infanticide, and the Widow Remarriage Act caused deep resentment among the orthodox sections of society.
    True.
  4. The Doctrine of Lapse was abolished after the Revolt.
    True
  5. The Revolt of 1857 had come as a shock to the British.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:
Question 1.
Why did Rani of Jhansi become a staunch enemy of the British?
Answer:
Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi by applying the Doctrine of Lapse. The annexation transformed the courageous Rani of Jhansi into a staunch enemy of the British.

Question 2.
Why did Nana Saheb fight against the British during the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II (a pensioner of the British), was denied a pension after his father’s death. Nana Saheb became one of the leaders of the Revolt.

Question 3.
Why did the zamindars and talukdars became sworn enemies of the British?
Answer:
When Awadh was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were confiscated by the British. They became sworn enemies of British rule.

Question 4.
What happened to the nawab’s army when Awadh was annexed?
Answer:
After the annexation of Awadh, the nawab’s army was disbanded. The soldiers lost their means of livelihood and their bitterness against the British increased.

Question 5.
When and where did the Revolt of 1857 begin?
Answer:
May 10, 1857 was a Sunday. The British officers at the Meerut cantonment in North India were preparing to attend church, while many other British soldiers were off duty.

Question 6.
Name any two main centres of Revolt.
Answer:
The important centres of the Revolt were Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi.

Question 7.
What step was taken by the British to reorganize the army after the Revolt?
Answer:
The army was reorganized and strengthened. The number of British soldiers was increased and the artillery placed exclusively under their control.

Question 8.
Mention any two important results of the Revolt.
Answer:
Results of the Revolt 1857

  1. The rule of the English East India Company came to an end.
  2. Treaties with Indian states would be honoured.
  3. The British government would not interfere in the social and religious customs of the people.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
In the context of the Revolt of 1857, answer the following questions:

  1. Mention any three political causes of the Revolt.
  2. Mention the three economic factors that led to the outbreak of the great Revolt.
  3. Explain briefly any four social and religious causes that led to the Revolt of 1857.

Answer:
(a) Political Causes:

  1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi by applying the Doctrine of Lapse. The annexation transformed the courageous Rani into a staunch enemy of the British.
  2. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II (pensioner of the British), was denied a pension after his father’s death. Nana Saheb became one of the leaders of the Revolt.
  3. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal Emperor, lived in Delhi as a pensioner of the British. Dalhousie announced that Bahadur’s successor would not be allowed to stay on in the historic Red Fort. He would have to move to a place near the Qutb Minar, on the outskirts of Delhi. This was a great blow to the dignity of the Mughal emperor and deeply hurt the sentiments of the Muslims.
  4. (The annexation of Awadh, on grounds of maladministration, outraged the people of India, in general, and Awadh, in particular. Awadh had always been a triendly. faithful and subordinate ally. The Nawab of Awadh was exiled to Calcutta.
  5. The British showed no respect for the treaties they had signed with the Indians. Treaties were broken whenever it suited them to do so. This created a sense of fear and insecurity among the rulers of subordinate states. The axe could fall on them anywhere, at any time.

(b) Economic Causes:

  1. The land revenue system, introduced by the British, caused great hardship and misery among the peasants. Under the zamindari system, for instance, the peasants were oppressed by the Zamindars and exploited by the moneylenders. If the cultivators failed to pay the land revenue to the Zamindars or return the loans to the moneylenders on time, they were often flogged, tortured or jailed. The impoverishment of the peasantry led to numerous famines.
  2. Landlords also suffered from a sense of insecurity. Thousands of jagirs were confiscated by Bentinck and Dalhousie when they were unable to produce written title deeds of ownership.
  3. The interests of the Indian economy was sacrificed for the interests of British trade and industry. This led to the utter collapse of traditional handicraft industries. Indian artisans and craftspersons were ruined.
  4. The annexation of Indian states was followed by large- scale unemployment and economic distress. When Awadh was annexed, the administration was replaced by Company Administration. As such, hundreds of court officials and their subordinates lost their means of livelihood.

(c) Social and Religious Causes:

  1. Social reforms such as the abolition of sati, and female infanticide, the Widow Remarriage Act and the introduction of women ‘s education caused deep resentment among the orthodox sections of society.
  2. The efforts of the missionaries to convert people to Christianity caused great alarm. Some of the missionaries ridiculed the religious beliefs and practices of the Hindus and Muslims in their effort to convert people to their faith. This hurt the religious sentiments of the people.
  3. The introduction of Western education undermined the position and importance of the Pundits and Maulvis and was seen as an attack on ancient traditions and values. The office of the Inspector of Schools in Patna was referred to as the ‘shaitane dafitar’.
  4. The introduction of the railways and posts and telegraphs aroused grave doubts and fears, especially among the simple, backward villagers. They thought that the telegraph system was a form of Western magic. They grew fearful of the intentions of the British
  5. The British judicial system introduced the principle of equality. This was regarded as a threat to the existing caste norms and privileges of the upper classes.
  6. The British looked down upon the Indians and followed a policy of racial discrimination. They made no effort to interact socially with the Indians. They were convinced of the superiority of the European race and treated the Indians with great contempt.

Question 2.
In the context of the military causes of the Revolt of 1857, answer the following questions:

  1. Mention any three grievances that the sepoys had against their British masters.
  2. How did the Act passed in 1856 by the British hurt the sentiments of the Hindu sepoys?
  3. Explain the immediate cause of the great Revolt?

Answer:
(a)
The sepoys had numerous grievances against the British-masters:

  1. The sepoys had helped the British to establish their empire in India but they were neither appreciated nor rewarded for their efforts. On the contrary, they were treated with great contempt by the British officers.
  2. There was grave discrimination between the Indian sepoy and his British counterpart. A capable and dedicated sepoy could not rise above the post of subedar.
  3. In 1856, an Act was passed which made it compulsory for all new recruits to serve overseas if required. This hurt the sentiments of the Hindus because they belived that overseas travel would lead to a loss of caste. The sepoys interpreted the regulation as another attack on their caste and religion.
  4. After the annexation of Awadh, the Nawab’s army was disbanded. The soldiers lost their means of livelihood and their bitterness against the British increased.
  5. The Indian soldiers greatly outnumbered the British soldiers. In 1856, the number of sepoys in the British army was more than five times that of the British soldiers. This emboldened the sepoys to take up arms against their foreign masters.

(b)
In 1856, an Act was passed which made it compulsory for all new recruits to serve overseas if required. This hurt the sentiments of the Hindus because they believed that overseas travel would lead to a loss of caste. The sepoys interpreted the regulation as another attack on their caste and religion.
(c)
In January 1857, a rumour started at the Dum Dum cantonment (in Calcutta) that the cartridges, which the British had introduced, were greased with cow fat and pig lard. The rumour spread like wildfire among the Hindu and Muslim sepoys. They were convinced that the government was deliberately trying to defile their religion. A wave of indignation and anger swept through all the military stations. On 29 march 1857 Mangal Pandey, a sepoy at Barrackpore refused to use the cartridge and attacked his senior officers. He was hanged to death.

