NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR HISTORY CLASS 10 CHAPTER: THE AGE OF INDUSTRIALISATION

NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR HISTORY CLASS 10 CHAPTER: THE AGE OF INDUSTRIALISATION

Q. Explain the following:

(a) Women workers in Britain attacked the Spinning Jenny.

Ans: Women workers in Britain attacked the Spinning Jenny because it speeded up the spinning process and reduced the labour demand. By the use of this machine,a single worker could turn a number of spindles and spin several threads at a time. This caused a fear of unemployment among women working in the woolen industry. Till date they had survived on hand spinning but this was placed in danger by the new machine.

( b)In the seventeenth century merchants from towns in Europe began employing peasants and artisans within the villages.

Ans: In the towns of Europe trade guilds controlled the market,raw materials, employees, the production, prices and restricted the entry of new people into the trade.Also the rulers granted different guilds the monopoly right to produce and trade in specific products. Therefore,it was difficult for new merchants to set up business in towns. Therefore,they turned to the villages and began employing peasants and artisans.

( c ) The port of Surat declined by the end of the eighteenth century.

Ans: The port of Surat declined by the end of the eighteenth century on account of the growing power of European companies in trade with India.They secured many concessions from local courts as well as monopoly rights to trade. This led to the decline of the old ports like Surat and Hooghly from where local merchants had operated. Exports slowed and local banks here went bankrupt.

( d ) The East India Company appointed gomasthas to supervise weavers in India.

Ans: Gomasthas were appointed to eliminate the existence of traders and brokers connected with the cloth trade and establish a direct control over the weavers. They also prevented company weavers from dealing with other buyers. It was done through the system of advances. In this manner, weavers who took loans in advance were obligated to the British.

Q. Explain what is meant by proto- industrialisation?

Ans: Proto-industrialisation is the phase of industrialisation that was not based on the factory system. Before the coming of factories, there was large scale industrial production for the international market. During this period most of the goods were hand manufactured by trained crafts persons for international market. This part of industrial history is known as proto-industrialisation.

Q. Why did some industrialists in nineteenth century Europe prefer hand labour over machines?

Ans: Industrialists prefer hand labour over machines because:

1. Machines were costly, difficult to repair and needed huge capital investments.
2. Labour was available at low wages at that period of time.
3. In seasonal industries, only seasonal labour was required.
4. In Victorian Britain, the upper class people preferred things made by hand.
5. Handmade products came to symbolise refinement and class.
6. Market demands of variety of designs could not be fulfilled by machine made clothes.Intricate designs could be done by human skills only.

Q. How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers?

Ans: The East India Company adopted various steps to procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers. They established political power to assert a monopoly on the right to trade.The company tried to eliminate the existing traders and brokers connected with the cloth trade and establish a direct control over the weaver. It appointed paid servants called as gomasthas to supervise weavers,collect supplies and examine the quality of cloth.It prevented company weavers from dealing with other buyers. It was done through the system of advances. The company developed a system of management and control that would eliminate competition, control cost and ensure regular supply of cotton goods. This system forced the sell at a price fixed by the company. By giving the weavers a loan, the company tied the weavers with them.

Q. Why did industrial production in India increase during the First World War?

Ans: Industrial production in India increased during the First World War because:

1. The British mills were busy with war production to meet the needs of the army.
2. With the decline of imports, Indian mills had a vast home market to supply.
3. As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs such as jute bags, cloth for uniform,tents etc.
4. The increased demands of variety of products led to setting up of new factories and old ones increased their production.
5. Many new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours.

Q. What were the efforts made by Dogra Maharaja Ranbir Singh to organise silk industry in Kashmir?

Ans: The Dogra Maharaja Ranbir Singh took a number of steps to organise silk industry in Kashmir. Some of these are:
1. Silk rearing centres were set across the state.
2. Silk guilds known as Kirm Kash, were given special privileges.
3. In 1892 silk industry was organised on modern lines as state enterprise.
4. In 1903, the silk industry was improvised on the recommendations of Thomas Wardley,an eminent English Sericulturist.
5. In 1907, a cocoon rearing factory was established in Srinagar for which the seeds were imported from Italy and France.

Q. Discuss the development of shawl and carpet weaving industry in Kashmir?

Ans: In Kashmir, the shawl industry was the centre of economy during the nineteenth century.The wool for manufacturing shawls was imported from Lhasa (Tibet) , Ladakh and Yarkand. It was one of the major industries of the region with export earning amounting to Rs 35 lakhs a year. At least one lakh women were engaged in the spinning of the shawl wool.
Carpet weaving was introduced in Kashmir by Sultan Zainul Abidin Budshah. However, carpet industry suffered a great set back after Budshah’s period and was revived only in the 17th century during the Mughal rule in Kashmir. The carpet industry was adversely affected by the great depression of 1929. The growth of machine made carpets also provide a stiff competition to Kashmiri carpets.

  Q. Define the following:                      

Proto- It indicates the first or early form of something.

Stapler – A person who ‘staples’ or sorts wool according to its fibre.

Fuller-A person who ‘ fulls’ i.e gathers cloth by pleating.

Carding- The process in which fibres such as cotton or wool are prepared prior to spinning.

Spinning Jenny – The machine which speeded up the spinning process and reduced the labour demand is called a Spinning Jenny.It was devised by James Hargreaves in 1764.

Sepoy- It means an Indian soldier in the service of the British.

Fly Shuttle – It is a mechanical device used for weaving,moved by means of ropes and pullies.

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