Class 8 History Social Science Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners
Question.1.Choose the correct option:
(i) One of the most important Indian ports of the 17th century.
(a) Bombay (b) Madras
(c) Surat (d) Vishakhapatnam
(ii) Bandana patterns were mostly produced in
(a) Rajasthan and Gujarat
(b) Rajasthan and Orissa
(c) Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
(d) Chhattisgarh and West Bengal
(iii) The job of a rangrez was to
(a) Weave cloth (b) Dye thread
(c) Transport goods to. the markets
(d) Spin thread on the charkha
(iv) The first cotton mill in India was established in
(a) Gujarat (b) Bombay
(c) Madras (d) West Bengal
(v) Wootz steel was produced all over (a) South India (b) North India
(c) Central India (d) North-east India
Answer.(i)(c), (ii)(a), (iii)(b), (iv)(b), (v)(a)
(i) One of the most important Indian ports of the 17th century.
(a) Bombay (b) Madras
(c) Surat (d) Vishakhapatnam
(ii) Bandana patterns were mostly produced in
(a) Rajasthan and Gujarat
(b) Rajasthan and Orissa
(c) Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
(d) Chhattisgarh and West Bengal
(iii) The job of a rangrez was to
(a) Weave cloth (b) Dye thread
(c) Transport goods to. the markets
(d) Spin thread on the charkha
(iv) The first cotton mill in India was established in
(a) Gujarat (b) Bombay
(c) Madras (d) West Bengal
(v) Wootz steel was produced all over (a) South India (b) North India
(c) Central India (d) North-east India
Answer.(i)(c), (ii)(a), (iii)(b), (iv)(b), (v)(a)
Question.2.Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.
(i) The cotton textiles which the Portuguese took back to Europe, alongwith the spices came to be known as …………..
(ii) The …………….. was invented by John Kaye which increased the of the traditional spindles.
(iii) Weavers often belonged to communities that specialised in ……………..
(iv) …………… and ………………. emerged as important new centres of weaving in the late 19th century.
(v) Indian Wootz steel fascinated ………………. scientists.
(vi) The Tata Iron and Steel factory is situated on the banks of the river …………..
(vii) TISCO had to expand its capacity and extend the size of its factory to meet the demands of the …………..
Answer.(i) Calico (ii) Spinning Jenny
(iii) weaving (iv) Sholapur; Madurai (v) European (vi) Subamarekha (vii) war
(i) The cotton textiles which the Portuguese took back to Europe, alongwith the spices came to be known as …………..
(ii) The …………….. was invented by John Kaye which increased the of the traditional spindles.
(iii) Weavers often belonged to communities that specialised in ……………..
(iv) …………… and ………………. emerged as important new centres of weaving in the late 19th century.
(v) Indian Wootz steel fascinated ………………. scientists.
(vi) The Tata Iron and Steel factory is situated on the banks of the river …………..
(vii) TISCO had to expand its capacity and extend the size of its factory to meet the demands of the …………..
Answer.(i) Calico (ii) Spinning Jenny
(iii) weaving (iv) Sholapur; Madurai (v) European (vi) Subamarekha (vii) war
Question.3.State whether each of the following statements is True or False.
(i) From the 1850s, Britain came to be known as the ‘workshop of the world’.
(ii) The invention of spinning jenny and steam engine revolutionised cotton textile weaving in England.
(iii) European trading companies such as the Dutch, the French and the English purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing diamond.
(iv) Men were usually involved in the work of spinning.
(v) Iron smelting in India was extremely common till the end of the 19th century.
(vi) The Tata Iron and Steel Company began to produce steel after the First World War.
Answer. (i) True, (ii) True, (iii) False, (iv) False, (v) True, (vi) False
(i) From the 1850s, Britain came to be known as the ‘workshop of the world’.
(ii) The invention of spinning jenny and steam engine revolutionised cotton textile weaving in England.
(iii) European trading companies such as the Dutch, the French and the English purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing diamond.
(iv) Men were usually involved in the work of spinning.
(v) Iron smelting in India was extremely common till the end of the 19th century.
