Class VIII, Social Science (NCERT History)
Our Pasts III, Chapter 1, How, When and Where
NCERT Solutions of Our Pasts III Chapter Exercise Questions
Question.1: State whether true or false:
a) James Mill divided Indian
History into three periods- Hindu, Muslim, and Christian.
b) Official documents help us
understand what the people of the country think.
c) The British thought surveys
were important for effective administration.
Solution: a-false,
b-false, true.
Question.2: What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian
History that James Mill offers?
Solution: In 1817,
James Mill, a Scottish Economist and Political Philosopher, published a book: A
History of British India, in which he divided Indian History into three periods
- Hindu, Muslim and British. According to Mill before British came to India,
Hindu & Muslim despots ruled this country. He said that religious
intolerance, caste taboos and superstitious practices dominated social life. He
also felt that without British help India would have never progressed.
But
Mill’s conception of dividing Indian History on the basis of religion has many
flaws and so, is not acceptable. We can not characterize an age only through
the religion of the rulers of the time. We know that a variety of faiths and
religions existed simultaneously in these periods. Also all rulers in ancient
India did not share the same faith. It is this country from where two other
religions like- Buddhism and Jainism developed and spread to other parts of the
world while Hindu religion also existed.
Question.3: Why did the British preserve official documents?
Solution: The British
preserved the important official documents because these served as records of
what the officials thought, what they were interested in and what they wished
for. According to the British, writing was more important than speaking as the
documents in archives and museums can be utilized for reference at a much later
period whenever required for studying or debating. These can also serve as an
information or proof of any decision or action taken earlier on some matter.
Question.4:
How will the information historians get from old newspapers be different from
that found in police reports?
Solution: Information
is essential for writing history of a time which can be gathered from various
sources. Apart from official documents in the archives, historians gather
information also from old newspapers, diaries of people, accounts of pilgrims,
autobiographies of important personalities and booklets etc. Information found
in newspapers is varied, based on incidents that have happened across the
country whereas; the police reports are limited and localized. Because of this
fact sometimes the information historians get from police reports is not as
useful as it is from old newspapers. However for any incidence the newspaper
may not quote all the reasons behind this and biased as per the thinking of
reporter while in police records we could find some evidences for an incident
and unbiased reports.
How, When and Where (Class 8 History) - Further
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Not soooo bad
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