Chapter 2 - Europe and India
1. Rewrite the statements by choosing the appropriate options
(1) In 1453 the city of …………… was conquered by Ottoman Turks.
(a) Venice
(b) Constantinople
(c) Rome
(d) Paris
Ans: Option (b) – Constantinople
(2) The Industrial Revolution began in …………… .
(a) England
(b) France
(c) Italy
(d) Portugal
Ans: Option (a) – England
(3) …………… tried to put restrictions on the illegal trade of British.
(a) Siraj-ud-Daulah
(b) Mir Kasim
(c) Mir Jafar
(d) Shah Alam
Ans: Option (b) – Mir Kasim
2. Explain the following concepts.
(1) Colonialism
Ans:
(i) The exploitation of one country by another and making it into a colony is called Colonialism.
(ii) On the basis of economic and military strength, one country occupies a region of another country and establishes its political supremacy.
(iii) Many European nations established colonies in various parts of the continents of America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
(iv) They grabbed power by using force to exploit the colonies systematically. This gave rise to Imperialism.
(2) Imperialism
Ans:
(i) Imperialism means a powerful country controls another country by establishing its overall dominance.
(ii) The objective of imperialism is to establish more and more colonies.
(iii) European countries with strong military power and imperialist aspirations enslaved countries in Asia and Africa.
(iv) Imperialism gained momentum after the industrial revolution and came to an end in the twentieth century.
(3) Age of Renaissance
Ans:
(i) Renaissance literally means rebirth or revival. In the latter phase of medieval Europe, the reformation, religious reform movements, and geographical discoveries gained momentum.
(ii) It was a comprehensive movement that touched all aspects of human life. The Greek and Roman traditions in art, architecture, and philosophy were revived in the Age of the Renaissance.
(iii) Humanitarianism got great impetus.
(iv) The Renaissance inspired all-round progress and ushered in a new era in the history of the world.
(v) These developments took place from the 13th century to the 16th century in Europe. This period is known as the Age of Renaissance.
(4) Capitalism
Ans:
(i) Many traders participated in the competition for trade with Asia after the discovery of the new sea routes to the east.
(ii) As it was not possible to carry out trade single-handedly, it was decided by the traders to pool their resources to raise capital for trade.
(iii) Many trading companies, like the East India Company, were formed.
(iv) Trade with Oriental countries was very profitable and responsible for economic prosperity.
(v) The ruling powers gave protection and trade concessions to these companies.
(vi) This led to the accumulation of wealth in Europe. This wealth was used as capital for trade and commerce, which gave rise to capitalism in Europe.
3. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated in the Battle of Plassey.
Ans:
(i) The officers of the British East India Company misused the trade concessions and built fortifications around the factory in Kolkata.
(ii) Siraj-ud-Daulah captured the factory in Kolkata.
(iii) This created discontent in England.
(iv) Robert Clive diplomatically bribed Mir Jafar, Commander in Chief of the Nawab’s army, and promised to make him Nawab of Bengal.
(v) So, the Army of Siraj-ud-Daulah, under the command of Mir Kasim, did not join the battle against the British at Plassey in 1757 AD.
(vi) Thus, the British won the battle of Plassey by treachery and deceit.
(2) The European countries felt the necessity of finding new trade routes to Asia.
Ans:
(i) The Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, in 1453 AD.
(ii) All land trade routes joining Asia and Europe passed through this city.
(iii) It stopped the flow of valuable goods from the countries in the east.
(iv) Therefore, the European countries felt the necessity of finding new sea routes to Asia.
(3) European rulers started giving military protection and trade concessions to the trading companies.
Ans:
(i) With the discovery of new sea routes to the east, trade with oriental countries became very profitable. Thus, European trade prospered.
(ii) Competition for trade began among many European nations.
(iii) The traders pooled their resources and formed trading companies like the East India Company.
(iv) As this trade brought economic prosperity, the European rulers started giving military protection and trade concessions to these trading companies.
4. Complete the following table.
| Sailor | Contribution |
|---|---|
.................. | Reached to the tip of South
Africa. |
2. Christopher Columbus | .................... |
.................... | Reached the West coast of India at Calicut port. |
Ans:
| Sailor | Contribution |
|---|---|
1. Bartolomeu Dias | Reached to the tip of South
Africa. |
2. Christopher Columbus | Set on his journey to reach India but reached on the eastern coast of American continent. |
3. Vasco-da- Gama | Reached the West coast of India at Calicut port. |