NCERT Extra Questions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 1 How, When and Where

Question 1
Define the word ‘history’.
Solution:
History is ‘a record of all known past events’.
Question 2
What are the events that are usually recorded in history books?
Solution:
The events that are usually recorded are wars, crowning of kings and events related to kingdoms and the lives of rulers.
Question 3
Mention a few other events, which if recorded, will make history more interesting to everyone.
Solution:
Historians could write about the cultural changes in society, about how people travelled and exchanged news in the olden days and about the livelihood of people in the past.
Question 4
Who created the first map of India?
Solution:
Major James Rennel an English geographer, historian and pioneer of oceanography prepared the first Map of India. He was directed by Major-General Sir Robert Clive to prepare the map.
Question 5
What do we mean by ‘time-span’ in connection with historical events?
Solution:
When a specific date cannot be fixed for an event in the past and only an approximate period can be fixed this period of time is called the time-span. When we talk about changes that took place in certain social practices specific dates cannot be fixed only a time-span can be mentioned, like ‘ people in India gave up the practice of sati during the late 19^th century’.
Question 6
What did British historians in India write about?
Solution:
British historians in India wrote about the Governor Generals and Viceroys who ruled India. Their History books contained the activities, policies and achievements of the Governor Generals and nothing more. All the recorded events with specific dates were linked to the lives of these Governor Generals.
Question 7
Why is it important to have dates or time frames while writing History?
Solution:
We need dates and time-spans to divide the history book into chapters. It is necessary to give each chapter some consistency. Dates help us record history in a way that makes some sense and can be followed.
Dates also help historians to focus on those particular events about which they are writing.
Question 8
Who wrote the book ‘The History of British India’?
Solution:
‘The History of British India’ was written by James Mill. James Mill was born in 1773. He was a Scottish historian, economist, political theorist, and philosopher. His greatest literary achievement was this book.
Question 9
Why did James Mill divide his book, ‘The History of British India’ into the Hindu, Muslim and British Periods?
Solution:
According to Mill before the British came to India, Hindu and Muslim dictators ruled the country. There was religious intolerance, caste discrimination and superstitious practices in the Indian society. James Mill felt that only the British could bring enlightenment and happiness to the Indians by refining them. He felt that European culture, arts and law were necessary to uplift the downtrodden Indians.
So, James Mill divided his book into 3 periods; namely the Hindu, Muslim and British; to establish his view that the period before British rule was one of darkness and British rule represented all the forces of progress and civilisation.
Question 10
How were historians able to write about the last 250 years of Indian history?
Solution:
The historians were able to write about the last 250 years of Indian history from the official records maintained by the British Administration.
Question 11
How were records preserved during the British rule?
Solution:
Archives and museums were established to preserve important records.
Question 12
Write a brief note on the National Archives of India.
Solution:
The National Archives of India is the repository of non-current records of the Government of India and is holding them in trust for the use of administrators and scholars. It is an Attached Office of the Department of Culture under Ministry of Tourism & Culture. It was set up in March 1891 in Kolkata as the Imperial Record Department and subsequent to the transfer of the National Capital from Calcutta to New Delhi in 1911 it was shifted to its present building in New Delhi, in 1926.
Question 13
Apart from official records what are the other sources of information that is available to historians?
Solution:
The other sources of information that is available to historians are,
Diaries of people
Accounts of pilgrims and travellers
Autobiographies of important personalities
Popular booklets and newspapers
Books and letters written by Leaders, reformers, poets and novelists