In this post, we have provided the From Trade To Territory Class 8 History Chapter 2 questions and answers with easy and accurate solutions to the given exercises in the book, which will be useful for school exams and will help the preparation of school students with questions. All the questions in the textbook have been answered carefully. Students can learn the question answers From Trade To Territory and get good marks in the exams.
class 8 History Chapter 2 Questions and answers
Let’s recall
1. Match the following:
| Diwani | Tipu Sultan |
| “Tiger of Mysore” | Right to collect land revenue |
| Faujdari Adalat | Sepoy |
| Rani Channamma | Criminal Court |
| Sipahi | Led an anti-British movement in Kitoor |
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 |
2. 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 Southwestern part of India.
3. 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.
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
Let’s discuss
4. What attracted European trading companies to India?
Answer. The fine qualities of cotton and silk, as well as spices like pepper, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon attracted European trading companies to India.
5. What were the reasons for the conflict between the Bengal Nawabs and the East India Company?
Answer. The reasons for the conflicts between the Bengal Nawabs and the East India Company were:
i) The Nawabs refused to make concessions to the East India Company on several occasions.
ii) Nawabs demanded heavy tax from the company.
iii) The company refused to pay taxes.
iv) The company officials insulted the Nawabs.
6. How did the assumption of Diwani benefit the East India Company?
Answer. The assumption of Diwani benefited the East India Company in the following ways:
i)This allowed the company to use the large revenue resources of Bengal.
ii)East India Company’s monopoly on trade began.
iii)They used the revenue to export Indian goods out of the country.
7. Explain the system of “subsidiary alliance”.
Answer. The system of the “subsidiary alliance” was established by Lord Wellesley, the viceroy of the East India Company. Under this system-
i) Indian rulers had to keep their armed forces and come under the protection of the East India Company.
ii) The ruler of the princely state had to pay for the maintenance of the subsidiary force and provide them with supplies.
iii) An English resident was appointed in the territory to keep a check on the ruler.
iv) The Indian rules were not allowed to trade with other European Countries.
v) This system allowed the British to control a large part of India without the administrative and financial burdens of direct rule.
8. In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?
Answer. The administration of the company was different from that of the Indian rulers in the following ways:
| Company Administration | Indian Rulers Administration |
| The territories were divided into presidencies. | The territories were divided into district, pargana, tehsil and parishad. |
| The administrative units were ruled by the Governor. | Zamindar or Peasants ruled their units. |
| Some acts were introduced to rule such as the Regulating Act, Indian Council Acts, Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, etc. | The head of the state was King or Nawab. |
9. Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army.
Answer. The changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army were the following:
- The East India Company started recruitment in the army as per its method.
- This army was known as the sepoy army.
- With changes in warfare technology from the 1820s, the cavalry requirements of the Company’s army decreased.
- The soldiers had to keep pace with the changing military requirements.
- The infantry regiments became more important.
- The British began to develop a similar military culture in the early 19th century.
- The soldiers were trained in European-style exercises and discipline.
Let’s do
10. After the British conquest of Bengal, Calcutta -grew from a small village to a big city. Find out about the culture, architecture, and life of Europeans and Indians in the city during the colonial period.
Answer: During the colonial period, Indians were influenced by the British.
- Culture
The British imposed their language, customs, and traditions, which had a profound impact on the Indians
Western education, art, literature, and social practices were important. - Architecture:
The British introduced European architectural styles. Example-Victoria Memorial, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Writers’ Building, and the General Post Office. - Life:
The life of Indians changed. They adopted Western ideas, English education, and English clothes.
11. 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: The Rani of Jhansi:
The Rani of Jhansi, whose full name was Rani Lakshmibai, was a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She was born on November 19, 1828, in Varanasi, India, and died on June 17, 1858, in Gwalior.
She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao, the ruler of Jhansi in central India. After her husband died in 1853, she adopted a son. She was known for her bravery. She fought against the British forces during the Siege of Jhansi. She died fighting bravely against the British army to save her kingdom Jhansi.
