(Ultimate NCERT Solutions for Class 10) Ch- 4 – The Age of Industrialisation

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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 (History) Chapter- 4 – The Age of Industrialisation

 (Exercises, Question/Answers & Activities)

Chapter- 4 – The Age of Industrialisation

ACTIVITY AND IN-TEXT QUESTIONS

Activity (Page 80)

Q 1. Give two examples where modern development that is associated with progress has led to problems. You may like to think of areas related to environmental issues, nuclear weapons or diseases.

Ans 1:

(i) Advancements in Agriculture: The introduction of herbicides, pesticides, urea, and various chemical fertilizers has resulted in soil infertility and raised significant environmental issues.

(ii) Advancements in Nuclear Armaments: Contemporary nuclear weapons are extremely devastating due to the radioactive contamination they cause. This leads to numerous fatalities and lifelong injuries among affected individuals, as exemplified by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

Activity (Page 83)

Q 1. The way in which historians focus on industrialisation rather than on small workshops is a good example of how what we believe today about the past is influenced by what historians choose to notice and what they ignore. Note down one event or aspect of your own life which adults such as your parents or teachers may think is unimportant, but which you believe to be important.

Ans 1: One event in my life that adults, like my parents or teachers, might consider unimportant but I view as significant is my participation in a school debate competition. While they might see it as just another extracurricular activity, for me, it was a pivotal experience that enhanced my public speaking skills, boosted my confidence, and taught me the importance of research and critical thinking. It also helped me form lasting friendships and understand different perspectives on various issues, which I believe are valuable skills for my future.

Activity (Page 83)

Q 1. Look at Figs. 4 and 5. Can you see any difference in the way the two images show industrialisation? Explain your view briefly.

Ans 1:
(1) As illustrated in Figure 4, the Lancashire cotton mill enhances the city’s charm with its evening lighting.
(2) Figure 5 depicts Manchester, characterized by a concentration of industries that produce significant smoke, representing environmental pollution.
(3) Consequently, the key distinction between the two figures lies in how industries are established in these locations.

Activity (Page 85)

Q 1. Imagine that you are a merchant writing back to a salesman who has been trying to persuade you to buy a new machine. Explain in your letter what you have heard and why you do not wish to invest in the new technology.

Ans 1: Based on my personal analysis and reasoning, I am hesitant to invest in the new technology for the following reasons:
(i) The technology is expensive, inefficient, prone to breakdowns, and difficult to repair.
(ii) I would rather pay lower wages to inexpensive labor than invest in an expensive new machine.
(iii) While machines generate uniform and standardized products, customers are looking for variety, options, colors, and specially crafted handmade items.

Discuss (Page 87)

Q 1. Look at Figs. 3, 7 and 11, then reread source B. Explain, why many workers were opposed to the use of the Spinning Jenny.

Ans 1:

(1) A majority of the workforce found jobs in the textile sector.
(2) The advent of the spinning Jenny significantly boosted production output and reduced the time required for manufacturing, prompting industrialists to adopt this technology.
(3) As a consequence, this resulted in a rise in unemployment rates.
Consequently, many laborers resisted the implementation of the spinning Jenny.

EXERCISES

Write in Brief:

1. Explain the following:

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

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

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

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

Ans 1:

(a) In Britain, female workers expressed their discontent towards the Spinning Jenny due to its ability to operate multiple spindles with a single wheel. While this innovation boosted productivity, it also resulted in a reduction of jobs for women in the textile sector. Consequently, these women reacted by attacking the machine.

(b) The guilds of trade and commerce regulated the markets, raw materials, labor force, and the production of goods within towns. This control posed challenges for merchants who sought to expand production by hiring additional workers. As a result, they began to recruit peasants and artisans from rural areas.

(c) By the close of the eighteenth century, the port of Bombay had been developed by European colonizers. They preferred to dominate maritime trade and exports, which led to a decline in the use of the older Surat port. Consequently, Surat’s sea trade diminished significantly by the end of the eighteenth century.

(d) Indian weavers were not only engaged in producing coarser textiles for the East India Company but also catered to other European firms and local merchants. The East India Company aimed to monopolize cloth production and trade, so it appointed gomasthas to oversee the weavers and provided them with advance loans for acquiring raw materials.

Q 2. Write True or False against each statement.

(a) At the end of nineteenth century, 80 per cent of the total workforce in Europe was employed in the technologically advanced industrial sector.

(b) The international market for fine textiles was dominated by India till the eighteenth century.

(c) The American Civil War resulted in the reduction of cotton exports from India.

(d) The introduction of the fly shuttle enabled handloom workers to improve their productivity.