Question 3.
In the context of the Revolt of 1857, briefly discuss:

  1. The decline of the Mughal dynasty
  2. Any four results of the Revolt of 1857
  3. Nature of the Revolt of 1857

Answer:
(a)
On 11 May 1857, Bahadur Shah Zafar was persuaded to accept the leadership of the Revolt. He was proclaimed the emperor of Hindustan. There was jubilation all around. The restoration of the Mughal empire was proclaimed with the booming of guns.
The success of the Revolt proved to be shortlived. British reinforcements arrived from Punjab, and Delhi was recovered in September 1857.
Bahadur Shah Zafar was taken prisoner, tried and exiled to Rangoon. The royal princes (two sons and one grandson of Bahadur Shah Zafar) were shot and and their bodies displayed on the streets. The once great dynasty of the Mughals finally came to an end.
(b)
Results of the Revolt 1857

  1. The rule of the English East India Company came to an end.
  2. India came under the direct rule of the British Parliament and the Queen of England.
  3. Queen Victoria issued a Proclamation promising to look after the welfare of the Indian people.
  4. Treaties with Indian states would be honoured.
  5. A general pardon was granted to all the rebels, except those who had killed British subjects.
  6. The British government would not interfere in the social and religious customs of the people.
  7. Indians would be given opportunities to be associated with the administration. High posts in government services would be given on the basis of merit, not race.
  8. The army was reorganized and strengthened. The number of British soldiers was increased and the artillery placed exclusively under their control.

(c)
Nature of the Revolt of 1857

  1. The Revolt was the outcome of the accumulated grievances of different sections of people and not the sepoys alone.
  2. Those who joined the Revolt had different reasons and different motives but they were all united in their hatred of British rule and their determination to overthrow it.
  3. It had wide popular support of various sections of society.
  4. The struggle created a strong bonding and a sense of unity between the Hindus and the Muslims. They fought shoulder to shoulder, as single brethren against a common enemy.
  5. Of the estimated 1,50,000 people killed in the Revolt, 1,00,000 were civilians.

G Picture study:

This is the picture of the queen who led the Revolt in Central India
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Great Uprising of 1857 7

  1. Identify the queen.
    Ans. Rani Laxmi Bai
  2. Name the city where she led the Revolt.
    Ans. Jhansi
  3. What were the economic causes of the Revolt of 1857?
    Ans. Refer Answer F-l (b) above
  4. What was the major outcome of the Revolt of 1857?
    Ans. Refer Answer F-3 (b) above.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Traders to Rulers (II)

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Traders to Rulers (II)

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Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The British had to face the challenge of the rulers of Hyderabad and Mysore, Marathas after the conquest of Bengal.
  2. The new Nizam of Hyderabad, Salabat Jung initially had cordial relations with the English.
  3. Lord Wellesley made the Nizam of Hyderabad enter the Subsidiary Alliance system.
  4. The English fought four wars with rulers of Mysore, known as Anglo-Mysore wars.
  5. It took the British 43 years to defeat the Marathas in three Anglo-Maratha wars.
  6. Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh on basis of misgovernance.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
Column A                                 Column B
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 2
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 3

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. The Subsidiary Alliance system was started by Lord Cornwallis.
    False.
  2. The capture of the port of Mahe by the British led to the Second Anglo-Mysore War in 1780
    True.
  3. Tipu won a great battle against his three enemies, the English, Nizam and the Marathas in 1792
    False.
  4. The war of succession among the Marathas in 1772 gave a chance to the English to interfere in Maratha politics.
    True.
  5. The Second Anglo-Maratha war was fought when Lord Wellesley was the Governor General of India.
    True.
  6. Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under the pretext of misgovernance.
    False.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
What were the results of the First Anglo-Mysore War?
Answer:
The Marathas, the Nizam and the British marched towards Mysore. But Hyder won over the Marathas and the Nizam. The British were isolated. Haider won after some setbacks. He forced the British to sign a peace treaty in 1769, according to which both Haider and the British agreed to help each other in case of any attack by a third power.

Question 2.
How did the British force win the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Answer:
In the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792) the company won the support of two other powers – the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas. Tipu Sultan was completely defeated by these three joint powers and was forced to sign the Treaty of Seringapattam in 1792. According to the terms of this treaty Tipu had to surrender half of his territories which were to be shared between the British, the Nizam and the Marathas. Tipu also had to pay a war indemnity of ruppees 3.3 crore. Two of his sons were taken hostages.

Question 3.
What were the causes of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War? What were its results?
Answer:
The Treaty of Seringapattam was short lived. Lord Wellesley, the Governor General wanted the ruler of Mysore, Tipu to accept the Subsidiary Alliance but Tipu refused to do so. Tipu sought French help. The British feared that the French might land in support of Tipu. So in 1799, the British went to war against Tipu. The Nizam joined the British but the Marathas remained neutral and the French support never came. Tipu was killed in the battle on 4th May 1799.

Question 4.
Name the four different centres of Maratha power.
Answer:
The four different centres of Maratha power were Bhonsle at Nagpur, Scindia at Gwalior, Peshwa at Pune and Holkar at Indore.

Question 5.
What were the causes and results of the First Anglo-Maratha War? When was it fought?
Answer:
In 1772, a war of succession followed for the seat of Peshwaship after the death of Peshwa Madhav Rao I between Raghoba and Madhav Rao II. The English sided with Raghoba. Marathas led by Nana Phadnavis supported Madhav Rao II. An indecisive war broke out and continued for seven years. It ended in 1782 with the signing of the Treaty of Salbai. Under this Madhav Rao II was recognised as Peshwa and the Marathas had to cede Salsette. Peace prevailed between the Marathas and the British for 20 years.

Question 6.
Who was the Governor-General of India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War? What was the significance of this battle?
Answer:
The Second Anglo-Maratha War was fought when Lord Wellesley was the Governor General of India. In 1803 Baji Rao II signed with the English East India Company a Subsidiary Alliance known as Treaty of Bassein. As a result the English installed Baji Rao II at Pune and helped to drive out the Holkars. The Maratha chiefs Scindia and Bhonsle refused to accept the system of Subsidiary Alliance and declared war against the British. But the British defeated the combined forces of Scindia and Bhonsle. They were forced to enter into the Subsidiary Alliance with the English. They ceded the territories of Ahmednagar, Broach, Cuttack and Balasore. This war gave a blow to the power and prestige of the Marathas.

Question 7.
Why was the Third Anglo-Maratha War fought? What were its results?
Answer:
The Third Anglo Maratha War was fought in (AD 1817-1818) because the Maratha chiefs were feeling humiliated after signing the Subsidiary Alliance with the British. Peshwa Baji Rao II began to make plans to unite the Marathas against the British. This war was fought during the Governor Generalship of Marquess Hastings. When Lord Hastings became aware of Baji Rao’s plans he forced him to sign the Treaty of Pune in 1817. According to it, Konkan was ceded and Baji Rao II renounced Maratha leadership. Scindia was forced to sign the Treaty of Gwalior and provide help to the British against the Pindaris.

The Marathas made their last attempt to regain their old prestige and independence. They declared war against English. Baji Rao II raised a huge army and attacked the British Residency at Poona in 1817. The war continued for about two years. Finally the Marathas were defeated and large parts of their territories were annexed by the British.

The Third Anglo – Maratha War led to the abolition of Peshwa’s hereditary office. The Maratha dream of building a Hindu empire was completely shattered and the British emerged as the unchallenged power in India.

Question 8.
State very briefly why the Marathas failed against the British.
Answer:
The Marathas were inferior to the English in material sources, military organisation, diplomacy and leadership. The Maratha state was despotic and feudal. It was a loose confederation of different powers – the Holkar, Bhonsle, Scindhia – headed by the Peshwa. The Marathas were careless about military intelligence whereas the British had superior espionage system. The Marathas did not possess any national sentiment. The internal jealously and selfish treachery among them triumphed over national interest. The Marathas lacked men of talent and leadership in later years. They were in disarray in all aspects.

Question 9.
Explain the doctrine of Lapse. Name the other methods used by Lord Dalhousie to expand the British power in India.
Answer:
According to Doctrine of Lapse if the ruler of a dependent state died without leaving a natural heir the state would automatically pass over to the British. The Doctrine of Lapse did not recognise adopted children as rightful heirs. Satara, Jaitpur, Baghat, Udaipur, Sambhalpur, Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse. Punjab was annexed through war. Awadh was annexed by Dalhousie on the basis of misgovemance.

