Question:
Why did the British want to grow the indigo plant in India?
Answer:
The indigo plant grows primarily in the tropics and this was the primary reason for the British to turn to India for the growth of the indigo plant. By the thirteenth century Indian indigo was being used by cloth manufacturers in Italy France and Britain to dye cloth.
The demand for Indian indigo grew, as European cloth manufacturers wanted only Indian Indigo as it produced a rich blue colour. Due to this demand the price of Indian indigo rose in the European market and mediated the British to grow more indigo in the Indian soil.
Another reason was the industrialisation of Britain as this resulted in the expansion of cotton production creating an enormous new demand for cloth dyes.
Indigo production in other countries began to decline and the demand for Indian Indigo increased in European countries. This demand made the East India Company to expand the area under indigo cultivation.
How, When and Where
Q 1.
Give a brief description of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Q 2.
What was the result of the competition between the trading companies from different European countries?
Q 3.
Why did James Mill divide his book, The History of British India’ into the Hindu, Muslim and British
Q 4.
What were the activities of the Tribals?
Q 5.
When did the Blue rebellion break-out?
Q 7.
What did Nana Saheb want of the British?
Q 8.
Give a brief account of Tantia Tope.
Q 9.
What were the commodities that these companies traded in?
Q 10.
Trace the rebellion from Meerut to Delhi.
Q 11.
Describe a colonial bungalow during the early 20th century.
Q 12.
Write a short note on the Santhals of Jharkhand.
Q 13.
Give a brief description of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Q 14.
What were the reforms introduced by the British?
Q 15.
Write a short note on shifting cultivation.
Q 16.
What did the British do to demolish Delhis past?
Q 17.
Give a brief description of Kingsway.
Q 18.
What were to the two major systems of indigo cultivation in India?
Q 19.
Give a brief note on the Battle of Plassey.
Q 20.
When and between whom did the 3rd Battle of Panipat take place?
Q 21.
What was the demand of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi that was refused by the British?
Q 22.
Trace the eight cities that existed before New Delhi between 736 AD and the 17th Century.
Q 23.
In 1911 a grand Durbar was held by the British in Delhi, why?
Q 24.
How were records preserved during the British rule?
Q 25.
Explain the system of subsidiary alliance.
Q 26.
Give a brief description of the Viceroys Palace.
Q 28.
Give a brief account of Tantia Tope.
Q 29.
Why did the British dislike shifting cultivators?
Q 30.
Who wrote the book The History of British India?
Q 31.
Apart from official records what are the other sources of information that is available to historians?
Q 32.
What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers?
Q 33.
Mention a few other events, which if recorded, will make history more interesting to everyone.
Q 34.
What do we mean by "time-span" in connection with historical events?
Q 35.
What were the commodities that these companies traded in?
Q 36.
What did the British do to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity?
Q 37.
In what ways did the British change their policies as a result of the rebellion of 1857
Q 38.
What were the causes of the Sepoy Mutiny?
Q 39.
In 1911 a grand Durbar was held by the British in Delhi, why?
Q 40.
Describe a colonial bungalow during the early 20th century.
Q 41.
What were the main features of the Nij system of cultivation?
Q 42.
What were the main features of the Ryoti system of cultivation?
Q 43.
What was the result of the competition between the trading companies from different European countries?
Q 44.
What were the powers enjoyed by the Residents appointed by the Company?
Q 45.
Mention a few other events, which if recorded, will make history more interesting to everyone.
Q 46.
How will the information historians get from old newspapers be different from that found in police reports?
Q 47.
Who wrote the book The History of British India?
Q 48.
What attracted European trading companies to India?
Q 49.
What were the areas of conflict between the Bengal nawabs and the East India Company?
Q 50.
In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?