(vi) The Tata Iron and Steel Company began to produce steel after the First World War.
Answer. (i) True, (ii) True, (iii) False, (iv) False, (v) True, (vi) False
Question.4.Match the items given in Column A correctly with those given in Column B.
Answer. (i)(c), (ii)(a), (iii)(e), (iv)(b), (v)(d)
Answer. (i)(c), (ii)(a), (iii)(e), (iv)(b), (v)(d)
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question.1. Give two reasons why Indian textiles were renowned all over the world.
Answer. Their fine quality and beautiful craftsmanship made them renowned all over the world.
Answer. Their fine quality and beautiful craftsmanship made them renowned all over the world.
Question.2. Why were printed Indian cotton textiles I popular in England?
Answer. Printed Indian cotton textiles were popular in England for their exquisite floral designs, fine texture and relative cheapness.
Answer. Printed Indian cotton textiles were popular in England for their exquisite floral designs, fine texture and relative cheapness.
Question.3. During which period patola weaving was famous?
Answer. It was famous during the mid-19th century.
Answer. It was famous during the mid-19th century.
Question.4. Name the origin of the word calico.
Answer. Calicut.
Answer. Calicut.
Question.5. Name the important centres of jamdani weaving.
Answer. Dacca in Bengal and Lucknow in the United Provinces (U.P.).
Answer. Dacca in Bengal and Lucknow in the United Provinces (U.P.).
Question.6. Name two places where chintz were produced during the mid-19th century.
Answer. Masulipatnam and Andhra Pradesh.
Answer. Masulipatnam and Andhra Pradesh.
Question.7. How did European trading companies purchase cotton and silk textiles in India?
Answer. European trading companies purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing silver.
Answer. European trading companies purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing silver.
Question.8. Name the household spinning instrument.
Answer. Charkha and takli.
Answer. Charkha and takli.
Question.9. What did Mahatma Gandhi urge people during the national movement?
Answer. During the national movement Mahatma Gandhi urged people to boycott imported textiles and use hand-spun and hand-woven cloth.
Answer. During the national movement Mahatma Gandhi urged people to boycott imported textiles and use hand-spun and hand-woven cloth.
Question.10 .What became a symbol of nationalism?
Answer. Khadi became a symbol of nationalism.
Answer. Khadi became a symbol of nationalism.
Question.11. How did growth of cotton mills in the country prove to be a boon for the poor peasants, artisans and agricultural labourers?
Answer. They got work in the mills.
Answer. They got work in the mills.
Question.12 .How did Indian cotton factories prove to be helpful during the First .World War?
Answer. They began to produce cloth for military supplies.
Answer. They began to produce cloth for military supplies.
Question.13. Why was Tipu’s sword so special?
Answer. Tipu’s sword was made of Wootz steel. Wootz steel when made into swords produced a very sharp edge that could easily rip through the opponent’s armour.
Answer. Tipu’s sword was made of Wootz steel. Wootz steel when made into swords produced a very sharp edge that could easily rip through the opponent’s armour.
Question.14. Why was the Wootz steel making process completely lost by the mid- 19th century?
Answer. There are two reasons for it:
(a) The sword and armour making industry died with the conquest of India by the British.
(b) Imports of iron and steel from England displaced the iron and steel produced by craftsmen in India.
Answer. There are two reasons for it:
(a) The sword and armour making industry died with the conquest of India by the British.
(b) Imports of iron and steel from England displaced the iron and steel produced by craftsmen in India.
Question.15. What were the furnaces made of?
Answer. The furnaces were made of clay and sun-dried bricks.
Answer. The furnaces were made of clay and sun-dried bricks.
Question.16.Why were bellows used?
Answer. Bellows were used to keep the charcoal burning.
Answer. Bellows were used to keep the charcoal burning.
Question.17. What were piece goods?
Answer. Piece goods were usually woven cloth pieces that were 20 yards long and 1 yard wide.
Answer. Piece goods were usually woven cloth pieces that were 20 yards long and 1 yard wide.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question.1. How were Indian textiles viewed in the world market?
