Class 9 Social History Chapter 1 Arrival of the Europeans in India
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Arrival of the Europeans in India
Part I: History
Lesson-Based Questions &Answers
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Who was the first Portuguese navigator to discover the sea route between India and the West? When and where in India did he first arrive?
Ans: The first Portuguese navigator to discover the sea route between India and the West was Vasco da Gama. He arrived at the port of Calicut in South India in 1498 AD.
2. Who was the English navigator who succeeded in circumnavigating the globe by sea?
Ans: Francis Drake.
3. Who was the first English navigator to enter India, and when?
Ans: An English navigator named James Mildenhall first entered India in 1599.
4. When and where was the English East India Company formed?
Ans: The English East India Company was formed in London in 1600 AD.
5. Write two objectives of the East India Company in settling in India.
Ans: The two objectives of the East India Company in settling in India were:
(a) To carry on trade and commerce and
(b) To establish British rule in India.
6. Where and when was the first English trading centre established in India?
Ans: The first English trading centre in India was established at Masulipatnam in 1611.
7. What is ‘Fort William’?
Ans: ‘Fort William’ was the name of a trading centre established by the English at Calcutta in India. It was named in honour of King William III of England.
8. Into how many main phases can the period of British rule in India be divided? Mention the time periods.
Ans: The period of British rule in India can be divided into two main phases:
(a) From the decline of the Mughal Empire to the Sepoy Revolt of 1857, and
(b) From 1858 to the transfer of power to Indians in 1947.
9. Who enacted the ‘Government of India Act’ and when, and for what purpose?
Ans: The ‘Government of India Act’ was enacted on 2 August 1858 by the British Government with the objective of directly ruling India.
10. When and for what purpose was the ‘Indian Councils Act’ enacted?
Ans: The ‘Indian Councils Act’ was enacted in 1861. Its objective was to familiarize educated Indians with the modern administrative system.
Essay-type Question-Answers
1. When were the English efforts to establish a trade agreement with India completed? Briefly describe the steps taken.
Ans: The English took several steps to establish trade relations with India. These steps are briefly mentioned below:
(a) The English formed the East India Company in 1600 AD with the aim of trading with the East. Queen Elizabeth of England granted the company permission to trade for 15 years in a vast maritime region extending from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to the Straits of Magellan in South America. Before reaching India by sea, the company traded spices with places like Malacca, Sumatra, and Java. In 1608, King James I of England sent a letter to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir through Captain William Hawkins to seek permission for trade with India. Hawkins stayed in the Mughal court for nearly two years and tried to obtain trading privileges, but Emperor Jahangir rejected the proposal.
(b) In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe came to the court of Emperor Jahangir with the approval of King James I of England. Although he could not secure a formal trade agreement, the Emperor permitted English merchants to establish a factory at Surat.
(c) In 1715, a delegation led by John Surman met Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar and again proposed a trade agreement. At that time, the Emperor was suffering from a serious illness. A doctor named Hamilton, who accompanied the delegation, treated and cured him. In gratitude, the Emperor granted the East India Company royal permission to trade freely in India.
2. Describe the three main strategies by which the East India Company established trading centres in three major locations in India.
Ans: The East India Company established trading centres in three major locations in India and strengthened its position.
(a) In 1611, the Company established a trading centre at Masulipatnam with the permission of the Sultan of Golconda. In 1636, it opened a second centre at Armagon. In 1639, after making an agreement with the ruler of Chandragiri, it acquired land near Madras and shifted the centre from Armagonto that place, naming it ‘Fort St. George’.
(b) In 1661, King Charles II of England married the Portuguese princessCatherine and received the city of Bombay as dowry. Later, he handed it over to the East India Company in exchange for a loan of fifty thousand pounds in 1668. From then on, Bombay became the main commercial headquarters of the Company.
(c) In 1690, Job Charnock, an official of the Company, made an agreement with the Nawab of Bengal and acquired the zamindari rights of three villages—Kalikata, Sutanuti, and Govindpur—in exchange for an annual payment of 1200 rupees. A trading centre was established there, which later developed into the city of Calcutta. The centre was named ‘Fort William’. Thus, the Company established its main trading centres in three key locations in India.
