Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2

A major element of Social Science is History. It may prove to be very important for developing a variety of occupations, such as jobs or businesses, historians, teachers and researchers. The second chapter of Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 is From Trade to Territory- The Company Establishes Power. The establishment of European dominance in India is the focus of this chapter. It describes the fall of the Mughal Empire following Aurangzeb’s demise and the breakup of the Nawabs along with the Mughal Empire. It details how the East India Company obtained the royal charter to trade with India, among other historical details. Extramarks Chapter 2 Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Important Questions makes it more convenient for the students to understand the chapter. Students can easily access all this and more on the Extramarks’ website.

History is a lengthy subject, with so much to remember. Students find it challenging to memorise it altogether. We at Extramarks understand the importance of providing accurate and detailed solutions to the important questions of a chapter. Extramarks experts have put together Social Science Our Pasts 3 Class 8 Chapter 2 Important Questions using the NCERT Textbook, NCERT Exemplar, other reference books, past years’ exam questions and other sources. Our history specialists have created a list of step-by-step answers to help students comprehend each chapter. The Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2 Important Questions are available to all students who register with Extramarks.

Along with Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2, students can access materials like NCERT Solutions, CBSE revision notes, past years’ question papers, NCERT books, and much more on the Extramarks’ website.

Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2- with Solutions

Experts of History at Extramarks have developed an entire list of Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2 from various sources. The establishment of European dominance in India is the focus of this chapter. It describes the fall of the Mughal Empire following Aurangzeb’s demise and the breakup of the Nawabs along with the Mughal Empire. It details how the East India Company obtained the royal charter to trade with India, among other historical details. These questions and solutions help students comprehend From Trade to Territory- The Company Establishes Power in a better way.

Mentioned below are a few Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2 and their solutions:

Question 1. After the British conquest of Bengal, Calcutta grew from a small village to a big city. Find out about the culture, architecture and the life of Europeans and Indians of the city during the colonial period.

Answer 1. The city of Calcutta was the capital of the British Empire and the epicentre of their authority over India. The cities and neighbourhoods where the Europeans resided were extremely developed. To the contrary , Indians lived in haphazard settlements. The Europeans introduced the Bungalow and Club culture to Calcutta, where they participated in sports like golf, cricket and racing. During this time, drama theatres also developed. European architectural traditions influenced the newly constructed buildings’ architecture, and some of them had Roman and Gothic looks.

Question 2. What did you see following the Bengal invasion?

Answer 2. Because it staged plays, theatres, concerts and festivals for social and religious reasons, Calcutta was regarded as one of India’s cultural centres. Famous poets of this era were Bankim Chandra and Rabindranath Tagore. Rasogulla, curry, mishthi and other delicacies were also well-known in Calcutta. In addition, Calcutta was known for its national library of India, Academy of fine arts, and other architectural marvels. But the locals struggled with even the most basic amenities.

Question 3. What attracted European trading companies to India?

Answer 3. The European nations were drawn to India for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Trading with India was very successful, and European enterprises prospered because of the influx of cash.
  • The cost of purchasing products in India was relatively low compared to the high cost of purchasing them in Europe.
  • India’s premium cotton and silk were in high demand on the European market.
  • The spices that were imported from India were quite popular in Europe.
  • A trade surplus resulted from the exploitation of revenue collecting rights by several European nations to finance their governments.

Question 4. Distinguish between  the rulings of the East India Company and Indian rulings.

Answer 4. These two administrations’ decisions differed significantly in numerous areas. The three presidencies—Bengal, Madras, and Bombay—that made up the company’s administration were each headed by a governor. The district served as the primary administrative entity, with the King as the supreme leader. The district’s law enforcement and order were the responsibility of the collector. As a result, the East India company’s administration was distinct from that of India.

Question 5. Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army.

Answer 5. In addition to the forces of the Indian kings, the British kept their army in place. In India, the British army had the following characteristics:

  • They were chosen from the general populace and then trained.
  • They were punished according to European standards.
  • They advanced on foot while carrying muskets and matchlocks.
  • The soldiers did not harbour any caste or group sentiments.
  • The Sepoy Army was the name given to them.

Question 6. How did the East India Company gain from the diwani?