Ans 2:

(a) False – At the end of the nineteenth century, a significant portion of the workforce in Europe was still employed in agriculture and other non-industrial sectors, not in the technologically advanced industrial sector.

(b) True – India dominated the international market for fine textiles until the eighteenth century, known for its high-quality cotton and silk products.

(c) True – The American Civil War (1861-1865) disrupted the cotton supply, which led to a reduction in cotton exports from India, as the American South was a major cotton supplier.

(d) True – The introduction of the fly shuttle in weaving allowed handloom workers to produce cloth more quickly and efficiently, thereby improving productivity.

Q 3. Explain what is meant by proto-industrialisation.

Ans 3: Proto-industrialization refers to the phase of economic development that precedes the full industrialization of a society. It typically involves the rise of small-scale, home-based production of goods, particularly in textiles and crafts, facilitated by rural households. This period saw increased market orientation, the growth of trade networks, and the emergence of wage labor, setting the stage for the later, more extensive industrialization that characterized the 18th and 19th centuries.

Discuss

Q 1 Why did some industrialists in nineteenth- century Europe prefer hand labour over machines?

Ans 1: Some industrialists in Europe during the nineteenth century favored manual labor instead of machinery for several reasons:
(1) Machinery was expensive, inefficient, difficult to repair, and required significant capital investment.
(2) Labor was readily available at low wage rates.
(3) The diverse requirements for various designs, colors, and specific lengths could only be met by handwoven fabrics, which necessitated human labor.

Q 2. How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers?

Ans 2:

(1) The East India Company began to phase out the local traders and brokers involved in the cloth trade, thereby gaining greater direct oversight of the weavers.

(2) The Company employed individuals known as gomasthas, who were responsible for overseeing the weavers, managing supplies, and inspecting the quality of the textiles produced.

(3) To restrict the weavers from engaging with competing entities, the Company provided them with advances. These loans enabled the weavers to acquire the necessary raw materials for manufacturing their products.

Q 3. Imagine that you have been asked to write an article for an encyclopedia on Britain and the history of cotton. Write your piece using information from the entire chapter.

Ans 3:

1. Britain effectively controlled and dominated the cotton trade, including both raw cotton and various types of cotton fabrics, whether coarse or fine.
2. It established markets throughout its colonies to sell cotton textiles manufactured in Manchester at lower prices.
3. Britain discovered numerous ways to generate substantial profits from the cotton trade.
4. The East India Company placed Indian weavers in debt and managed them with the assistance of gomasthas, ensuring a consistent supply of both handmade fine cotton fabrics and raw cotton.
5. In Britain, industrial growth was propelled by the establishment of cotton textile mills in various regions.

As a result, for over five centuries, Britain maintained a prominent position in global economic history due to its dominance in the cotton trade.

Q 4. Why did industrial production in India increase during the First World War?

Ans 4: The First World War brought about a significant rise in industrial production in India for several reasons:

• British industries shifted their focus to wartime production, which resulted in a halt to the export of goods and textiles intended for the colonial market in India.
• This created an opportunity for Indian industries to supply the void in local markets, leading to an increase in their production levels.
• The British colonial government also mandated that Indian factories provide essential materials for the war effort, including jute bags, fabric for military uniforms, tents, leather boots, and saddles for horses and mules.
• The heightened demand for various products prompted the establishment of new factories and the expansion of existing ones, often operating multiple shifts.
• This surge in industrial activity resulted in the hiring of many new workers, who were required to work longer hours.

As a result, India experienced a significant boost in industrial production during the First World War.

Project

Q 1. Select any one industry in your region and find out its history. How has the technology changed? Where do the workers come from? How are the products advertised and marketed? Try and talk to the employers and some workers to get their views about the industry’s history.

Ans 1: Industry: Information Technology (IT) in Gurugram

• History:
  • Gurugram emerged as an IT hub in the 1990s.
  • Growth accelerated with economic liberalization and infrastructure development.
  • Attracted global tech companies (e.g., IBM, Microsoft).
• Technology Changes:
  • Shift from basic IT services to advanced solutions (AI, cloud computing).
  • Increased automation and digitization.
  • Rise of startups focusing on innovative tech.
• Worker Demographics:
  • Workforce primarily comprises professionals from across India (Delhi NCR, southern states).
  • Increasing number of international employees.
  • Skilled graduates from local colleges and universities.
• Marketing and Advertising:
  • Heavy use of digital marketing strategies (social media, SEO).
  • Branding through tech conferences and trade shows.
  • Collaboration with influencers and industry leaders for outreach.
• Employer and Worker Views:
  • Employers: Value the adaptability and skills of workers; emphasize need for continuous learning.
  • Workers: Appreciate growth opportunities; concerns about work-life balance and job security.