3. Who was the most significant person responsible for paving the way for British imperialism in India? Describe four strategies he adopted.
Ans: The most significant person who paved the way for British imperialism in India was Robert Clive. The strategies he adopted were:
(a) Diplomatic Strategy: Clive aimed to remove other foreign powers, especially the Portuguese and the French, from India in the interest of his Company. Through war and alliances, he tried to bring Indian rulers under Company control. In the Battle of Plassey in 1757, he defeated Nawab Sirajud-Daulah of Bengal through deceit and established the foundation of British rule in India.
(b) Centralized Administration: The Company removed Indian rulers from power and unified scattered territories to establish a centralized administrative system under British control.
(c) Exploiting the Weakness of Indian Rulers: Many rulers such as the Nawab of Bengal, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Nawab of Awadh, entered into alliances with the Company and gradually lost their authority, strengthening the Company.
4. Write four causes of the Sepoy Revolt.
Ans: The causes of the Sepoy Revolt of 1857 were political, economic, social, military, and immediate in nature. These are briefly discussed below:
(a) Political Cause: One major political cause was the Doctrine of Lapse, introduced by Lord Dalhousie. Many Indian rulers lost their kingdoms under this policy, including the Maratha state, Jhansi, and Awadh, which created resentment among them.
(b) Economic Cause: The British imposed heavy taxes on the Indian people and abolished many zamindaris. Dalhousie alone dispossessed around twenty thousand zamindars in the Deccan, leading to widespread discontent.
(c) Social Cause: The British began promoting Christianity and Western education in India. Social reforms such as the abolition of Sati, the introduction of widow remarriage, and the discouragement of child marriage angered orthodox Hindus.
(d) Immediate Cause: The immediate cause was the introduction of theEnfield rifle. Soldiers had to bite the cartridges, which were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat. This offended both Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments, leading to rebellion.
5. Discuss the results of the Sepoy Revolt of 1857.
Ans: The rebels were defeated in the Sepoy Revolt of 1857. Its main results were:
(a) It was the first major uprising of Indians against British rule. The British realized the strength, capability, and unity of Indians. The British Parliament transferred the administration of India from the Company to the British Crown through a proclamation.
(b) The British realized that the Doctrine of Lapse was one of the causes of the revolt, so they abolished it and allowed Indian rulers to adopt heirs.
(c) The British changed their financial and revenue policies. To recover losses, they increased taxes and imposed new ones such as income tax and salt tax.
(d) The British decided not to interfere in Indian traditions, religion, and culture.
(e) A sense of nationalism began to grow among Indians.
(f) Changes were introduced in the army. The number of British soldiers was increased and the dominance of Indian Brahmin soldiers was reduced.
6. Mention four administrative changes introduced by the ‘Government of India Act, 1858’.
Ans: The administrative changes introduced by the Government of India Act, 1858, were:
(a) The Governor-General of India was given the title of ‘Viceroy’, representing the British Crown. The British Government took control of the army.
(b) Salaries and allowances of officials were to be paid from Indian revenues.
(c) A council of 15 members was formed to assist in administration, with 8nominated by the British Government and 7 by the Company.
(d) The Secretary of State for India was required to submit an annual report to the British Parliament.
(e) The Secretary was given authority to preside over the council and all members could advise on governance.
7. Write about two major reforms of Lord Canning.
Ans: Lord Canning, the Viceroy of British India, carried out several reforms. Two of them are:
(a) Educational Reform: He implemented Wood’s Despatch to improve education and established an education department in each province under a secretary.
(b) Military Reform: He reorganized the army by creating mixed regiments of soldiers from different castes and religions and increased the number of European soldiers.
8. Write two merits and two demerits of the ‘Indian Councils Act’.
Ans: The two merits of the Indian Councils Act of 1861 were:
(a) This Act granted limited legislative powers to Indians.
(b) Through this Act, both the central and provincial governments were strengthened.
The two demerits of the Indian Councils Act were:
(a) Although the Act gave some legal powers to the provincial legislative councils, in reality these powers were only nominal.