V. Word Hunt

Given below is a grid. Look for names of places which Dalhousie annexed. You have to look vertically, horizontally and diagonally. In total there are 8 places. After you have found out these places, write down why these were annexed.
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 4
VI. Picture Study –

This is a picture depicting the first Anglo-Sikh War.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 5

Question 1.
What was the political condition of Punjab after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
Answer:
After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh there was a state of political instability in the Punjab. For six years there was conflict among various claimants to the throne.

Question 2.
When was the first Anglo-Sikh war fought?
Answer:
First Anglo Sikh War was fought in December 1845.

Question 3.
What were the causes and results of the First Anglo-Sikh War?
Answer:
The mother of the minor son of Ranjit Singh, Maharani Jindan Kaur instigated the Khalsa against the British. This led to the first Anglo-Sikh War.
The Sikhs were defeated and had to sign the Treaty of Lahore in 1846. The Sikhs lost territory and had to keep British Resident.

Additional Questions

Rise of British Power in Bengal

 A. Fill the in the blanks:

  1. Madras, Bombay and Calcutta became the headquarters of the British settlements in the southern, western and eastern regions, respectively.
  2. In 1717, the Mughal emperor granted the United East India Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  3. The French East India Company was established in 1664 C.E.
  4. The British and the French fought the Carnatic Wars in India to establish their monopoly in trade.
  5. Bengal in the 18th century was the richest and the most fertile province in India.
  6. In 1757 Robert Clive recovered Calcutta which had been captured by Siraj-ud-Daulah in 1756.
  7. Mir Jafar was deposed because he was unable to meet the demands of the British.
  8. In 1765, Awadh was returned to Shuja-ud-Daulah but Kora and Allahabad were taken away and given to Shah Alam II.
  9. Shah Alam II granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1765.
  10. Warren Hastings deposed and pensioned off the Nawab of Bengal and brought Bengal under the direct, and complete control of the Company.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 12

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 7

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1.
The English East India Company was established in the year 1600/1700/1800 CE.
Answer:
The English East India Company was established in the year 1600.

Question 2.
The English East India Company set up its first factory in Surat/Agra/Broach.
Answer:
The English East India Company set up its first factory in Surat.

Question 3.
The largest and the most prosperous European settlement in Bengal was the British settlement at Calcutta/Burdwan/ Murshidabad.
Answer:
The largest and the most prosperous European settlement in Bengal was the British settlement at Calcutta.

Question 4.
Alivardi Khan was succeeded by Mir Qasim/Siraj-ud- Daulah/Shuja-ud-Daula.
Answer:
Alivardi Khan was succeeded by Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Question 5.
Robert Clive hatched a plot with Mir Jafar/Mir Qasim/ Alivardi Khan to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Answer:
Robert Clive hatched a plot with Mir Jafar to replace Siraj- ud-Daulah.

Question 6.
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757/1764/1772.
Answer:
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757.

Question 7.
The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive/Warren Hastings/Lord Cornwallis.
Answer:
The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The Carnatic Wars were fought between the British and the French.
    True.
  2. The employees of the Company were entitled to both private trade as well as duty-free trade.
    False.
    Correct: The employees of the Company were permitted to carry on private trade but they were not entitled to the Company’s privilege of duty-free trade.
  3. The English East India Company was given the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.
    True.
  4. The British army was defeated in the Battle of Buxar.
    False
    Correct : The British army won in the Battle of Buxar.
  5. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British Company and Mir Qasim.
     False.
    Correct: The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British and Shuja-ud-Daulah.
  6. Warren Hastings laid the foundation of an organized system of government in Bengal.
    True.

 Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Who granted the English East India Company the exclusive right to trade with the East ?
Answer:
The Queen of England, Elizabeth I, granted the Company the exclusive right to trade with the East.

Question 2.
Name the British trading settlements in
(a) Madras  (b)Calcutta
Answer:
(a)
Madras was given to the British by a local ruler. They established a trading settlement which they fortified and named Fort St. George.
(b)
Calcutta In 1690 CE, a British trading settlement was established and fortified in Calcutta. It was named Fort William.

Question 3.
What important right did the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar grant the English East India Company ?
Answer:
In 1717, the Mughal Emperor, Farrukhsiyar, granted the Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (now Odisha). The Company made enormous profits.

Question 4.
Why were European traders attracted to the Bengal province inthe 18th century?
Answer:
Bengal was the richest and the most fertile province in India at that time. It was known as the paradise of the earth and this province attracted traders from many European countries.

Question 5.
What privileges did the farman of 1717 confer on the English East India Company?
Answer:
By the ‘Farman” of 1717, the English East India company was granted the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal. They were allowed to export and import goods from and to Bengal without paying any taxes to the government. They were given the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.

Question 6.
Why did the farman of 1717 become a bone of contention between the nawabs of Bengal and the British Company?
Answer:
The Nawabs of Bengal wanted British company to pay taxes on trade like the Indians. But the Britishers refused to do so. This created conflict between both the parties and resulted in wars between both of them.

Question 7.
Why did the British fortify their trade settlement in Calcutta?
Answer:
Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered the British to pay taxes to him like all other Indian merchants. The British refused to do so. This angered the young nawab. In anticipation of a war with the French, who had a trading settlement in Chandemagore, the British began to fortify Calcutta.

Question 8.
Why did Siraj-ud-Daulah attack Calcutta in 1756?
Answer:
When the Britishers tried to fortify Calcutta, Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered both the British and the French to dismantle their fortifycations and not to fight private wars on his territory. The French agreed but the British refused. This enraged the Nawab and he attacked Calcutta with a large army and captured Fort William.

Question 9.
What important trading right was granted to the English East India Company after its victory in the Battle of Plassey?
Answer:

  1. The English East India Company was granted the undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  2. The Company was given the zamindari of the 24 Parganas.

Question 10.
State the political significance of the Battle of Buxar.
Answer:

  1. It gave them political influence and control over Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
  2. It laid the foundation of British rule in India.

Question 11.
Name the Indian signatories of the Treaty of Allahabad.
Answer:
Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II

Question 12.
In which year was the Dual Government abolished and by whom?
Answer:
In 1772, Warren Hastings abolished the Dual Government.

F.Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the history of India. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) Give an account of the events leading from the conspiracy to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah to his eventual defeat in the Battle of Plassey.
(b)State the results of the Battle of Plassey.
(c) Why is this battle considered a major turning point in the history of India?
Answer:
(a)
A major part of the nawab’s army under the command of Mir Jafar did not take any part in the battle. Realizing that he had been betrayed, the nawab fled from the battlefield. He was captured and put to death.
(b)
Results of Battle of Plasey:

  1. The English East India company was granted the undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  2. The Company w’as given the zamindari of the 24 parganas.
  3. Mir Jafar paid the Company and its officials over 300 lakh rupees.

(c)
The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the histoiy of India.

  1. It paved the way for the establishment of British rule in Bengal and, eventually, the rest of India.
  2. It transformed a trading company into a political power.

It provided the British the vast resources of Bengal, which helped them to win the Third camatic war and other expeditions in India.

Question 2.
Mir Qasim was a competent ruler, determined to free himself from foreign control. In this context answer the following:
(a) What steps did Mir Qasim take to strengthen his position? Why did he abolish all duties on internal trade?
(b) Trace the events from the outbreak of war (1763) between Mir Qasim and the British up to the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
(c) Explain the importance of the Battle of Buxar.
Answer:
(a)
To strengthen his position, Mir Qasim improved the financial position of Bengal and raised a modern, disciplined and well-equipped army trained by the Europeans.The employers of the company misused their trade privileges. They sold their duty-free trade points to Indian merchants who also used them to carry on duty-free trade. This deprived the Nawab fo large revenues. To put an end to the corrupt practices of the British, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade.

