If you are looking for TN Board Class 8 History Unit 1 Advent of the Europeans then you are at the right place. Here we are providing solutions as well as additional QA / Important Notes.
Choose the correct answer.
Who laid the foundation of Portuguese power in India?
- Vasco da Gama
- Bartholomew Diaz
- Alfonso de Albuquerque
- Almeida
Which of the following European Nation was the foremost attempt to discover a sea route to India?
- Dutch
- Portugal
- France
- Britain
In 1453 Constantinople was captured by ____________.
- The French
- The Turks
- The Dutch
- The British
Sir William Hawkins belonged to ____________.
- Portugal
- Spain
- England
- France
The first fort constructed by the British in India was ____________.
- Fort William
- Fort St.George
- Agra Fort
- Fort St. David
Who among the following Europeans were the last to come India as traders?
- The British
- The French
- The Danish
- The Portuguese
Tranquebar on the Tamilnadu coast was a trade centre of the ____________.
- The Portuguese
- The British
- The French
- The Danish
Fill in the blanks
- National Archives of India (NAI) is located in ____________.[New Delhi]
- Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese sailor was patronized by ____________.[King John II]
- The printing press in India was set up by ____________ at Goa in 1556.[Portugese]
- The Mughal Emperor ____________ permitted the English to trade in India.[Jahangir]
- The French East India Company was formed by ____________.[Colbert]
- ____________ the King of Denmark issued a charter to create Danish East India company.[Christian IV]
Match the following
- 1 The Dutch – 1664
- 2 The British – 1602
- 3 The Danish – 1600
- 4 The French – 1616
Answer-
- The Dutch – 1602
- The British – 1600
- The Danish – 1616
- The French – 1664
State true or false
- Auto biography is one of the written sources.[True]
- Coins are one of the material sources.[True]
- Ananda Rangam was a translator served under British.[False]
- The place where historical documents are preserved is called archives.[True]
Consider the following statements and tick (✓) the appropriate answer
Governor Nino de Cunha moved Portuguese capital from Cochin to Goa.
Portuguese were the last to leave from in India.
The Dutch founded their first factory at Surat.
Sir Thomas Roe was sent to Jahangir’s court by King James I of England.
- i & ii are Correct.
- ii & iv are Correct.
- iii is correct.
- i, ii & iv are correct.
Find out the wrong pair
- Francis Day – Denmark
- Pedro Cabral – Portugal
- Captain Hawkins – Britain
- Colbert – France
Answer the following in one or two sentences.
Give a short note on Archives.
Archives are repositories where historical documents and records are preserved. They serve as valuable sources of information for understanding past administrative, political, social, economic, cultural, and scientific activities. The National Archives of India (NAI) in New Delhi is a key storehouse of government records in India.
Write about the importance of Coins.
Coins are significant historical sources that provide insights into the economic history, administrative practices, and cultural aspects of a society. They help historians understand the trade, economy, governance, and even art and religion of the period in which they were minted.
Why Prince Henry is called ‘Henry the Navigator’?
Prince Henry of Portugal is called ‘Henry the Navigator’ because he played a pivotal role in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and the Age of Discoveries. He encouraged and sponsored many exploratory voyages along the African coast, which eventually led to the discovery of new sea routes to India.
Name the important factories established by the Dutch in India.
The Dutch established several important factories in India, including those at Masulipatnam, Pulicat, Surat, Chinsura, Kasimbazar, Patna, Nagapatnam, Balasore, and Cochin.
Mention the trading centres of the English in India.
The English established numerous trading centres in India, such as Surat, Madras (Fort St. George), Bombay, and Calcutta (Fort William). These centers played crucial roles in their commercial and later political dominance in India.
Answer the following in detail.
Give an account of the sources of Modern India.
The sources for the history of modern India are diverse and include both written and material sources. These sources help us understand the political, socio-economic, and cultural developments in the country.
Written Sources:
Literature and Books: With the advent of the printing press, numerous books were published in various languages. These books covered a wide range of subjects including art, literature, history, and science. Travel accounts, diaries, autobiographies, pamphlets, government documents, and manuscripts are also important written sources.
Travel Accounts and Diaries: Many foreign travelers, traders, missionaries, and civil servants who came to India during the 18th and 19th centuries left behind detailed accounts of their experiences and impressions. An example is Ananda Rangam’s diaries, which recorded events in French India from 1736 to 1760.
