Podcast
Questions and Answers
The British believed that a country had to be properly known before it could be effectively ______.
The British believed that a country had to be properly known before it could be effectively ______.
administered
From the end of the nineteenth century, ______ operations were held every ten years.
From the end of the nineteenth century, ______ operations were held every ten years.
Census
Official records do not tell what other people in the country felt, and what lay behind their ______.
Official records do not tell what other people in the country felt, and what lay behind their ______.
actions
Sources of unofficial records include diaries of people and accounts of ______ and travellers.
Sources of unofficial records include diaries of people and accounts of ______ and travellers.
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These records help understand how history was experienced by the ______ and the peasants.
These records help understand how history was experienced by the ______ and the peasants.
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Previously, history was an account of ______ and big events such as the year a king was crowned.
Previously, history was an account of ______ and big events such as the year a king was crowned.
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Historians now look more towards why and how things happen, rather than ______ when things happened.
Historians now look more towards why and how things happen, rather than ______ when things happened.
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In 1817, James Mill divided Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and ______.
In 1817, James Mill divided Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and ______.
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Many historians refer to the British rule period as '______' because it lacked equality and freedom.
Many historians refer to the British rule period as '______' because it lacked equality and freedom.
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The periodisation of Indian history is borrowed from the ______, where modernity encompassed science and democracy.
The periodisation of Indian history is borrowed from the ______, where modernity encompassed science and democracy.
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British rule brought about changes in values, tastes, customs, and ______.
British rule brought about changes in values, tastes, customs, and ______.
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The subjugation of one country by another that leads to political, economic, and social changes is referred to as ______.
The subjugation of one country by another that leads to political, economic, and social changes is referred to as ______.
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The official records of the British administration are one of the important ______ used by historians.
The official records of the British administration are one of the important ______ used by historians.
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Study Notes
Understanding History's Progression
- Early history focused on dates of events like coronations, marriages, wars, and deaths.
- Modern history emphasizes why and how events occurred, selecting dates to highlight important developments.
- Periodization (dividing history into periods) is used to understand characteristics of a time and its features.
Periodization in Indian History
- James Mill, in "A History of British India" (1817), divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods, viewing Asian societies as less developed than Europe.
- Common divisions also include ancient, medieval, and modern, borrowing from Western concepts.
- Modern period is associated with development of science, reason, democracy, liberty, and equality.
- Medieval period is one where these features were absent.
- Colonial period refers to British rule, characterized by the lack of equality, freedom, liberty and economic progress. British conquest led to subjugation, control over resources, and imposed economic/cultural changes.
Sources of Historical Knowledge
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Official Sources: British records (instructions, policies, agreements, surveys, censuses) were meticulously documented.
- Administrative records, meticulously preserved.
- Surveys of land, topography, resources, and society to administer better (detailed plans/maps).
- Censuses conducted every ten years, detailing population demographics (castes, religions, occupation).
- Other surveys like botanical, zoological, archaeological, anthropological, and forest surveys.
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Unofficial Sources: Necessary to understand perspectives beyond official accounts. Examples Include:
- Diaries
- Accounts of travelers and pilgrims
- Autobiographies of important people
- Local books
- Newspapers
- Writings of leaders and reformers
- Writings of poets and novelists
- Unofficial sources give insights into the lived experiences of varied groups in society (tribals, peasants, workers, poor).
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Description
This quiz explores the evolution of historical understanding and the concept of periodization, particularly in Indian history. It examines how early historical narratives focused on dates, while modern approaches highlight the reasons and contexts of events. Key figures like James Mill and major historical periods are discussed.