Answer 6. In 1765, the Mughal emperors named the East India Company the Diwan of the Bengal regions. Therefore, the organisation was permitted to utilise the sizeable revenue streams, which resolved the key issues they had encountered. The East India Company could pay for expenditures and purchase commodities with the current income. The money allowed the British to keep their soldiers in India and buy cotton and silk fabrics.

Question 7. What were the areas of conflict between the Bengal nawabs and the East India Company?

Answer 7. The East India Company began permitting more of its merchants and traders to come and settle permanently in the city of Bengal when the first British factory was established in 1651 on the banks of the river Hugli. Conflicts between the Bengal nawabs and the East India Company were brought about by:

  • Nawabs repeatedly rejected the East India Company’s requests for concessions.
  • Nawabs also asked the business for hefty homage payments.
  • The business disputed paying taxes.
  • Officials from the corporation sent the nawabs abusive letters.

Question 8. In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?

Answer 8. The following were the distinctions between the Company’s administration and that of the Indian kings:

  • While Indian territories were split into Districts, Parganas, Tehsils, and Villages, British possessions were separated into Presidencies.
  • While Zamindars governed Indian areas, British possessions had a Governor.
  • As opposed to Kings in the Indian government, the Governor-General served as the highest authority in the British system.
  • Before the British arrived in India, the Civil and Criminal Courts were the same. In India, the Criminal and Civil Courts were divided by the British.

Question 9. Why did the Bengali Nawabs blame the company?

Answer 9. The Nawabs accused the corporation of defrauding the Bengali government of enormous sums of money and the Nawabs’ power, which was the basis for their accusation. Additionally, they said that the company wasn’t paying taxes, they were sending out indecent letters and were attempting to degrade the nawab’s authorities.

Question 10. Explain the system of “subsidiary alliance”.

Answer 10. One of the strategies the British East India Company used to strengthen its position in India following the Battle of Buxar was the Subsidiary Alliance. According to this partnership:

  • The State’s Guardian was the English East India Company.
  • A British Resident at the Royal Court controlled and kept an eye on the King’s actions.
  • The British took control of the Indian rulers’ armed forces.
  • Other than the British, no other European country could get protection or benefits from the Kings.
  • The British East India Company received payment from the Kings for defending their domains.
  • The company could take the King’s territory if the protection fee was not paid.

Question 11. What happened after the British had seized control of Bengal?

Answer 11. The city of Calcutta rose to prominence as the administrative hub, developing a port and a residential neighbourhood for Europeans throughout the colonial era. The natives of Europe had luxurious lives, while the locals of Calcutta were struggling to survive in crowded locations. Large bungalows, golf courses, soccer clubs and other amenities were abound among Europeans. They possessed all the necessities & luxuries, but the natives lacked access to water supplies, reliable power, etc.

In the above section of Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2, all the important concepts of the chapter are covered.

Benefits of Solving Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2

We at Extramarks are mindful of how important it is to answer important questions. As a result, we have developed Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2. Students are often recommended to study important questions for a subject like a History that requires a lot of reading. Students gather confidence by answering the important questions and going over their solutions.

Mentioned below are some benefits of solving Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2:

  • These solutions help students save time while preparing for the upcoming examination and cover the entire chapter.
  • Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2 covers the concepts of the entire chapter- From Trade to Territory- The Company Establishes Power.
  • Students can entirely rely upon these important questions as these are made following all the guidelines laid by CBSE.
  • The answers in NCERT solutions are explained in detail, which gives students an idea of how to attempt a question in the board exam in the right manner
  • As the explanations are comprehensive, the fundamentals of the chapter are understood by the students in a better way.

Extramarks provides comprehensive learning solutions for students from Class 1 to Class 12. Along with important questions and solutions, we have abundant resources available on our website. Students can click on the links given below to access some of these resources:

  • NCERT books
  • CBSE Revision Notes
  • CBSE syllabus
  • CBSE sample papers
  • CBSE previous year question papers
  • Important formulas 
  • CBSE extra questions

Q.1 How can soil be conserved from degradation in non-hilly areas?

