CLASS 8

ASSIGNMENT BOOKLET Q/ANS.

Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory (The Company Establishes Power)

1. Name the Portuguese explorer who discovered a new sea route to India in 1498.
Page 10 (1mark)

Ans. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, had discovered this sea route

to India in 1498.

2. Bring out reasons for rivalries between mercantile companies in 17th Century India.

Ans 2. The reasons for rivalries between mercantile companies in 17th Century India are as
follows-

1. DEMAND -

All the companies were interested in buying the same products. The Indian products like -
Pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, silk, cotton etc. were in great demand in Europe.

2. COMPETITION -

Competition amongst the European companies pushed up the prices of these goods which
reduced the profits of the companies.

3. MARKETS-

The urge to secure markets therefore led to fierce battles between the trading companies.

4. RIVALRY -

Due to their on-going rivalry, each of them adopted unfair practices like sinking each other’s
ship, blocking each other’s routes, preventing rival ships from taking supplies etc.

5. TRADE AND POLITICS-

Trade was carried on with arms and trading posts were protected through fortification. Thus,
companies mixed trade and politics to win Indian markets.
3. Read the given paragraph and answer the following questions.

The Battle of Plassey was fought between the forces of East India Company led by Robert
Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. The Battle fell in favour of the Britishers
due to role played by the commander of chief in the Army of Siraj ud Daulah.

i. Highlight the reasons behind the Battle of Plassey.

Ans--The reasons for the Battle of Plassey, 1757 are as follows-

1. REFUSAL FOR CONCESSIONS-

The Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah refused to grant any concession to the English East
India Company.

2. DEMAND FOR LARGE TRIBUTES-

He demanded large tributes for the Company’s right to trade in Bengal.

3. DENIAL TO MINT COINS AND FORTIFICATION-

He denied the Company any right to mint coins and also stopped English East India
Company from extending its fortifications.

4. ACCUSED COMPANY OF DECEIT-

Siraj-ud-Daulah claimed that the Company was undermining the authority of the nawab. It
was refusing to pay taxes, writing disrespectful letters, and trying to humiliate the nawab and
his officials.

5. COMPANY’S VIEW-

The Company on the other hand declared that the unjust demands of local officials were
ruining their trade and they needed to increase settlements for flourishing their trade.

CONCLUSION-The conflicts led to confrontations and finally culminated in the famous

Battle of Plassey (1757).

ii) Who was the Commander in Chief of Siraj Ud Daulah’s Army?

Ans. Mir Jafar was the Commander in Chief of Siraj Ud Daulah’s Army who betrayed the
nawab by joining hands with the British.
iii) State the reasons for the victory of Britishers in the battle of Plassey.

Ans- The reasons for the victory of Britishers in the battle of Plassey are as follows-

1. GREAT BETRAYAL BY MIR JAFAR

Nawab’s forces under the commandership of Mir Jafar never participated in the Battle.

2. ORGANISED FORCES OF ROBERT CLIVE

It is said that Robert Clive’s army attacked the forces of the Nawab in a planned and
organized manner.
3. ROLE PLAYED BY JAGAT SETH
Jagat Seth was a money lender who joined hands with the British and stopped the flow of
resources for the nawab’s army.

4. “Battle of Buxar was a turning point in Indian History. Give arguments to support
the statement.

ANS. DEFEAT OF COMBINED INDIAN FORCES

1. The Battle of Buxar 1764, was a decisive battle for both Company and Bengal as
English East India Company defeated the three combined forces of Indian rulers
namely the nawab of Bengal (Mir Qasim), the nawab of Awadh (Shuja-ud Daulah)
and the later Mughal Emperor (Shah Alam II).

DIWANI AND DUAL GOVERNMENT

2. After the victory in the Battle of Buxar, the company rule over Bengal was
established as it gained the Diwani rights (right to collect revenue) and started Dual
Government system in Bengal.

PUPPET RULER

3. They reinstalled Mir Jafar as the puppet ruler in Bengal.

HUGE WAR IDEMNITY

4. The puppet nawab was bound to pay Rs 500,000 every month to the Company.

DUTY-FREE TRADE

5. The Company started its trade in India without payment of duties and taxes which
helped them make huge profits and enormous booty.

