NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science (History) Chapter 2 From Trade to Territory The Company Establishes Power

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 8TH

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Book - Our Pasts-III Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 History

Class : 8th
Subject : History
Chapter : 2
Chapter Name : From Trade to Territory

Q1 Match the following:

Answer. Diwani = right to collect land revenue
“Tiger of Mysore” = Tipu Sultan
Faujdari = adalat criminal court
Rani Channamma = led an anti-British movement in Kitoor sipahi Sepoy.

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Q2 Fill in the blanks:
(a) The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of ___________.
(b) Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of ___________.
(c) Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of ___________.
(d) Maratha kingdoms were located mainly in the ___________ part of India.

Answer. (a) The British conquest of Bengal began with the Battle of Plassey.
(b) Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of Mysore.
(c) Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of Lapse.
(d)Maratha kingdoms were located mainly in the South-Western part of India.

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Q3 State whether true or false:
(a) The Mughal empire became stronger in the eighteenth century.
(b) The English East India Company was the only European company that traded with
India.
(c) Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the ruler of Punjab.
(d) The British did not introduce administrative changes in the territories they
conquered.

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Book - Our Pasts-III Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 History

Answer. (a) The Mughal empire became stronger in the eighteenth century. False
(b) The English East India Company was the only European company that traded with
India. False
(c) Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the ruler of Punjab. True
d)The British did not introduce administrative changes in the territories they conquered.
False

Q4 What attracted European trading companies to India?

Answer. European trading companies ventured across the oceans so as to look for new
lands from where they could buy goods at a cheap price, and carry them back to Europe
to sell at higher prices. The �ne qualities of cotton and silk produced in India had a big
market in Europe. Indian spices like pepper, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon too were in
great demand. Hence, European trading companies were attracted to India.

Q5 What were the areas of con�ict between the Bengal nawabs and the East India
Company?

Answer. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Bengal nawabs asserted their power and
autonomy. Through the eighteenth century, the con�icts between them and the East
India Company intensi�ed. The nawabs refused to grant the Company concessions,
demanded large tributes, denied it the right to mint coins, and stopped it from extending
its forti�cations. They claimed that the Company was depriving the Bengal government
of huge amounts of revenue, and also undermining their authority by refusing to pay
taxes, writing disrespectful letters, and humiliating them
and their of�cials. On its part, the Company declared that its trade was getting ruined
because of the unjust demands of the local of�cials. It believed that trade could only
�ourish if the duties were removed. To expand trade, it wanted to enlarge its
settlements, buy up villages, and rebuild its forts.

Q6 How did the assumption of Diwani bene�t the East India Company?

Answer. On being appointed the Diwan of the provinces of Bengal, the East India
Company acquired greater power and authority. It was free to make use of the vast

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Book - Our Pasts-III Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 History

resources of Bengal. Till then, in order to buy goods, it had to import gold and silver from
Britain. After the assumption of the Diwani, the Company could use the revenues from
Bengal to �nance its expenses (which included purchasing cotton and silk textiles in
India, maintaining its troops, and building the Company fort and of�ces at Calcutta).

Q7 Explain the system of “subsidiary alliance”

Answer. From 1757 to 1857, the East India Company used a variety of political, economic
and diplomatic methods to annex Indian kingdoms. The subsidiary alliance was one such
method. According to the terms of this alliance, Indian rulers were not allowed to have
their independent armed forces. They were to be protected by the Company, and had to
pay for the "subsidiary forces" that the Company had to maintain for the purpose of
protecting them. If Indian rulers failed to make the payment, then part of their territory
was taken away as penalty. For example, in 1801, the nawab of Awadh was forced to give
over half of his territory to the Company for failing to pay for the "subsidiary forces".

Q8 In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian
rulers?

Answer. Under the rule of the East India Company, the British territories were divided
into administrative units called Presidencies. There were three such Presidencies —
Bengal, Madras and Bombay. Each Presidency was ruled by a Governor.
The supreme head was the Governor-General. The principal �gure in an Indian district
was the Collector whose main job was to collect revenue and taxes, and maintain law and
order in his district with the help of judges, police of�cers and darogas. From 1772, a new
system of justice was established. Under this system, each district had two courts — a
criminal court (faujdari adalat) and a civil court (diwani adalat). Maulvis and pandits
interpreted Indian laws for the district collectors who presided over civil courts. The
criminal courts were still under a qazi and a mufti, but under the supervision of the
collectors. A Supreme Court was established under the Regulating Act of 1773, and a
court of appeal (Sadar Nizamat Adalat)

Q9 Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army.

Answer. During the eighteenth century, when the East India Company began recruitment

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Book - Our Pasts-III Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 History

for its own army, it started recruiting peasants and began training them as professional
soldiers. Like the Mughal army, the Company's army was also composed of the cavalry
and the infantry regiments, with the cavalry dominating the army. However, as warfare
technology changed during the nineteenth century, the cavalry requirements of the
Company's army declined. As the soldiers had to be armed with muskets and matchlocks,
the infantry regiments became more important.

Q10 After the British conquest of Bengal, Calcutta grew from a small village to a big city.
Find out about the culture, architecture and the life of Europeans and Indians of the city
during the colonial period.

Answer. The Europeans were living in the well serviced areas in Calcutta after the British
conquest of Bengal. On the other hand, the native people were living in very congested
areas. The Europeans enjoyed clubs, large homes, race, golf, domestic facilities including
water and electricity supplies. Calcutta developed as the cultural city of dramas,
theatres, music and religious festivals. Moreover, the city was developed as the example
of architecture along with the best cuisine.

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Q11 Collect pictures, stories, poems and information about any of the following – the
Rani of Jhansi, Mahadji Sindhia, Haidar Ali, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Lord Dalhousie or
any other contemporary ruler of your region.

Answer. Rani Lakshmi Bai was well known as the Rani of Jhansi. She led her troops into
battle heroically. When she was driven out of Jhansi, she captured Gwalior with the help
of Tantya Tope. She fought bravely with the British troops. However, she was killed in
�ghting at Kalpi (near Gwalior). She was an illustrious example of women power and
courage. Her name is taken with utmost respect. Though not alive, she is in the heart of
all Indians. The path she has shown to us is the path of sel�ess services and sacri�ces.

Page : 25 , Block Name : Let’s Do

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