(b)
The employees of the Company misused their trade privileges. They sold their duty-free trade permits to Indian merchants who also used them to carry on duty-free trade. This deprived the nawab of large revenues and was unfair to those local merchants who had to pay heavy duties.
To put an end to the corrupt practices of the British, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade. This made the British furious. They refused to accept an equal status with the Indian merchants.
In 1763, war broke out between Mir Qasim and the British. The nawab was defeated. Mir Jafar was reinstated on the throne.
Mir Qasim was determined to recover his throne. He escaped to Awadh, where he formed an alliance with Shuja-ud- Daulah, the nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II.
The combined forces of the three allies clashed with the Company’s troops at Buxar in 1764, and were decisively defeated by the British.

(c)

  1. The victory of the British in the Battle of Buxar firmly established them as masters of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  2. It gave them political influence and control over Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
  3. It laid the foundation of British rule in India.
  4.  At this time, Robert Clive returned to India as the governor of Bengal.

Question 3.
With reference to the Treaty of Allahabad and its impact,answer the following:
(a) Mention the terms of agreement between Robert Clive and Shuja-ud-Daulah in this treaty.
(b) Explain how the treaty between Robert Clive and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II legalized the English East India’s Company’s control over Bengal.
(c) Give an account of the events that followed the death of Mir Jafar, leading to the establishment of the Company as the real ruler of Bengal.
Answer:
(a)

  1. Awadh was returned to Shuja-ud-Daulah. However, the two districts of Kora and Allahabad were taken away from the Nawab.
  2. The nawab of Awadh had to pay a war indemnity of 50 lakh rupees to the Company.
  3. The British agreed to defend the nawab of Awadh against his enemies. The nawab would have to pay for the cost of the British troops. Awadh became a buffer state between the British possessions in Bengal and the Marathas.

(b)
The British gave Shah Alam II the districts of Kora and Allahabad and an annual pension of 26 lakh rupees. In return, the emperor (the nominal head of the Mughal empire) granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, e., the right to collect revenue from these provinces and judge civil cases. The Company’s control over Bengal was made legal.
(c)
After Mir Jafar’s death in 1765, his son was made-the nawab of Bengal. He had to sign a treaty with Clive,according to which he had to disband most of his army. He also had to transfer the ‘Nizamat’ powers (general administration and criminal justice) to a deputy nawab appointed by the British. The deputy nawab could not be dismissed by the nawab. The nawab was given an allowance of 53 lakh rupees which was subsequently reduced. Thus, the English East India Company became the real ruler of Bengal from 1765.

Question 4.
With reference to the establishment of Dual Government in Bengal (1765-72) answer the following:

(a) Why was the government introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive referred to as ‘Dual Government’?
(b) What were the advantages and disadvantages of this system for the Company and the nawab respectively?
(c) The evils of the Dual Government led to the collapse of the administration and the economy. Explain.
Answer:
(a)
Robert Clive introduced Dual Government in Bengal in 1765. Bengal now had two masters-the nawab and the Company. The Nawab was responsible for general administration, maintenance of law and order and justice (i.e., criminal cases). The Company had military power and the right to collect and use the revenue of Bengal. This arrangement was known as Dual Government.
(b)
The Company enjoyed power without any responsibilities. The nawab, on the other hand, was burdened with the responsibility of administration without the resources necessary for running it efficiently e., responsibility without power.The revenue was collected by Indian officials appointed by the Company. The greed, corruption and oppression of these officials reduced the peasants to conditions of utter misery. The Company took no interest in the welfare of the people.
(c)
The conditions of the people worsened when Bengal was hit by a terrible famine in which one third of the population perished. Nobody cared, neither the Company nor the nawab, who in any case had neither the authority nor the resources to lessen the miseries of the people. The Company, through its power to nominate the deputy nawab, only interfered in the general administration without assuming any responsibility.The evils of the Dual Government began to manifest themselves. The administration and economy collapsed. In 1772, the Court of Directors of the Company appointed Warren Hastings as the Governor of Bengal. In 1773, by the Regulating Act, he was made the Governor General of British territories in India. The Governor General was now the most important functionary of the East India Company.

G  Picture Study.

This picture portrays a momentous event in 1765, involving a British Governor and a Mughal emperor wherein the Mughal emperor is conveying the grant of the Diwani to the governor.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 8

  1. Identify the Mughal emperor and the British governor
    Ans. Mughal Emperor – Shuja-ud-Daulah, British Governor – Robert Clive
  2. What is the significance of this grant of the Diwani?
    Ans. The significance of granting the company the Diwani i.e. the right to collect revenue from these provinces and judge civil cases.
  3. Give a brief account of the battle that preceded this event. When did it take place?
    Ans. Battle of Buxar in 1764.
  4. What is the importance of this battle?
    Ans. Mir Qasim was defeated and Mir Jafar was reinstated on the throne.

Additional Questions

Expansion of British Power in India
EXERCISES
A. Fill the in the blanks:

  1. The five centres of Maratha power were:
    Ans.
    The five centres of Maratha power were:

    • The Sindhias of Gwalior
    • The Holkars of Indore
    • The Bhonsle family of Nagpur
    • The Gaekwad family of Baroda
    • The Peshwa of Poona (Pune)
  2. The Governors-General during the First and Second Anglo- Maratha Wars were Warren Hastings and Lord Wellesley, respectively.
  3. The Second Anglo-Maratha War was a severe blow to the Sindhia and Bhonsle of the Marathas.
  4. Lord Dalhousie adopted three methods to make the British the paramount power in India.
  5. Jhansi was annexed by Dalhousie on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
  6. Dalhousie annexed Awadh on the grounds of Maladministration or Misgovernment.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 9
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 10

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. The First Anglo-Maratha War was fought during the Governor-Generalship of Lord Cornwallis/Lord Wellesley/ Warren Hastings.
    Ans. The First Anglo-Maratha War was fought during the Governor- Generalship of Warren Hastings.
  2. The Maratha chiefs were united under the leadership of Nana Phadnavis/Baji Rao II/Madhav Rao II during the First Anglo-Maratha War.
    Ans. The Maratha chiefs were united under the leadership of Nana Phadnavis during the First Anglo-Maratha War.
  3. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War the British placed a descendant of Shivaji on the throne of Nagpur/Satara/Jhansi.
    Ans. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War the British placed a descendant of Shivaji on the throne of Satara.
  4. Punjab was annexed by Lord Minto/Lord Dalhousie/Lord Wellesley in 1849.
    Ans. Punjab was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1849.
  5. The widespread resentment against annexations expressed itself in the Revolt of 1849/1861/1857.
    Ans. The widespread resentment against annexations expressed itself in the Revolt of 1857

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. After Hyder Ali’s death, his son Tipu Sultan continued the Anglo-Maratha Wars.
    True.
  2. The Subsidiary Alliance system was used by the British to bring Indian rulers under British control without any war.
    True.
  3. The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the Indians.
    False.
    Correct : The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the British.
  4. The adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was denied the pension that his father used to get from the British.
    True.
  5. By 1856, the English East India Company had brought the whole of India under its control.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What was the main objective of the Subsidiary Alliance system?
Answer:
The subsidiary Alliance system was a method perfected by Lord Wellesley to subjugate Indian powers without the cost and bother/ trouble of war.Any Indian ruler whose security was threatened was encouraged to seek help from and enter into an alliance with the British, who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian ruler had to accept certain terms and conditions.                            ‘

Question 2.
What happened when the administration of a subsidiary state collapsed?
Answer:
When the administration collapsed, the British used it as an excuse for annexing the kingdom on grounds of misgovemment.

Question 3.
Why did Peshwa Baji Rao II sign the Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer:
In 1802, Peshwa baji Rao II, supported by Sindhia, was defeated by Holkar. Baji Rao II fled to Bassein where he signed the Subsidiary Treaty as a price for British protection and support. He was escorted back to Poona by British soldiers.

Question 4.
Why was Wellesley recalled from India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
Answer:
Wellesley was recalled from India because the government in England was unhappy with the enormous expenditure involved in Wellesley’s policy of wars and expansion.

Question 5.
How did the Subsidiary Alliance impact the
(a) economy
(b) administration in Awadh?
Answer:
(a)
Awadh had signed a Subsidiary Alliance with Wellesley. He had to protect the nawab from external invasions and internal rebellions. It made the nawabs complacent and unconcerned about the affairs of the state. The payement of annual subsidies to the Company exhausted the state treasury
(b)
When the administration was on the verge of collapse, Dalhousie struck. He brought charges of misgovemment or maladministration against the nawab. On those grounds he deposed the nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
With reference to the Subsidiary Alliance System perfected by Lord Wellesley, answer the following:
(a) Why did Indian rulers sign the Subsidiary Alliance? State two important military terms and conditions imposed on the Indian rulers by this treaty.
(b) The Subsidiary Alliance proved very beneficial for the British. Explain.
(c) Discuss the disastrous effects of the Subsidiary Alliance on the Indian states.
Answer:
(a)
Indian ruler whose security was threatened was encouraged to seek help from and enter into an alliance with the British,who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian rulers had to accept certain terms and condition in return for
British protection under the Subsidiary Alliance like:

  1. British troops would be permanently placed in the territory of the Subsidiary state.
  2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of the troops.
  3. He could not employ any europeans in his service or dismiss those who were already there.
  4. He could not form an alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.
  5. He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power.

(b)
The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the British like.

  1. The British maintained large armies at the expense of the Indian rulers.
  2. The British acquired valuable territories as subsidiary payment. This led to the expansion of the
  3. British empire in India and an increase in its resources.
  4. The influence of European rivals, especially the French, was excluded from the courts of the Indian rulers.
  5. The British controlled the foreign policy of the Subsidiary states.

(c)
The Subsidiary Alliance System had great effect on the subsidiary state like:

  1. British troops would be permanently placed in the territory of the Subsidiary state.
  2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of the troops.
  3. He could not employ any Europeans in his service or dismiss those who were already there.
  4. He could not form an alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.     ‘
  5. He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power.ses or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.

Question 2.
Dalhousie was a great expansionist and adopted a number of methods to build an all-India empire. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention the various methods adopted by Dalhousie and the territories annexed on the basis of these methods.
(b) Under what circumstances did a subordinate state automatically ‘lapse’ and pass into the hands of the British? How did the rulers react to this policy?
(c) Why did Nana Saheb become one of the leaders of the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
(a)
Dalhousie adopted a number of methods to give the final touches to the work of empire-building in India. The methods he adopted were:

  1.  War-Punjab.
  2. Doctrine of Lapse-Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur.
  3. Annexation on grounds of maladministration-Awadh.

(b)
Lord Dalhousie brought several subordinate states under the direct rule of the Company by annexing them on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, all subordinate states (subsidiary states and states created by the British) where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically ‘lapse’, e., pass into the hands of the British. Rulers without heirs could not adopt sons, according to the age-old Hindu and Islamic traditions, without the permission of the Company.
(c)
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, inherited his father’s personal property but was not given the pension that had been paid to his father. Nana Saheb became one of the important leaders of the Revolt of 1857.

Question 3.
With reference to the annexation of Awadh discuss:
(a) The effects of the Subsidiary Alliance on the administration in Awadh
(b)The political scenario in India by 1856
(c) Any three factors responsible for the success of the British over their Indian rivals
Answer:
(a)
Awadh had signed Subsidiary Alliance with Wellesley. He had to protect the nawab from external invasions and internal rebellions. It made the nawabs complacent and unconcerned about the affairs of the state. The payement of annual subsidies to the Company exhausted the state treasury. When the administration was on the verge of collapse, Dalhousie struck. He brought charges of misgovemment or maladministration against the nawab. On these grounds he deposed the nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.
(b)
By 1856 the English East India Company had brought the whole of India under its control of the British. The British had eliminated all their rivals and established themselves as the paramount power in India.
(c)
The factors responsible for the success of the British are:

  1. Lack of unity among Indian rulers.
  2. Lack of organized and efficient administration in Indian states.
  3. Superior military resources of the company.
  4. Superior economic resources of the company.
  5. Naval supremacy of the British.

G Picture study:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Traders to Rulers (II) 11

  1. Name the Governor General.
    Ans. Lord Dalhousie
  2. What was the method adopted by him to subjugate the Indian territories ?
    Ans. Governor General Dalhousie was a great imperialist who annexed several states on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
  3. Mention the terms and conditions under this method.
    Ans. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, all subordinate states
    (subsidiary states and states created by the British) where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically ‘lapse’, i.e. pass into the hands of the British. Rulers without heirs could not adopt sons, according to the age-old Hindu and Islamic traditions, without the permission of the Company.
  4. Did this method have any advantage for the Indian rulers? Why ?
    Ans. The annexation of these states caused widespread resentment among the Indian rulers and became a potent factor responsible for the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Asia: Climate and Natural Vegetation

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage – Asia: Climate and Natural Vegetation

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

ICSE Solutions Class 8 GeographyHistory & CivicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

  1. A few regions of South-west Asia receive winter rainfall from the temperate cyclones that originate over the Mediterranean Sea. (tropical cyclones, temperate cyclones, north-east winds, south-east winds)
  2. The Mediterranean climate is ideally suited growing citrus fruits, (equatorial, warm temperate east coast, Mediterranean, tropical monsoon).
  3. The tropical rain forests of Asia are dense and impenetrable, (steppes, mangrove forests, monsoon forests, tropical rain forests)
  4. About one-third of the land area of Asia is covered with forest.
  5.  Thermal electricity is produced by burning coal and petroleum.

B. Match the following

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 8 Asia Climate and Natural Vegetation 1
Answer:

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 8 Asia Climate and Natural Vegetation 2

C. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1.
When does most of Asia receive maximum rainfall ? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
Most of the Asia receives maximum rainfall in the months of April, May and June. In summers, most of Asia has an average temperature of about 32°C. The hot air over the land rises and creates an area of low pressure. There is high pressure in the surrounding seas and oceans. So there is movement of warm moisture-laden onshore winds which are called monsoons. These winds cause heavy rainfall.

Question 2.
Name any two countries that experience Mediterranean climate.
Answer:
Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Israel experience Mediterranean climate.

Question 3.
Explain how the climate of the cold temperate regions of Asia has affected the :

  1. Vegetation
  2. Wildlife

Answer:

  1. Vegetation of the cold temperate regions of Asia — These regions experience long severe winters with heavy snowfall and very short, cool summers with light rainfall. So the natural vegetation has adapted very well to the climate. The evergreen softwood trees of the region are conical in shape and have needle-like leaves. They are called coniferous trees as they have cones in which they bear their seeds. The common tree species are pine, fir, spruce, larch and cedar. The forests are also called as taiga.
  2. Wildlife — Several small to medium sized animals such as the fox, sable, bear, mink, lynx and squirrel are found here which have fur over their bodies to protect them from cold weather.