(b) The Viceroy could exercise any authority without maintaining proper relations with the members of his council.
9. Discuss the changes brought about through local self-government during the British period.
Ans: The three changes brought about through local self-government during the British period were:
(a) Lord Ripon supported such reforms in local administration which increased administrative efficiency and also treated local self-government as a means of political education.
(b) Lord Ripon established Local Boards in each subdivision. Most of the members of these boards were elected, and provision was made to select anon-official member as the chairman from among them.
(c) Lord Ripon took steps to implement local self-government throughout
India. Local Boards were formed at district and subdivision levels. These reforms of Lord Ripon were a memorable step in the history of local administration in India.
10. How were Indians included in the civil services? Discuss the development of this service.
Ans: From the early nineteenth century, Indians had been demanding inclusion in the civil services, but due to opposition from the Company’s authorities, this was not possible. However, in 1833, the British Government agreed to appoint Indians to higher administrative posts. In 1843, two posts of Deputy Collector were created with a proposal to appoint Indians to these posts. But until 1865, the competitive examination for civil services was held only in England, making it difficult for Indians to appear. The age limit for the examination was 22 years, which further restricted Indian participation. In1864, the first Indian, Satyendranath Tagore, qualified for the civil service. In1871, Surendranath Banerjee, Ramesh Chandra Dutt, and Bihari Lal Guptaalso passed the examination.
After this, during the tenure of Lord Lytton, the British Government introduced rules regarding the civil services. According to these rules, one-sixth of the civil service posts were to be filled by Indians nominated by the local government. Lord Lytton directed that candidates from higher classes be selected, but as this system failed to attract such candidates, it was not successful. To implement the recommendations of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and the Government of India Act of 1919, the British Government formed theLee Commission. The Commission recommended the immediate establishment of a Public Service Commission in India. Within fifteen years, the proportion of Indians in civil services increased to 50 percent.
Again, the Government of India Act of 1935 proposed the formation of a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions in India.
11. Mention three differences between the civil services of British India and independent India.
Ans: The three differences between the civil services of British India and independent India are:
(a) In British India, there were Federal and Provincial Public Service Commissions, whereas in independent India, there are Union India Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions.
(b) In British India, civil service examinations were conducted in England, whereas in independent India, they are conducted in India.
(c) In British India, one-sixth of the civil service posts were reserved for the British and preference was given to candidates of higher social status, whereas after independence, any qualified Indian can obtain these posts.
Additional Questions and Answers:
Short Answer Type Questions
12. In which year did the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama arrive in India?
Ans: In 1498.
13. When did the British Parliament enact the Indian Councils Act?
Ans: In 1861.
14. In which year did the Sepoy Revolt take place?
Ans: In 1857.
15. Who was the English navigator who came to India in 1599 with a letter from Queen Elizabeth of England?
Ans: James Mildenhall.
16. Who treated Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar?
Ans: Dr. Hamilton.
17. When was the Dual Government introduced in India?
Ans: In 1765.
18. From when did financial decentralization come into effect in India?
Ans: From 1870.
19. Who was the first person to qualify for the Indian Civil Service?
Ans: Satyendranath Tagore.
20. How many members were there in the council formed to assist the Secretary of State for India?
Ans: 15 members.
21. Who was the first Assamese to appear in the civil service examination?
Ans: Pandit Anandaram Barua.
22. Through the mouth of which river did Hawkins reach the port of Surat?
Ans: Through the mouth of the Tapti River.
23. What was the name of the English trading centre established at Calcutta?
Ans: Fort William.
24. During whose tenure was Wood’s Despatch introduced in India?
Ans: During Lord Canning’s tenure.
25. Who laid the foundation of local self-government in India?
Ans: Lord Ripon.
26. In which year did the Battle of Plassey take place?
Ans: In 1757.
27. In which year did the Sepoy Revolt occur?
Ans: In 1857.
28. Which King of England married a Portuguese princess and received Bombay as dowry?
Ans: Charles II.
29. In which year was the Mughal Emperor’s name removed from the Company’s coinage for the first time?
Ans: In 1835.
