Assam SCERT Class 8 History and Political Science Chapter 5 Mercantilism and Advent of The European Traders to India Question Answer Solutions
Assam SCERT Board Class 8 History and Political Science Chapter 5 Mercantilism and Advent of The European Traders to India all Question’s easy Solutions by expert teachers.
Board |
Assam SCERT |
Class |
8 |
Book |
History and Political Science |
Topic |
Question answer |
EXERCISE–
1.) Write short answer-
a.) In which year was the East India Company formed?
Ans. The year in which the East India Company was formed was 1599.
b.) Who first discovered the sea route to India?
Ans. The Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama discovered the route to India in 1498.
c.) In which place of India did the Dutch first build their fort?
Ans. The Dutch first built their fort in Pulicat in 1609 A.D.
d.) To whom did Charles II lease out Bombay (Mumbai)?
Ans. Charles II leased out Bombay (Mumbai) to the East India company.
e.) Who issued farman to British East India company?
Ans. In 1716 A.D., Emperor Farukhsiyar issued a farman (dictat) to British East India company.
2.) Match the following-
GROUP -A |
GROUP- B |
Columbus
William Hawkins Vasco Da Gama Charles II Pulicut |
Portuguese sailor Portuguese princess English mediator Dutch America |
Ans. Columbus- America
William Hawkins –
Vasco Da Gama-Portuguese sailor
Charles II- Portuguese princess
Pulicut- Dutch
3.) Fill in the blanks-
a.) In 1600A.D. the British East India obtained the royal permission of Queen Elizabeth I to trade with the countries of the east.
b.) By permit, the economic activity of a country was controlled by the government.
c.) In 1661 A.D. Charles II leased out Mumbai to the East India Company.
d.) In 1715 A.D. Emperor Farukhsiyar issued a farman permitting the East India Company to trade with India.
e.) Pondicherry was the main headquarter of the French.
4.) State whether true or false-
a.) The Mughal Empire was strong in the 18th century.FALSE
b.) The British East India Company was the only company to trade with India. FALSE
c.) In 1492 A.D. Vasco Da Gama arrived at Calicut. FALSE
d.) The indulgence of the employees of the British East India company in private business crippled the local industries. TRUE
e.) Mercantilism encouraged colonialism. TRUE
5.) Discuss in groups and prepare notes on the following topics-
a.) The reasons behind the entry of the European merchants into India.
Ans. India was a very prosperous country and had trade relations with western countries. Items like Indian spices, silk clothes, metal goods, gold, silver and precious stones had immense value in the medieval market of Europe. After 16th century renaissance, at the encouragement of their kings, sailors from Spain and Portugal started to discover new sea routes to reach India and wealth. Thus, the wealth of the country attracted the Europeans into India.
b.) What do you understand by mercantilism? What is the relation between mercantilisms and colonialism?
Ans. The situation in the economy of all the countries where every country starts to look for a market to sell their finished goods is known as mercantilism. Mercantilism is a type of economic activity. Colonialism is the process through which a country expands its territory in another foreign country for economic and political benefits. A nation starts making another country its market for its trade. Countries like Great Britain, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark made colonial expansions to countries India for market.
c.) The influence of the European traders of the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French.
Ans. The influence of the European traders of the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French was on the market of the country. The European traders exported the goods like tobacco, salt, silk, precious stones etc in lesser prices and extracted more benefits which slowly started to destroy the local industries and Indian merchants.
8) ’The period from the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century played a significant role in Indian history.’
Ans.The period from the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century played a significant role in Indian history as it witnessed coming of many foreign traders like Dutch, French, English who started trading from the Indian soil. Slowly, India became the colony of all these nations. Trading houses were established and a new episode opened in the history of the country. Companies for business were established, the European traders started receiving permits and soon monopolized the trade and commerce of the country. With the coming of the English East India Company the political scenario also started to change. The company took the complete right to trade in the country, slowly started to increase their power. With the farman or dictat from the Emperor Farukhsiyar, the East India Company now started to trade without paying taxes to the emperor and slowly developed the foundation British imperialism in India.
EXTRA QUESTIONS:
1.) Which countries set up trading houses in India?
Ans. Countries like France, Netherlands, Portugal, Britain mainly set up trading houses in India.
2.) What is imperialism?
Ans.When a nation with money or military strength starts to control the weaker country through trade and commerce, culture or war, it is called Imperialism.
3.) Which invention transformed the East India Company to a colonial power?
Ans. The invention of steam engine has transformed the East India Company to a colonial power.
4.) What is gomostha?
Ans. The middlemen of the English East India company who performed the functions like forcing weavers sell their silk and cotton at lower price, prepare their products according to the company’s demands were known as gomostha.
5.) When did the political, social and economic scenario of India underwent change?
Ans With the coming of various European traders in the country and settling down and establishing trade houses and starting colonial expansion,the political, social and economic scenario of India underwent change
6.) Name the items on which British East India Company had monopoly of business?
Ans. British East India Company had monopoly of business on items like tobacco, salt, betel nut.
7.) Name some business bases of Dutch in India.
Ans.Some business bases of Dutch in India were in Agra, Surat, Masulipatnam, Chuchura.
8.) Who was the prime contenders of English colonial power?
Ans. The French were the prime contenders of English colonial power.
9.) Write few lines about the cottage industry of India during British rule.
Ans. The cottage industry of India mainly included the weavers. They made clothes of silk and cotton and sold in the local market as well as exported in the European countries. After the influx of European traders especially English East India Company they became puppets in their hands. Slowly the cottage industries were destroyed due to the atrocities of the gomostha of English East India Company.
10.) Discuss about the arrival of French in India.
Ans. In 1664, the French established the French East India Company and the first base was established in Surat. Places like Chander Nagar, Balasore and Cassimbazar came to be under the French company. In 1674, Pondicherry was conquered and a fort was established and it became the headquarters of the French Company where the French merchants and officials resided.