Mahadji Sindhia:
Mahadji Sindhia, also known as Maharaja Scindia was born on March 4, 1730, in the state of Gwalior, and passed away on February 12, 1794. He belonged to the Maratha dynasty.
Under his leadership, Mahadji Sindhia expanded his territories & annexed neighbouring states, and established his control over significant parts of central and northern India. Gwalior became the capital of his kingdom.
He maintained a strong and well-organized army, by adopting European military tactics, training his soldiers in the latest warfare techniques, and equipping them with advanced weaponry.
He is known as a skilled leader and an important figure in the political landscape of 18th-century India.
Haidar Ali
Haidar Ali was a military commander and ruler in South India during the 18th century. He was born in 1722 in Budikote, near Kolar, and died on December 7, 1782, in Chittoor, Mysore.
He began his career as a soldier in the army of the Wodeyar dynasty, who were the ruling family of the Kingdom of Mysore. Under the leadership of Hyder Ali, Mysore expanded and consolidated power.
He was known for his administrative reforms and efforts to modernize the governance of Mysore. He took steps to improve tax collection, promote agricultural productivity, and strengthen the economy of his kingdom.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also known as Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of Punjab), was born on November 13, 1780, in Gujranwala, Punjab, and passed away on June 27, 1839, in Lahore.
He is best known for establishing the Sikh Empire as the Kingdom of Punjab. He ascended to the throne at the age of 21.
Under the leadership of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Empire expanded political stability and military expansion. He implemented administrative reforms and created a well-organized and disciplined army known as the Khalsa. His empire became a major power in North India.
Lord Dalhousie
Lord Dalhousie, whose full name was James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, was a British statesman and colonial administrator who was born on April 22, 1812, in Scotland and passed away on December 19, 1860, in Scotland.
He served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. He pursued an agenda of modernization, infrastructure development, and governance reforms.
He implemented the controversial Doctrine of Lapse policy, which allowed the British to annex Indian princely states if they did not have a male heir. He expanded the railway network in India & introduced the telegraph system, and the postal system in India. The first railway line in India was completed during his tenure.
Class 8 History Chapter 2 Questions And Answers
Book Page 11
1: How could the Nawab of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan, not protest?
Answer: Murshid Quli Khan, the Nawab of Bengal, did not protest as he allowed the British to retain control over the revenue and administration of Bengal in return for financial concessions.
Book Page 23
2: Could individuals so easily give up their caste and religious feelings? Could they see themselves only as soldiers and not as members of communities?
Answer: No, individuals could not so easily give up their caste and religious feelings because religion is a close feeling of conscience and one has to fight oneself to come out of it. And caste is a feeling of oneness in India.
No, man is a social animal. They can neither see themselves as soldiers nor as members of communities. Patriotism is a virtue, but it is difficult to give respect to a foreign territory that is spoiling the development of our own country and one cannot become a soldier killing one’s people to help a foreign empire.
3: What did the Sepoys feel? How did they react to the changes in their lives and their identity – that is, their sense of who they were?
Answer: The soldiers felt that they were far away from their culture and traditions. They opposed Britain’s policies of keeping away from anyone’s caste and religion. They refused to go to sea and use weapons made from animal fats.
Read Also: Why Do We Need A Parliament Class 8? Ncert Solution
FAQ of Class 8 History Chapter 2
How did the English start trading in India Class 8 History Chapter 2?
The English started trading in India during the 17th century through the establishment of trading posts and the formation of the English East India Company.
Who was the first British trader in India?
The first British trader in India was William Hawkins, who led the first English voyage to India in 1601.
Where did the British first trade in India?
The first trade centre of the British East India Company in India was Surat in Gujarat.
When did Britain first trade with India?
Britain first traded with India in 1600.
When did the British leave India?
The British left India on 15 August 1947.
Conclusion of class 8 history chapter 2
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