Q1. Write the features of the modern age.
Ans. The modern period in world history is called the Modern age, which was a
period of great and sweeping changes. These changes were the result of
certain powerful movements, namely, Renaissance, Mercantilism, the
Industrial Revolution and the American and French Revolutions.
Q2. Describe India in the modern age.
Ans. – After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, the Mughal Empire went into a rapid
decline, after which several new kingdoms came up like Maratha and Sikh
kingdoms.
- The Mughal governors of Hyderabad, Awadh, etc also started ruling
independently and these new powers frequently fought against each
other for supremacy.
- The Europeans who began establishing trading bases along India’s coast,
took advantage of these rivalries and made their own position stronger
by getting more trading rights.
- The Europeans also fought among themselves for control over
India/Bharat.
- Soon, the British established themselves as main power in India.
Q3. Differentiate primary and secondary sources of information.
Ans.
Primary Secondary
- Original sources, created at the - Second hand accounts of
time of the event by people events, usually collected and
who witnessed it. put together by people who
study the primary sources.
- These include government - These include books,
reports, letters, photographs, biographies, magazines.
maps.
Q4. Why is checking the sources for bias(partiality) important, particularly in
modern history?
Ans. Since while dealing with Indian modern history, where the British account
of things is often vastly different from how Indians of the time have written
about it.
Q5. Explain how books, newspapers and magazines influenced India’s modern
history?
Ans.
- The printing press, which was invited in Germany in the 15th century,
came into common use in Inia during the 18th century.
- This resulted in the mass printing of books, newspapers, magazines
which are important sources of information for historians today.
- Books were printed in English and in the various regional languages.
- Autobiographies: The story of my experiments with truth (Mahatma
Gandhi) and An Autobiography (Toward Freedom) by Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Books written by British authors Rudyard Kipling and EM Foster, provide
us with a different perspective.
- German scholar of Sanskrit, Max Mueller wrote about the Vedas and
Indian philosophy though he had never been to India.
Q6. Where are government documents found? “British officials were very
particular about keeping records of all official transactions”. Explain.
Ans.
- There is a rich collection of official British documents, official letters and
census records to refer to.
- Many of these documents are now preserved in National Archives of
India and at the National Museum, New Delhi.
- Letters by Nehru, Gandhi, Ambedkar can also be found in museums of
Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Q7. How photographs and films help us in knowing modern history?
Ans.
- In 1839, invention of photography revolutionised the way in which
events and places in our life were documented.
- These provide us with a detailed record of art, architecture and life in
India during that time.
- Films and documentaries made at that time also provide us with an
insight into British rule.