Government Documents: These include state papers and official records maintained by the Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danes, and English. Archives at Lisbon, Goa, Pondicherry, and Madras house precious historical records.
Archives: The National Archives of India (NAI) in New Delhi is the main repository of government records, providing authentic evidence about India’s past. The Tamil Nadu Archives in Chennai is another important repository, preserving documents in multiple languages including English, Dutch, Danish, Persian, and Marathi.
Material Sources:
Coins: Coins provide valuable information about the economic history and administrative practices. The first modern coinage in India under British rule was issued in 1862, and the Reserve Bank of India was set up in 1935 to issue paper currency.
Buildings and Forts: Historical buildings such as St. Francis Church at Cochin, St. George Fort in Madras, and India Gate in New Delhi reflect different styles and techniques of Indian architecture.
Paintings and Statues: These serve as sources of information about the achievements of national leaders and historical personalities.
Museums: Museums collect and preserve objects of religious, cultural, and historical value. The National Museum in Delhi, established in 1949, is the largest museum in India.
Audio-Visual Media: Modern sources include television, films, the internet, and other forms of audio-visual media that document contemporary events and cultural expressions.
How did the Portuguese establish their trading centres in India?
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a significant presence in India, motivated by the quest for new trade routes and economic gains. Here is how they established their trading centres:
Vasco da Gama’s Arrival (1498): Vasco da Gama’s successful voyage to Calicut in 1498, where he was welcomed by King Zamorin, marked the beginning of Portuguese influence in India.
Pedro Alvares Cabral (1500): Following Vasco da Gama, Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived in Calicut in 1500 with a fleet and established a trading post. However, conflicts with the local ruler led to further military engagements.
Establishment of Trading Posts: The Portuguese established several trading posts and factories along the Indian coast. Notable among them were at Cannanore, Calicut, and Cochin. Cochin became the first capital of the Portuguese East India Company.
Military and Naval Power: Francisco de Almeida, the first Governor of Portuguese India (1505-1509), aimed to enhance Portuguese naval power. His “Blue Water Policy” helped secure Portuguese dominance over the Indian Ocean.
Alfonso de Albuquerque: He is considered the real founder of Portuguese power in India. He captured Goa in 1510 and established it as the administrative centre of Portuguese India. Albuquerque also secured Portuguese interests by encouraging marriages between Portuguese men and Indian women and maintaining friendly relations with local rulers.
Expansion: The Portuguese expanded their control to other areas such as Daman, Diu, Bassein, Salsette, Chaul, and Bombay on the western coast, and Hooghly on the Bengal coast.
Decline: Despite initial successes, Portuguese power began to decline in the 17th century due to competition from the Dutch and the English. By 1739, their control was reduced to Goa, Diu, and Daman.
How did the British establish their trading centres in India?
The British East India Company, founded in 1600, systematically established trading centres in India, which later paved the way for British colonial rule. Here is how they did it:
Royal Charter (1600): On 31st December 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the British East India Company, allowing it to trade with the East Indies.
Captain Hawkins and Surat (1608-1613): Captain William Hawkins arrived at the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1608 to seek trading privileges. Despite initial setbacks due to Portuguese opposition, the English eventually established a factory in Surat in 1613 following their victory over the Portuguese at the Battle of Swally in 1612.
Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619): Sent by King James I, Sir Thomas Roe’s mission to Jahangir’s court resulted in a commercial treaty, allowing the English to establish more trading centres. By the time Roe left India, the English had set up trading posts at Surat, Agra, Ahmadabad, and Broach.
Madras (1639): Francis Day obtained a lease for Madras (Chennai) from the local Nayak rulers and established Fort St. George in 1640, which became a major trading post and the administrative headquarters of the English on the eastern coast.
Bombay (1668): The island of Bombay was acquired from King Charles II, who received it as part of the dowry from the Portuguese upon his marriage to Catherine of Braganza. The East India Company leased Bombay in 1668, developing it into a significant trading centre.
Calcutta (1690): Job Charnock established a factory at Sutanuti, which, along with the villages of Kalikata and Govindpur, grew into the city of Calcutta. The construction of Fort William in 1700 secured British interests in Bengal.
Military Successes: The Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764) marked significant military victories for the British East India Company, leading to political and administrative control over large parts of India.
Consolidation: By the mid-18th century, the British had firmly established trading centres and administrative control over key regions, setting the stage for British colonial rule following the dissolution of the East India Company in 1858.
