NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 1 How When and Where

Let’s recall

1. State whether true or false:

(a) James Mill divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, Christian.

(b) Official documents help us understand what the people of the country think.

(c) The British thought surveys were important for effective administration.

Answer: (a) True (b) False (c) True

2. What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers?

Answer:

(i)In 1817, in his book A History of British India, James divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim and British.

(ii)Mill thought that Asian societies were at a lower level of civilisation than Europe.

(iii)According to his division of Indian history, before the British came to India, Hindu and Muslim despots ruled the country.

(iv) He argued in the book that religious intolerance, caste taboos and superstitious practices dominated the social life of Indians.

(v)He believed that British rule could civilise India. To do this it was necessary to introduce European manners, arts, institutions and laws in India.

(vi)Though his periodisation, Mill suggested that the British should conquer all the territories in India to ensure the enlightenment and happiness of the Indian people. For India was not capable of progress without British help.

3. Why did the British preserve official documents?

(i)The British believed that the act of writing was important.

(ii)They wrote every instruction, plan, policy decision, agreement, and investigation clearly; the records were used properly for studying and debating.

(iii)This conviction produced an administrative culture of memos, notings and reports.

(iv)The British also felt that all important documents and letters needed to be carefully preserved.

(v)So they set up record rooms attached to all administrative institutions.

(vi)The village tahsildar’s office, the collectorate, the commissioner’s office, the provincial secretariats, the lawcourts – all had their record rooms.

(vii)Specialised institutions like archives and museums were also established to preserve important records.

4. How will the information historians get from old newspapers be different from that found in police reports?

Answer: