CBSE Class 12 History Colonial Cities Urbanization Planning Architecture Worksheet

Key concepts in nutshell

Sources: -

1) Records of the East India company.

2) Census reports

3) Municipal reports.

- The urban population increased from about 10% to 13% during the period 1900-1940.

- During the end of the 18th century Madras, Bombay and Calcutta had developed into important ports.

- The ruling elite built racially exclusive clubs, race courses and theatres.

- The development of new modes of transportation such as horse drawn carriages, trams, buses etc. facilitated peoples to live at distant place from the places of their work.

- The rulers everywhere try to express their power through buildings. Many Indian adopted European styles of architecture as symbols of modernity and civilisation.

- The settlement of the local peoples was named "Black Town". A fortification was built around the "White Town" to separate it from the " Black Town".

Difficulties in collecting data:-

1. Peoples were unwilling to give correct information.

2. Figure of mortality and diseases were difficult to collect.

Ports: - Madras, Bombay and Calcutta

Forts: - St. George in Madras and Fort William in Calcutta.

Very Short Answers

Question. What were the aims of census?
Answer:
(1) To study urbanization
(2) To know historical changes.

Question. Mention merits of hill stations?
Answer:
(1) They were important for guarding frontiers.
(2) They were useful for health facilities.

Question. Name the two industrial towns which came up during colonial period?
Answer:
(1) Kanpur specialized in leather, woolen and textiles.
(2) Jamshedpur specialized in iron and steel.

Question. How did the railways affect towns?
Answer:
(1) New cities developed as Jamalpur, Breilley, and Waltair.
(2) Some industrial centres developed.

Question. What is difference between cities and villages?
Answer:
(1) In villages' people made a living by agriculture and domesticating animals.
(2) In cities people belong to various professions as services trade, shop keeping, industries.

Question. Why did the British take upon themselves the task of town planning?
Answer:
(1) The British wanted to live in separate and protected settlements away from Indians.
(2) They wanted clean and hygienic city free from all diseases.

Short Answers

Question. To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanization in the colonial context?
Answer:
(1) The British gained information about white and nonwhite people living in various towns.
(2) British gained information about expansion of cities.
(3) They got knowledge about living standard of the people.
(4) British got knowledge about many diseases.
(5) The census data provided information about age, sex, caste and occupation.
(6) The census data could be converted into social data.

Question. Why were the records preserved in the colonial cities?
Answer:
(1) British administration was based on datas and information.
(2) For professional activities they wanted to know more about trading activities.
(3) They wanted to control speed and spread of cities.
(4) For strongness of administration they liked to preserve records.
(5) For spreading public facilities records were compulsory.
(6) Records were important for experiences & proper and efficient sale.

Question. What do the terms white and black towns signify?
Answer: White town-
(1) in a colonial city the fortified area where the Europeans lived was white town.
(2) Colour and religion main basis of it.
(3) Dutch and Portuguese were European and Christian so they could live in white town.
Black town-
(1) the area outside the fortified area where the Indians lived was black town.
(2) The Indians who had economic relations with British lived there.

Question. How did prominent Indians merchants establish themselves in colonial city?
Answer:
(1) With the expansion of British power in India, the Indian merchants, middlemen and suppliers of goods became part of the cities.
(2) With the expansion of railway the Indian merchants started establishing their industries in the cities.
(3) The rich Indian agents and middlemen got built courtyard houses near bazaars.
(4) Indian merchants purchased large tract of land in the cities for future investment and profit.
(5) They started copying western style of life.

Question. What were the concerns that influenced town planning in 19th century?
Answer:
(1) Setting a city close to the sea coast was a main concern for commercial objectives.
(2) For security point of view they wanted to live in separate and highly protected settlements.
(3) Preparing maps were highly imperative in order to understand the landscape and topography.
(4) Creating open places in the city was a good way to make the city healthier.
(5) To make sufficient funds for maintenance of the cities was another concern.

Question. How were urban centres transformed during the 18th century?
Answer:
(1) With the decline of Mughal power, the towns associated with their administration started declining.
(2) The regional capitals Lucknow, Hyderabad, srirangapattanam, and Poona started gaining importance.
(3) The traders, administrators, artisans and other people, in search of work and patronage, began to reside in new capitals.
(4) With acquiring political control, the east India Company rapidly developed Madras, Calcutta and Bombay.

Long Answers

Question. What were the kinds of public places that emerged in the colonial city? What functions did they serve?
Answer:
(1) The new colonial cities were centres of political authority and economic activities.
(2) For commercial activities godowns, mercantile offices, insurance agencies, transport depots and banking establishments were established.
(3) The major colonial cities served as port cities. Ships were loaded and deloaded there.
(4) Main administrative offices of the company were established away from the seashore.
(5) Because of the rapid expansion of the railway colonial cities were linked with rest of India. Railway stations, railway workshops and railway colonies started emerging in cities.
(6) Hill stations were developed for billeting troop, guarding frontiers and mounting attack on enemy. They also functioned as a sanitorium.
(7) Public places like the town halls, parks and cinema halls started coming into existence.
(8) Forts, government offices, educational institutions, religious structures, and commercial depots were constructed for growing economy.
(9) British constructed clubs for meeting and entertainment.

Question. To what extent were social relations transformed in the new cities?
Answer:
(1) Lacked the coherence,
(2) extreme poverty and extreme prosperity,
(3) people got opportunities of meeting.
(4) New social groups,
(5) demands of many professionals,
(6) spread of middle class,
(7) expression of views by many means,
(8) growth of general awareness, influence of woman,
(10) changes in traditional norms. Poors own culture, many struggles in life.

Question. What are different colonial architectural styles?
Answer:
(1) Neo classical style - Drived from ancient Rome, Geo metrical structures fronted with lofty pillars, town hall, elphinston circle.
(2) Neo Gothic style - Originate from medieval churchs, high pitched roofs, pointed arches, detailed decoration Bombay secretariat, university of Bombay, Bombay hight court.
(3) Indo saracenic style - Mixture of Indian and European style Dome, Chhatris, Jalis, Arches, Gateway of India, and Taj Mahal hotel.