30. Who became the Governor-General of India after Lord Dalhousie?
Ans: Lord Canning.
31. In which year did Constantinople fall to the Turkish forces?
Ans: In 1453.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who was the first European to discover the sea route to India?
(a) Christopher Columbus
(b) Vasco da Gama
(c) Ferdinand Magellan
(d) James Cook
Ans: (b)
2. In which year did Vasco da Gama arrive in India?
(a) 1492
(b) 1498
(c) 1500
(d) 1510
Ans: (b)
3. At which port did Vasco da Gama first land in India?
(a) Surat
(b) Bombay
(c) Calicut
(d) Madras
Ans: (c)
4. Which European nation first came to India for trade?
(a) British
(b) French
(c) Portuguese
(d) Dutch
Ans: (c)
5. Who was the ruler of Calicut when Vasco da Gama arrived?
(a) Akbar
(b) Zamorin
(c) Aurangzeb
(d) Shah Jahan
Ans: (b)
6. Which country established the first European trading center in India?
(a) England
(b) Portugal
(c) France
(d) Holland
Ans: (b)
7. The English East India Company was formed in which year?
(a) 1599
(b) 1600
(c) 1608
(d) 1615
Ans: (b)
8. Where was the English East India Company established?
(a) Paris
(b) Lisbon
(c) London
(d) Madrid
Ans: (c)
9. Who granted permission to the East India Company to trade in the East?
(a) King James I
(b) Queen Elizabeth I
(c) King Charles II
(d) Queen Victoria
Ans: (b)
10. Who was the first Englishman to come to the Mughal court?
(a) Sir Thomas Roe
(b) William Hawkins
(c) Robert Clive
(d) Job Charnock
Ans: (b)
11. Which Mughal Emperor received William Hawkins?
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Ans: (b)
12. Who came as an ambassador to Jahangir’s court in 1615?
(a) Robert Clive
(b) William Hawkins
(c) Sir Thomas Roe
(d) John Surman
Ans: (c)
13. Where did the English first establish a factory in India?
(a) Madras
(b) Bombay
(c) Surat
(d) Calcutta
Ans: (c)
14. The first English trading center at Masulipatnam was established in:
(a) 1608
(b) 1611
(c) 1615
(d) 1620
Ans: (b)
15. Which European power was the main rival of the British in India?
(a) Portuguese
(b) Dutch
(c) French
(d) Spanish
Ans: (c)
16. Who established the French East India Company?
(a) Louis XIV
(b) Colbert
(c) Napoleon
(d) Richelieu
Ans: (b)
17. Which city became the main British settlement in South India?
(a) Bombay
(b) Madras
(c) Calcutta
(d) Surat
Ans: (b)
18. Fort St. George was established in:
(a) Bombay
(b) Madras
(c) Calcutta
(d) Surat
Ans: (b)
19. Bombay was given to the British as dowry by:
(a) Spain
(b) France
(c) Portugal
(d) Holland
Ans: (c)
20. Which English king received Bombay as dowry?
(a) James I
(b) Charles I
(c) Charles II
(d) William III
Ans: (c)
21. Who founded Calcutta?
(a) Robert Clive
(b) Warren Hastings
(c) Job Charnock
(d) William Hawkins
Ans: (c)
22. Fort William is located in:
(a) Bombay
(b) Madras
(c) Calcutta
(d) Surat
Ans: (c)
23. Which Mughal Emperor granted trading privileges to the English in 1717?
(a) Akbar
(b) Aurangzeb
(c) Farrukhsiyar
(d) Bahadur Shah
Ans: (c)
24. Who treated Emperor Farrukhsiyar and helped the English gain privileges?
(a) Dr. Hamilton
(b) Dr. Smith
(c) Dr. Roe
(d) Dr. Brown
Ans: (a)
25. The Dutch East India Company was formed in:
(a) 1595
(b) 1600
(c) 1602
(d) 1610
Ans: (c)
26. Which place was the main Dutch center in India?
(a) Surat
(b) Pulicat
(c) Bombay
(d) Calcutta
Ans: (b)
27. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
(a) 1756
(b) 1757
(c) 1764
(d) 1773
Ans: (b)