Question 4.
Name some wildlife species found in the taiga region, the tundra region, and the tropical deciduous forests of Asia..
Answer:
Wildlife species found in the taiga region are fox, sable, bear, mink, lynx and squirrel. Wildlife species found in the tundra region of Asia are polar bears, reindeer, foxes, seals and walruses.
Wildlife species found in the tropical deciduous forests of Asia are rhinoceros, elephants, bears, deer, apes, lions, tigers, leopards, etc.

Question 5.
Trees cannot grow of survive in the regions beyond the Arctic Circle in Asia. Why ?
Answer:
Trees or forests cannot grow or survive in the regions beyond the Arctic Circle in Asia because this region has long severe winters and the frozen subsoil which do not permit the growth of trees and this region is, therefore, devoid of forests.

D. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs

Question 1.
Identify the main factors that affect the climate of Asia. Explain any two of them.
Answer:
The Main factors that affect the climate of Asia are :

  1. Size and latitudinal extent — Asia is the largest continent with a large east-west extent. Also, it stretches across the torrid, temperate and frigid heat zones of the earth.
  2. Distance from the sea — Many parts of Asia are far away from the maritime influence of the seas and oceans and experience extreme conditions and continental climate. Places closer to the’Coasts enjoy equable or maritime climate.
  3. Relief features — like mountain ranges of Asia extend in the east-west direction and form barriers to the moisture laden winds and the cold winds.
  4. Wind — Moisture bearing winds from the south and cold winds of the north affect the climate of the places.
  5. Ocean Currents — The cold Oya Siwo and the warm Kuro Siwo ocean currents affect the temperatures of the coastal regions of Japan.

Question 2.
Describe the climatic conditions in Asia from October to March.
Answer:
From October to March, Asia experiences winter season as the northern hemisphere receives the slanting rays of the sun because of the tilt of the earth’s axis. The temperature falls to 0°C and even below freezing point in many parts of the northern Asia. The air over the land is cold and heavy and sinks causing high pressure. The surrounding oceans and seas ! have higher temperature and lower pressure so the cold air
moves from land (high pressure) to sea (low pressure). These winds are dry and hence most of the Asia receives no winter rainfall except South-East Asia, Japan, South-Eastern India i and parts of Sri Lanka, where the same winds cross the seas
and pick up moisture. A few regions of South-West Asia receive winter rainfall from the temperate cyclones that originate over the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 3.
Write about the Mediterranean climate experienced in Asia.
Answer:
The Mediterranean Climate in Asia is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Since these areas experience drought-like conditions in summer, the natural vegetation has adapted to the climate by developing long roots and spongy barks. The evergreen vegetation of oak, acacia, laurel, chestnut, walnut and olive trees is common. Orchards of citrus fruits such as lemons, and oranges, vineyards and farm grains have replaced the natural vegetation. In the absence of natural habitat, not much wildlife is found. Mostly domesticated animals such as donkeys, cattle and sheep are found.

Question 4.
Describe each of these forests :

  1. Tropical deciduous
  2. Equatorial rainforest.

Answer:

1. Tropical deciduous forests — They are found in tropical monsoon climate. These areas have hot wet summers with heavy rainfall and cool dry winters. Tropical deciduous forests are also called as monsoon forests. They have hardwood, broad-leaved trees which shed their leaves, in the dry season, usually in winter. Teak, Sal, shisham and mango are the common tree species. These thrive in regions of heavy rainfall. Grasses and thorny bushes grow in drier regions. Elephants, rhinoceros, bear, deer, apes, lion tiger, leopard, etc are some of the wildlife species found here.
Such forests are found in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Southern China.

2. Equatorial rainforest — Such forests are found in equatorial climate where the temperatures are high of about 28-30°C and rainfall occurs all year round. Such climatic conditions have resulted in dense, hardwood forests with broad-leaved tree species such as mahogany, ebony, rosewood, cinchona, coconut and rubber. There are lianas, creepers and climbers, tall grass, ferns and bamboos that grow between the tall trees, which makes the forests dense and impenetrable. The forests are dark and gloomy as very little sunlight reaches the ground owing to the tall trees whose branches spread out, forming a canopy. Mostly arboreal or tree-dwelling animals such as monkey, apes and colourful birds are found. Reptiles such as lizards, snakes, crocodiles and insects are found in the swampy floors of the forests. Large animals such as elephants and wild cats are only found in the outskirts as the forest interior is too dense.
Such forests are found in countries located close to the equator like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Southern Philippines.

Question 5.
How has modernization changed the natural vegetation of the Mediterranean and steppe regions ?
Answer:

  • Mediterranean region — Due to modernization, most of the natural vegetation has been replaced by grain farms, orchards of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges and vineyards.
  • Steppes region (Temperate Grassland) —Vast areas of grasslands have been converted into rich farmlands that grow wheat, barley and other food grains.

Question 6.
How are forests useful to the people of Asia?
Answer:
About one-third of the land area of Asia is covered with forest. Some of these forests provide hardwood, bamboo, sandalwood and camphor. They also provide other valuable forest products such as lac, resin, turpentine, honey, medicinal plants and herbs. Natural rubber is obtained from the latex of the rubber tree. The evergreen rainforest of the equatorial region and the monsoon forests of the tropical regions of Asia are the chief sources of these products.
Softwood forests yield softwood for making paper, pulp, newsprint, matchsticks and synthetic fibers such as rayon. These are obtained from trees such as birch, pine, cedar and fir, which grow in the taiga or coniferous forests region of northern Asia, especially Siberia.

Question 7.
Give an account of the mineral resources of Asia.
Answer:
Asia has vast deposits of different types of minerals such as iron ore (India, Malaysia, China, Russia, Japan, the Philippines, North Korea), coal (China, India, Kazakhstan, Russia), bauxite (India, Indonesia, Russia), and petroleum (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Russia).

E. Map study
On an outline map of Asia, mark the following:

  • area affected by the monsoons
  • regions of equatorial climate
  • regions of Mediterranean climate
  • areas under the steppes

Answer:
(a) Area affected by the monsoons

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 8 Asia Climate and Natural Vegetation 3
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 8 Asia Climate and Natural Vegetation 4

F. Picture study

Question 1.
Identify the animal seen in the photograph.
Answer:
Yak

Question 2.
In which climatic region of Asia can you find this animal ?
Answer:
Temperate or mid-latitude Desert region of Asia.

Extra Questions

Question 1.
Write a short note on summer conditions in Asia.
Answer:
From April to June, the sun rays fall directly over the northern hemisphere. In June, it shines overhead the Tropic of Cancer, so most of the continent of Asia, except the extreme northern parts beyond the Arctic Circle is warm with an average temperature of 32°C. Most of the Asia receives maximum rainfall in these months.

Question 2.
Why is Siberia so sparsely populated ?
Answer:
Siberia is sparsely populated as the climate here is very cold. Winters are long and severe with heavy snowfall which the summers are short and cool.

Question 3.
Write a short note on the tropical or hot desert climate and the natural vegetation and wildlife found there.
Answer:
Tropical or hot desert climate prevails in Arabia, Iran and the Thar desert in India and Pakistan. These regions experience very hot dry summers and very cold winters. The daily and annual ranges of temperature are very high and the areas receive less than 25 cm of rainfall annually.
As climatic conditions are harsh, vegetation is scarce and only thorny bushes, shrubs, cacti and clumps of dry grasses are found scattered in the region which is largely bare and devoid of vegetation. Date palms are found in the oases. Camels, horses, mules, gazelles, insects and lizards are some of the wildlife species found in the deserts.

Question 4.
What type of climate do China, Japan and Korea experience?
Answer:
China, Japan and Korea experiences warm temperate eastern margin or China type climate. It is similar to monsoon type except that the winters are colder. Snowfall occurs in winters while rainfall occurs in summer.