Marks:5
Ans

Soil can be conserved from degradation in non-hilly areas by adopting the following methods:

  • Mulching: Mulching is a practice to cover the bare ground between plants with a layer of organic matter like straw. It helps to retain soil moisture.
  • Rock dam: Fast flowing water is one of the factors of soil loss by gullies. To overcome this problem, rocks are piled up to slow down the flow of water.
  • Intercropping: In intercropping, different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times to protect the soil from erosion and infertility.
  • Shelterbelts: Rows of trees planted to check the wind movement and protect soil cover are known as shelterbelts. Shelterbelts are usually planted in the coastal and dry regions.

Q.2 Do you agree that the growing demands of people are the main cause for the degradation of land?

Marks:5
Ans

  • As the population of the world is growing, their demands for land are also growing. But the availability of land is limited, and the quality of land varies from place to place.
  • To fulfill their demands, people started encroaching forests and the common lands to build commercial areas and housing complexes in the urban areas and to expand the agricultural land in the rural areas.
  • Today the vast changes in the land use pattern are seen, reflecting the cultural changes in our society, and their effects on the environment.
  • Because of the expansion of agriculture and construction activities, land degradation, landslides, soil erosion, desertification have become major threats.

Q.3 What is soil?

What are its constituents?

Marks:3
Ans

Soil:

  • Soil is the thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth. It is closely linked to the land.

Constituents of soil:

  • Soil is made up of organic matter, minerals, and fine rocky substances. Minerals and fine rocky substances are added to the soil by the process of weathering whereas organic matter comes to the soil by the decomposition of flora and fauna. The right mix of minerals and organic matter makes the soil fertile.

Q.4 Differentiate between common property resources and private property resources.

Marks:1
Ans

The followings are the differences between common property resources and private property resources:

Common property resources Private property resources
Common property resources are owned by the community. Private property resources are owned by individuals.
Fodder, medicinal herbs, trees etc. are grown on common property. All people can collect and use them. The use of private property resources depends on the need or wish of the owner.
Grazing land, land under groves etc. are examples of common property. Houses, shops, farms etc. are examples of private property.

Q.5 Why is freshwater considered the most precious substance on the earth?

Marks:5
Ans

  • Freshwater is vital for the survival of humans and some other living beings. But the availability of fresh water on the earth is very little despite three-fourths of the earth?s surface being covered with water.
  • About 97.3 % of the total water of the earth is saline and is found in oceans. It is not fit for human consumption.
  • Freshwater accounts for only about 2.7 per cent but nearly 70 per cent of this occurs as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland, and mountainous regions. Due to their location, they are inaccessible.
  • Only 1 per cent of fresh water is available and fit for human use. It is found as groundwater, surface water in rivers and lakes, and water vapour in the atmosphere.
  • Thus, freshwater is considered the most precious substance on the earth.

Q.6 In what ways can water be conserved?

Marks:5
Ans

Water can be conserved in the following ways:

  • Controlling water pollution: Water pollution can be controlled by treating effluents suitably before releasing them into water bodies.
  • Afforestation: Forest and other vegetation cover slow down the surface runoff and replenish underground water.
  • Water harvesting: Water harvesting is a method to save surface runoff of rainwater as well as to store it.
  • Lining of canals: The canals used for irrigating fields should be properly lined to minimise losses by water seepage.
  • Water-saving technologies in irrigation: The valuable water resource can be conserved by adopting effective and sustainable means of irrigation. Sprinklers and drip irrigation systems are some water-saving technologies. Sprinklers effectively irrigate the area by checking water losses through seepage and evaporation. In dry regions with high rates of evaporation, drip or trickle irrigation is very useful.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Why should students study the NCERT Solutions for History Chapter 2 in Class 8?

The subject of history can be a little tough, and you can come across  difficult and unique exam questions. Therefore, staying on the safe side and preparing by practising questions is advisable. The Extramarks’ website provides solutions to Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Our Pasts 3 Chapter 2 so that you may learn how to organise your solutions and include all the necessary details to receive excellent marks.

2. What will students learn from Chapter 2 of the Class 8 History NCERT textbook?

The battles, wars and emergence of several kings that have taken place are discussed in Chapter 2: Trade and Territory. The Battle of Buxar, the Battle of Plassey, and other engagements will all be covered here for the students. This chapter mainly discusses the ancient populations and how they arrived in various regions to start India’s commerce system. Students will learn more about the people who struggled for their independence and how the trading system was ingrained in the nation through  the historical information available.