28. Who defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey?
(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Robert Clive
(c) Cornwallis
(d) Dalhousie
Ans: (b)
29. The arrival of Europeans in India was mainly for:
(a) Religion
(b) Trade
(c) Education
(d) Politics
Ans: (b)
30. Which goods attracted Europeans to India?
(a) Gold and silver
(b) Spices and textiles
(c) Iron and coal
(d) Oil and gas
Ans: (b)
31. Which sea route discovery changed Indian trade?
(a) Atlantic route
(b) Pacific route
(c) Cape of Good Hope route
(d) Arctic route
Ans: (c)
32. Who discovered the Cape of Good Hope route?
(a) Vasco da Gama
(b) Bartholomew Diaz
(c) Columbus
(d) Magellan
Ans: (b)
33. Which European power was the last to arrive in India?
(a) Portuguese
(b) Dutch
(c) British
(d) French
Ans: (d)
34. Which city became the British capital later?
(a) Bombay
(b) Madras
(c) Calcutta
(d) Delhi
Ans: (c)
35. The English gained Diwani rights in Bengal in:
(a) 1757
(b) 1765
(c) 1773
(d) 1784
Ans: (b)
36. Who granted Diwani rights to the British?
(a) Aurangzeb
(b) Shah Alam II
(c) Akbar
(d) Bahadur Shah II
Ans: (b)
37. Which European power focused mainly on Indonesia instead of India?
(a) British
(b) French
(c) Dutch
(d) Portuguese
Ans: (c)
38. Which factor helped Europeans reach India?
(a) Road transport
(b) Air travel
(c) Naval technology
(d) Railways
Ans: (c)
39. What was the main aim of the East India Company?
(a) Spread religion
(b) Establish democracy
(c) Trade and profit
(d) Education reform
Ans: (c)
40. Which European power established the strongest rule in India?
(a) Portuguese
(b) Dutch
(c) French
(d) British
Ans: (d)
41. Why did European nations actively search for a sea route to India in the 15th century?
(a) To spread Christianity
(b) To find new agricultural land
(c) To bypass Arab and Venetian middlemen in trade
(d) To establish political alliances
Ans: (c)
42. What was the main limitation of the early Portuguese trading system in India?
(a) Lack of ships
(b) Weak military power
(c) Overdependence on coastal trade and force
(d) Poor navigation skills
Ans: (c)
43. Which factor significantly contributed to the decline of Portuguese power in India?
(a) Strong Mughal navy
(b) Competition from other European powers
(c) Lack of interest in trade
(d) Support from Indian rulers
Ans: (b)
44. Why were the Dutch less successful than the British in India?
(a) They lacked resources
(b) They focused more on Southeast Asia than India
(c) They had weak naval power
(d) They avoided trade
Ans: (b)
45. What strategic advantage did the British East India Company have over other European companies?
(a) Larger population
(b) Better relations with Indian rulers and diplomacy
(c) Superior religious influence
(d) More agricultural land
Ans: (b)
46. How did the Battle of Plassey (1757) change the nature of British presence in India?
(a) From religious to cultural
(b) From trade to political control
(c) From agriculture to industry
(d) From local to global trade
Ans: (b)
47. What role did internal conflicts among Indian rulers play in European expansion?
(a) They united India against Europeans
(b) They weakened European powers
(c) They helped Europeans establish control
(d) They had no effect
Ans: (c)
48. Why is the grant of trading privileges by Mughal emperors considered significant?
(a) It ended European trade
(b) It strengthened Indian industries
(c) It allowed Europeans to establish a firm base in India
(d) It reduced foreign influence
Ans: (c)
49. What was a major consequence of European competition in India?
(a) Decline in trade
(b) Unity among Indian rulers
(c) Frequent conflicts and wars among Europeans
(d) End of colonialism
Ans: (c)
50. Which long-term impact did the arrival of Europeans have on India?
(a) Complete industrialization
(b) Political unification under Indian rulers
(c) Establishment of colonial rule
(d) Decline of agriculture
Ans: (c)