Question 5.
Which is the most common domesticated animal in Tibet ? What kind of climate is found in the Plateau of Tibet and the Gobi Desert ?
Answer:
Yak is the most common domesticated animal in Tibet. Temperate (or mid-latitude) desert climate is found in the Plateau of Tibet and the Gobi Desert. Very little rainfall, very cold winters with temperatures below the freezing point and very hot summers is found.

Question 6.
What increases the commercial value of forests in cool temperature eastern margin climate ?
Answer:
Oak, beech, maple and birch are the main trees and their occurrence in almost pure stands and predominance of only a handful of species greatly increase the commercial value of these forests.

Question 7.
List the major types of climate of Asia.
Answer:
The major types of climate of Asia are :

  1. Equatorial climate
  2. Tropical monsoon climate.
  3. Tropical or hot desert climate. .
  4. Warm temperate eastern margin or China type climate.
  5. Temperate or mid-latitude desert climate.
  6. Mediterranean climate
  7. Cool temperate eastern margin climate
  8. Temperate grassland or steppe climate
  9. Cold temperate or taiga climate
  10. Arctic or tundra climate.

Question 8.
What are the different types of vegetation found in varied climatic conditions of Asia ?
Answer:
The different types of vegetation in Asian climate include dense evergreen hardwood forests, tropical deciduous forest, thorny bushes, coarse short grasses, evergreen softwood trees and mosses and lichens.

9. Fill in the blanks.

  1. The areas away from the coasts experience continental (extreme), climate while places closer to the coasts experience maritime (equable) climate.
  2. World’s highest surface temperature of 71°C has been recorded in Dasht-eLut in Iran.
  3. Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the heaviest rainfall in the world.
  4. Verkhoyansk in Russia is the coldest region in Asia with an average temperature of-51 °C. ’
  5. Most of the Asia receives no rainfall in winter.
  6. Convectional rainfall occurs almost daily around 4 o’ clock in equatorial climate region of Asia.
  7. Latex is the milky sap of rubber tree which is collected and used to make rubber for commercial purposes.
  8. The equatorial (tropical) rainforests are different from the rainforests of the Amazon and Zaire basins because of their nearness to the sea.
  9. India has tropical monsoon climate and tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests.
  10. Date palms are found in the Oases in hot deserts.
  11. The Gobi Desert stretches across large parts of Mongolia and China.
  12. Yak is one of the most commonly domesticated animals in the temperature desert regions of Asia.
  13. The two-humped Bactrian camel is a well-known animal of temperate grassland or steppe.
  14. The temperate grassland region of Central Asia is called steppe.
  15. The forests of the cold temperate regions, have coniferous trees with needle like leaves.
  16. The coniferous forests in cold temperate climate are called as Taiga.
  17. The treeless plains in the Arctic climate are called Tundra.

Map Skills
On a physical map of Asia, show the different types of climate and natural vegetation
Answer:

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 Geography Voyage Chapter 8 Asia Climate and Natural Vegetation 5

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – India in the Eighteenth Century

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – India in the Eighteenth Century

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his capital to Murshidabad.
  2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724.
  3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore.
  4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind Singh.
  5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 2

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 3

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary.
    False.
  2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats.
    False.
  3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers.
    False.
  4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad.
    False.
  5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) and Pink City (Jaipur).
    True.

 IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire.
Answer:
Causes that led to the downfall of Mughal Empire were
(a)
Weak successors: After Aurangzeb’s death the Mugh empire started declining. His successors were weak are were toys in the hands of nobles and Governors. The lacked the administrative skills of their predecessors.
(b)
Internal Rivalry: The nobles and Governors belonged different groups and were always engaged in const? struggle for power. This hampered the growth of the emp
(c)
Crisis in Jagirdari and Mansabdari system: The Mugh introduced the Jagirdari and the mansabdari systems , smooth running of their administration but they only prov to be the cause of the decline of their empire.
(d)
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali:
Duri the reign of Mohammad Shah two foreign invasions crippl the Mughal empire. They invaded India and weakened tl Mughal Empire.

Question 2.
When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipa fought? What were its results?
Answer:
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan invader and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwa suffered a crushing defeat and this put an end to the Maratha power.

Question 3.
Name the first independent Nawab of Bengal. What were his achievements?
Answer:
Murshid Quli Khan became the first independent Nawab of Bengal. He established an efficient administration and effectively organised the revenue system. He also started the new system of land revenue collection, on the basis of contracts, known as Ijara system. He reorganised the zamindari for which he is will remembered in the history of Bengal.

Question 4.
When was the Battle of Plassey fought? What effect did it have on the position of the English East India Company?
Answer:
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British and Siraj-ud-daulah in which the English defeated the army of Siraj-ud-daulah. From then onwards the English East India Company functioned as king makers in Bengal politics. Finally,the English established their full sway in 1765 when Robert Clive set up the Dual Government in Bengal.

Question 5.
Who was Haider All? Discuss his achievements.
Answer:
Hyder All was the ruler of Mysore. He started his career as an ordinary soldier in the Mysore army. He won many battles against the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad and routed his enemies in two consecutive Anglo-Mysore Wars.

Question 6.
Which ruler was known as the Tiger of Mysore?
Answer:
Tipu Sultan, the son and heir of Haider Ah and ruler of Mysore is known as ‘Tiger of Mysore.

V. Tell me why

Question 1.
The consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat was n advantageous for the British.
Answer:
The Marathas had established a Maratha Kingdom during the reign of Aurangzeb. They were very powerful and with time and with the decline of the Mughals would have proved worthy , opponents to the emerging British empire but the third Battle of Panipat (1761) sealed their fate. Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan . invader gave a crushing defeat to the forces of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. It put an end to the Maratha power and their dream of ruling India. Thus, the way was proved for the British East India Company to gain power and become supreme.

Question 2.
Independent states were formed in the 18th century.
Answer:
The later Mughal rulers were so weak that they could not hold the provinces of the empire together. These provinces were under Governors who were always engaged in wars. Gradually, they took advantage of the situation of misrule and misgovemance by the central authority and declared independence.Thus, Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh Rohikhand became independent one after the other.

VI. Pictury study – This is a picture of a great ruler of Punjab.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 4

Question 1.
Identify him.
Answer:
Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Question 2.
How did the unite the Sikhs in Punjab?
Answer:
Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought the whole area west of River Sutlej under his control and established the Sikh kingdom in Punjab. He signed the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with the British which confirmed his conquests and established his sovereignty over the terrioty west of Satluj. It was only after his death in 1839 that the British gained control over the Punjab.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. During the first half of the 18th century, the great Mughal empire decayed and disintegrated.
    The Mughal emperors who ruled India after the death of Aurangzeb are known as the later Mughals.
  2. There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court.
  3. Nadir Shah looted and plundered Delhi He carried away immense treasures including the priceless Kohinoor and the Peacock Throne.
  4. Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, repeatedly attacked the Mughal empire.
  5. Bahadur Shah Zafar, was defeated in the Revolt of 1857 and exiled to Rangoon by the British.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 5
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 6
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 7

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. Aurangzeb/Akbar/Shah Jahan followed a policy of religious intolerance.
    Ans. Aurangzeb followed a policy of religious intolerance.
  2. The military campaign in the Deccan led by Shah Jahan/ Aurangzeb/Akbar ruined the Mughal empire financially
    Ans. The military campaign in the Deccan led by Aurangzeb ruined the Mughal empire financially.
  3. The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan/Persia/Iraq shattered the power and prestige of the Mughal empire.
    Ans. The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan shattered the power and prestige of the Mughal empire.
  4. The Mughal empire lasted for over 3/5/6
    Ans. The Mughal empire lasted for over 3 centuries.
  5. The British ruled over India for a 100 years/nearly 200 years/ 300 years.
    Ans. The British ruled over India for nearly 200 years.