RESIDENTS

6. After the Battle of Buxar (1764), the Company also appointed Residents in Indian states
who were political or commercial agents and their job was to serve the interests of the
Company.
5. How were residents of use to the British Company?

The
company
Through the
They were compelled
After the Residents, They Indian Some
political or the
Battle of gradually rulers to Kingdoms
commercia Company
Buxar started sign where
l agents officials
(1764), the Subsidiary British
and their began taking
Company interfering Alliance placed their
job was to major and Residents
appointed in the
serve the decisions disallowed were
Residents internal
interests of them to Awadh,
in Indian affairs of of Indian
the keep Bengal etc.
states. Indian rulers.
Company. independen
states. t armed
forces.

6. “The Doctrine of Lapse created fear and resentment among the rulers of India”.
Analyse the given statement and give suitable arguments.

1. Governor General Dalhousie

devised an annexationist policy known
as the 'Doctrine of Lapse'.
2. The doctrine declared that if an
Indian ruler died without a male heir
his kingdom would
“lapse”, that is, become part of
Company territory.
3. The Indian rulers were not even
allowed to adopt sons.
4. The policy was unjust and
humiliating.
5. Some of the regions annexed
through this policy are-Satara (1848),
Sambalpur(1850), Udaipur (1852),
Nagpur (1853) and Jhansi (1854).
Q7. “Subsidiary Alliance reduced the power of the rulers in their own courts”. Analyse
the given statement and give suitable examples.

1. The policy of Subsidiary Alliance was devised by Governor

General Wellesley.
2. According to the terms of this alliance, Indian rulers were not
allowed to have their independent armed forces.
3. They were to be protected by the Company and had to bear the
expenses of the“subsidiary forces”.
4. If the Indian rulers failed to make the payment, then part of their
territory was taken away as penalty.
5. For example: (a) The Nawab of Awadh was forced to give over
half of his territory to the Company in 1801, as he failed to pay for
the “subsidiary forces”.
(b) Hyderabad was also forced to cede territories on similar
grounds.

8. What were the reasons for the rivalry between the English and Tipu Sultan in
Mysore? Page 16 (3 marks)

1. By 1761, Mysore gained strength under Haider Ali and his son
Tipu Sultan.
2. Mysore controlled Malabar coast from where English East India
Company purchsed Pepper and Cardamom.
3. In 1785, Tipu Sultan stopped the export of sandalwood, pepper
and cardamom through the ports of his kingdom.
4. He also disallowed local merchants from trading with the
Company.
5. He also established a close relationship with the French in India,
and modernised his army with their help.
9. Describe the role played by a collector in district administration?
Page 22 (3 marks)
ROLE OF COLLECTOR

His main job was to collect revenue and taxes and maintain
law and order in his district.

He performed these duties with the help of judges, police

officers and darogas.

His office – the Collectorate – became thenew centre of

power and authority

10. Bring out three changes introduced in the army during the Colonial Period.
Page 22 (3 marks)

Ans. The changes introduced in the army during Colonial Period are as follows-

1. SEPOY ARMY-
The East India Company recruited farmers as soldiers in their army, which came to be
known as the Sepoy army.
2. INCREASE IN INFANTRY-
By 1820’s Company reduced cavalry and increased Infantry to fight effectively in
regions of Burma, Afghanistan and Egypt.
3. EUROPEAN STYLE OF TRAINING-
The British began to develop a uniform military culture where soldiers were subjected
to European-style training, drill and discipline that regulated their life far more than
before.

11. Define the following terms. a) Farman b) Factors c) Peshwa d) Faujdari adalat
e) Diwani adalat f)Nabob g)Residents (1mark each)
 Farman – A royal edict or a royal order.

Factors-The company traders were called as 'Factors'.

Peshwa-'Peshwa' was the position of Principal

Minister in Maratha Empire.

Faujdari Adalat - A criminal court

Diwani Adalat-A Civil Court

Nabob- The word refers to the British pronounciation of the

word 'Nawab' as all the company officials wanted to live
luxurious life like Nawabs.

Residents - 'Residents' were political or commercial agents and their job

was to serve andfurther the interests of the Company.

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