SSLC NOTES: History Chapter - 1 THE ADVENT OF EUROPEANS TO INDIA

 

History

Chapter - 1

THE ADVENT OF EUROPEANS TO INDIA

 

I. Complete the following blanks with suitable answers:

1. In 1453, the Ottoman Turks occupied ……… (Constantinople)

2. The sea route between India and Europe was discovered by ……… (Vasco da Gama)

3. In 1741 Dutch declared war on................ (Travancore)

4. The capital of the French in India was ………… (Pondicherry)

5. In 1757, Robert Clive declared ……… battle over Siraja -ud-Daulah. (Plassey)

6. The Diwani rights over Bengal were handed over to the British by …….... (Saha Alam-II)

7. The Dual government policy was implemented by ……… in Bengal. (Robert Clive)

II. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions:

1.     How did trade take place between India and Europe during middle Ages?

Ans: i. The Arab merchants carried Asian merchandise to Constantinople of Eastern Roman (Byzantium) Empire.

ii. The Italian merchants would buy these goods and then sell them in European countries.

2.State the causes that resulted in the discovery of a new sea route to India.

Ans: i. The trade and commerce between Asia and Europe was carried on place through the city of Constantinople.

ii. In 1453, the Ottoman Turks captured the city of Constantinople. As a result, all the trade routes connecting the city of Constantinople came under the control of Turks.

iii. The Turks started levying too many taxes on the goods passing through these routes. As a result, trade became unprofitable.

iv. Meanwhile, Spain, Portugal and other European rulers were attempting to break the monopoly of Italian traders.

v. They started encouraging enterprising sailors to find a new sea route to India.

vi. The invention of compass, astrolabes, and gunpowder provided further impetus to this venture.

3.List the Europeans who came to India for trade.

Ans: i. Portuguese  ii. Dutch  iii. English  iv. French

4.Explain how Marthanda varma checked the Dutch?

Ans:  i. Marthanda varma compiled an army of 50,000 Soldiers to extend the border of wynad.

ii. He occupied the pepper growing areas. By this time the Dutch who were trying to monopolise was defeated by Marthanda Varma.

iii. He controlled the surrounding areas and made them to oppose the Dutch.

iv. The Dutch with help of the provinces like Kayamkulam, Kochi, Purakkad and Vadakunkur attacked on travancore, Raja Marthanda defeated them and captured Nedumangala and Kottarakara trading centres.

v. In 1741 the Dutch declared war on Travancore with Kottarakara province in the forefront.

vi. Some of the local provinces also joined the Dutch. But Marthanda Varma's army strongly sent it back.

v. The Dutch came back to kochin but with the help of Simhalese forces the Dutch attacked Marthanda Varma.

Vi. Four days serious battle took place from 10th August 1741 at Kolachchal.

vii. Finally Travancore army had an upper hand in the battle and 24 important officers of the Dutch were taken as prisoners.

5.Explain the Second Carnatic War.

Ans: i.In the changed circumstances, French made Salabath Jung, another son of Asaf Jha as the Nizam of Hyderabad.

ii. An officer named Bussy was appointed in Hyderabad for his protection by the French.

iii. In the Carnatic Chandasaheb had become the Nawab with the help of French. Robert Clive of East India Company attacked Arcot, the capital city of Carnatic and defeated Chandsaheb.

iv. Chandsaheb was imprisoned and later killed in the war.

v. In the place of Chandsaheb, the English named Mohammad Ali, the son of Anwaruddin, as the Nawab of Carnatic.

vi. The second Carnatic war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry.

vi. The French recalled Dupleix.

vii. This war brought laurels to the English, while the French suffered a political setback.

 

6.State the causes and results of the battle of Plassey .

Ans: Causes for the battle of Plassey

1. Misuse of Dastaks: Siraj ud-Daulah was furious that the Dastaks were misused by the officials of the company causing losses to the government treasury.

2. Mending of the fort without permission: The British repaired the fort of Calcutta and placed canons in them. This further angered Siraj-ud-Daula and he ordered the removal of the canons from the fort. The British refused to do so, angering the Nawab further.

3. Black Room Tragedy: Siraj ud-Daulah conquered Fort William easily and imprisoned some the of British. He imprisoned 146 Englishmen in a small room in the fort, of which 123 died. This is called the Black hole Tragedy. This enraged Robert Clive and arrived in Bengal with a huge army.

Results of the battle of Plassey

1. This war brought out the immorality, lack of unity among the Indians and the greed of Indian businessmen.

2. Mir Jaffar became the Nawab of Bengal.

3. The company gained exclusive rights to trade in Bengal.

4. Mir Jaffar had to pay Rupees seventeen crores and seventy lakhs to Sirja-ud-Daulah as war indemnity for the attack of Fort William.

 

7.What were the results of the Battle of Buxar?

Ans: 1. Shah Alam-II accorded the Diwani rights over Bengal to the British.

2. Shah Alam-II gave away all the rights over Bengal to the British for an annual fee of Rupees 26 lakhs.

3. Shuj-ud-daula the Nawab of Awadh had to pay war indemnity of Rupees 50 lakhs for waging a war against the company.

4. With the death of Mir Jaffar, the company paid pension to his son and took over the entire administration of Bengal.

 

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