D. State whether the following are true or false.

  1. Bahadur Shah ascended the throne after the death of Aurangzeb.
    True.
  2. The Mughal court was united and stable.
    False
    Correct:- The Mughal court was divided and unstable.
  3. The Mughal officers were given jagirs as payments for their services.
    True.
  4. The Mughal rulers did not have a navy.
    True.
  5. The successors of Aurangzeb were very strong and efficient.
    False.
    Correct: The successors of Aurangzeb were very weak and unefficient.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
When did the transition from the Medieval to the Modern Period begin in India?
Answer:
The transition from the Medieval to the Modem Priod began with the decline of the Mughal empire in the first half of the 18th century.

Question 2.
Name the first and the last emperors in the line of the Later Mughals.
Answer:
Bahadur Shah first in the line of emperors referred to as the Later Mughals. Bahadur Shah Zafar last emperor in the line of the Later Mughals.

Question 3.
Name any two rival groups of nobles in the Mughal court.
Answer:

  1. The Iranis hailed from Persia
  2. Turanis hailed fromTransoxiana.

Question 4.
Mention any two reasons for the failure of the mansabdari system.
Answer:
Mansabdars had to maintain a fixed number of troops. They were given jagirs as the payment for doing so. Later, an increase in the number of mansabs and a shortage of jagirs led to corruption and inefficiency in the system.

Question 5.
What was the economic impact of the Mughal wars of succession?
Answer:
After the death of a Mughal ruler, generally there were wars of succession among rival claimants to the throne. These wars proved very costly and destructive. They drained the resources of the empire and made it instable and weak.

Question 6.
How did Aurangzeb’s religious policy affect the relationship between the Mughals and the Rajputs?
Answer:
Aurangzeb’s policy of religious intolerance shook the foundations of the empire and resulted in the following:

  • The costly, long-drawn and ruinous Deccan campaign.
  • Numerous wars with the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Jats and the Rajputs.
  • Loss of support of the loyal Rajputs who had earlier contributed greatly to the stability of the Mughal empire but now became its bitter foes.

Question 7.
What led to the drain on the royal treasury during Shah Jahan’s reign?
Answer:
The enormous sums of money spent by Shah Jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury.

Question 8.
Which Mughal emperor assumed leadership of the Revolt of 1857? What happened to him after the Revolt?
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last of the Mughals, assumed leadership of the rebels in the Revolt of 1857 against the British. He was defeated and exiled to Rangoon where he died. The Mughal empire came to an inglorious end.

F. Answer the following questions briefly.

Question 1.
Several factors were responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire. In this context answer the following questions:
(a).How did court politics undermine the authority and prestige of the Mughal empire?
(b).To what extent was the jagirdari crisis responsible for a further decline of the power of the emperor?(c).How did the wars of succession destabilize the Mughal empire?
Answer:
(a).
There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court- Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis. The Iranis hailed from Persia, the Turanis hailed from Transoxiana, and the Afghans came from the mountainous border regions across the river Indus. The Mughal court was a house sharply divided from within. This resulted in a constant struggle for power among these groups. Their mutual jealousies and rivalries caused great harm to the Mughal administration and undermined the prestige and authority of the Mughal emperor.
(b)
The Mughal officers were given jagirs as payment for their services. Towards the end of the 17th century, there were very few jagirs left. To satisfy the demands of the newly recruited officers, crown lands were converted to jagir lands and given to the nobles. This led to a loss of revenue for the royal treasury and a further decline in the power of the emperor.
(c)
After the death of a Mughal ruler, generally there were wars of succession among rival claimants to the throne. These wars proved very costly and destructive. They drained the resources of the empire and made it instable and weak.

Question 2.
With reference to the decline and disintegration of
(a) The Mughal empire discuss the following:
(b) The breakdown of the mansabdari system The weaknesses
(c) of the Mughal army Aurangzeb’s religioius policy
Answer:
(a) Under this system, mansabdars had to maintain a fixed number of troops. They were given jagirs as the payment for doing so. Later, an increase in the number of mansabs and a shortage of jagirs led to corruption and inefficiency in the system.

(b) 
The Mughal army also failed to keep pace with the time. The Mughal rulers did not have a navy and made no efforts to establish one. Their equipment and techniques of warfare were obsolete and ineffective. Nothing was done to reform, modernize and strengthen the army.

(c) 
His policy of religious intolerance shook the foundations of the empire and resulted in the following:

  1. The costly, long-drawn and ruinous Deccan campaign.
  2. Numerous wars with the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Jats and the Rajputs.
  3. Loss of support of the loyal Rajputs who had earlier contributed greatly to the stability of the Mughal empire but now became its bitter foes.

Question 3.
To what extent were the following factors responsible for the eventual collapse of the Mughal empire?
(a) Economic bankruptcy (b) Foreign invasions (c) Weak successors
Answer:
(a) Economic bankruptcy: A major cause of the disintegration of the Mughal empire was its economic bankruptcy. The enormous sums of money spent by Shah jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury. Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaign was a financial disaster that ruined the empire and made its collapse inevitable.

(b)Foreign invasions:
The invasions of Nadir Shah, the ruler of Persia (Iran), and Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, shattered the power and prestige of the Mughals. Nadir Shah looted and plundered Delhi and carried away valuable treasures, including the priceless Kohinoor Diamond and the Peacock Throne. Ahmad Shad Abdali plundered northern India repeatedly.

(c) Weak successors:
Aurangzeb ruled over a vast empire which he controlled with an iron hand. His successors were pleasure-loving, weak and inefficient. They were puppets in the hands of powerful, ambitious nobles who controlled the administration. The provincial governors took advantage of the weak government at the centre and set up independent kingdoms in the Mughal provinces. This led to the break-up and collapse of the empire.

G. Picture Study:

This is a portrait of the last of the Later Mughals.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - India in the Eighteenth Century 8

Question 1.
Identify the Mughal emperor represented in this picture.
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Question 2.
What part did he play in the Revolt of 1857?
Answer:
Role of Bahadur Shah Zafar in the Revolt of 1857:
As the Indian rebellion of 1857 spread, sepoy regiments seized Delhi. Seeking a figure that could unite all Indians, Hindu and Muslim alike, Most rebelling Indian kings and the Indian regiments accepted Zafar as the Emperorof India. Under whom the smaller Indian kingdom would unite until the British were defeated. Zafar was the least threatening and least ambitious of monarchs, and the legacy of the Mughal Empire was more acceptable a uniting force to most allied kings than the domination of any other Indian kingdom.

Question 3.
What happened to the Mughal empire after his death?
Answer:
The Mughal Empire came to an inglorious end.

Question 4.
Mention any four reasons for the decline of the Mughal empire Explain any two reasons.
Answer:
(a) Politics in the Mughal court
(b) Weak Military organization and Administration
(c) Aurangzeb’s Bankruptcy
(d) Foreign Invasions

  • Politics in the Mughal court: There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis. The Iranis hailed from Persia, the Turanis hailed from Transoxiana, and Afghans came from the mountainous border regions across the Indus. The Mughal court was a house sharply divided from within. This resulted in a constant struggle for power among these groups. Their mutual jealousies and rivalries caused great harm to the Mughal administration and undermined the prestige and authority of the Mughal Emperor.
  • Economic Bankruptcy: A major cause of the disintegration of the Mughal Empire was its economic bankruptcy. The enormous sums of money spent by Shah Jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury. Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaign was a financial disaster that ruined the empire and made its collapse inevitable.