Quick Revision Notes: Class 8 Social Science (History)

Chapter 1: How, When and Where

### Concept 1: The Importance of Dates in History

Traditionally, history has been synonymous with dates (battles, events, kings coming to power).

• Old View: History was a set of changing dates and royal chronicles.
• Modern View: History is much more than dates. It is about how people lived, what changes occurred, and how economies and societies transformed over time.
• Key Idea: We associate history with a time-span (a period) rather than a single exact date because changes happen slowly over time.

### Concept 2: How Do We Periodise? (The British Approach)

In 1817, James Mill (a Scottish economist and political philosopher) published a massive three-volume work: A History of British India.

• Mill's Periodisation: He divided Indian history into three periods:
  1. Hindu
  2. Muslim
  3. British
• The Flaw in this Division:
  • It was based on the idea that the religion of the rulers was the only important historical change.
  • It ignored the rich diversity, religious tolerance, and multiple cultures that existed simultaneously in India.
• Alternative Periodisation by Historians: Historians usually divide Indian history into:
  1. Ancient (प्राचीन)
  2. Medieval (मध्यकालीन)
  3. Modern (आधुनिक)
• Challenge with 'Modern': Modernity carries a sense of progress, science, and freedom. However, under British rule, Indians lacked equality, freedom, and liberty. Therefore, many historians refer to the British period as Colonial (औपनिवेशिक).

### Concept 3: What is Colonial? (औपनिवेशिक क्या है?)

• Definition: When one country subjugates (controls) another country, leading to political, economic, social, and cultural changes, we refer to this process as colonisation.
• Under British rule, people did not have equality, freedom, or liberty. The British came to conquer the territory and control its economy and resources, exploiting Indian revenues to buy goods they wanted.

### Concept 4: How Do We Know? (Sources of Modern History)

Historians use various sources to understand the last 250 years of Indian history:

1. Official Records of the British Administration:

   • The British believed that writing was crucial. Every instruction, plan, policy, decision, agreement, and investigation had to be clearly written up.
   • Special record rooms were set up attached to all administrative institutions (the village revenue office, the collectorate, the commissioner's office, the provincial secretariats, and the law courts).
   • Surveys: The British conducted detailed surveys by the early 19th century to map the country (revenue surveys, botanical surveys, zoological surveys, archaeological surveys, anthropological surveys, and forest surveys).

2. Limitations of Official Records:

   • Official records tell us what the British officials thought, what they were interested in, and what they wished to preserve for posterity.
   • They do not always help us understand what the people of the country felt or what lay behind their actions.

3. Other Sources (Beyond Official Records):

   • Diaries of people
   • Accounts of travellers and pilgrims
   • Autobiographies of important personalities
   • Popular booklets and newspapers published in local languages
   • Letters and speeches
   • Novels and poems highlighting social issues

### Key Terms & Vocabulary (महत्वपूर्ण शब्द)

• History (इतिहास): A study of past events, particularly in human affairs.
• Periodisation (काल-विभाजन): Dividing history into different periods based on major characteristics or ruling powers.
• Colonial (औपनिवेशिक): A term used to describe a society subjugated by foreign rule.
• Survey (सर्वेक्षण / सर्वेक्षण करना): A systematic collection of data or mapping of an area to gather detailed information.
• Calligraphist (सुलेखनकर्ता): One who is specialized in the art of beautiful handwriting.
• Archival (अभिलेखागार से संबंधित): A place where historical documents and records are kept.