Answer. India was the largest producer of cotton textiles in the world before the British conquered Bengal around 1750. Indian textiles had long been renowned both for their fine quality and exquisite craftsmanship. They were extensively traded in Southeast Asia (Java, Sumatra and Penang) and West and Central Asia. From the 16th century European trading companies began buying Indian textiles for sale in Europe.
Answer. India was the largest producer of cotton textiles in the world before the British conquered Bengal around 1750. Indian textiles had long been renowned both for their fine quality and exquisite craftsmanship. They were extensively traded in Southeast Asia (Java, Sumatra and Penang) and West and Central Asia. From the 16th century European trading companies began buying Indian textiles for sale in Europe.
Question.2. How did the inventions of Spinning Jenny and Steam Engine revolutionise cotton textile weaving in England?
Answer. Textile industries had just emerged in England in the early 18th century.
So, it was difficult for the English producers to compete with Indian textiles. This competition with Indian textiles led to a search for technological innovation in England. In 1764, the Spinning Jenny was invented by John Kaye which increased the productivity of the traditional spindles.
Then came the steam engine. It was invented by Richard Arkwright in 1786. These two inventions revolutionised cotton textile weaving in England. Cloth could now be woven in immense quantities and cheaply too.
Answer. Textile industries had just emerged in England in the early 18th century.
So, it was difficult for the English producers to compete with Indian textiles. This competition with Indian textiles led to a search for technological innovation in England. In 1764, the Spinning Jenny was invented by John Kaye which increased the productivity of the traditional spindles.
Then came the steam engine. It was invented by Richard Arkwright in 1786. These two inventions revolutionised cotton textile weaving in England. Cloth could now be woven in immense quantities and cheaply too.
Question.3. Give a description of the four regions where textile production was concen¬trated in the early 19th century.
Answer. Textile production was concentrated in the following four regions in the early 19th century:
(a) Bengal was one of the most important centres. Located along the numerous rivers in the delta, the production centres in Bengal could easily transport goods to distant places.
(b) Dacca in Eastern Bengal, present- day Bangladesh, was the foremost textile centre in the 18th century. It was famous for its mulmut and jamdani weaving.
(c) Textile production was concentrated along the Coromandal coast stretching from Madras to nothem Andhra Pradesh.
(d) On the western coast there were important weaving centres in Gujarat.
Answer. Textile production was concentrated in the following four regions in the early 19th century:
(a) Bengal was one of the most important centres. Located along the numerous rivers in the delta, the production centres in Bengal could easily transport goods to distant places.
(b) Dacca in Eastern Bengal, present- day Bangladesh, was the foremost textile centre in the 18th century. It was famous for its mulmut and jamdani weaving.
(c) Textile production was concentrated along the Coromandal coast stretching from Madras to nothem Andhra Pradesh.
(d) On the western coast there were important weaving centres in Gujarat.
Question.4. Who were the weavers? Name some communities famous for weaving.
Answer. Weavers often belonged to communities that specialised in weaving. Their skills were passed on from one generation to the next.
List of some communities famous for weaving includes:
(a) the tanti weavers of Bengal.
(b) the julahas or momin weavers of north India.
(c) sale and kaikollar and devangs of South India.
Answer. Weavers often belonged to communities that specialised in weaving. Their skills were passed on from one generation to the next.
List of some communities famous for weaving includes:
(a) the tanti weavers of Bengal.
(b) the julahas or momin weavers of north India.
(c) sale and kaikollar and devangs of South India.
Question.5. Describe the process of cloth making.
Answer. The process of cloth making consists of two stages:
• The first stage of production was spinning, Le. work done mostly by women. The charkha and the takli were household spinning instruments. The thread was spun on the charkha and rolled on the takli
• When the spinning was over the thread was woven into cloth by the weaver.
In most communities weaving was a task done by men. For coloured textiles, the thread was dyed by the dyer, called rangrez. For painted cloth the weavers needed the help of specialist block printers called chhipigars.
Answer. The process of cloth making consists of two stages:
• The first stage of production was spinning, Le. work done mostly by women. The charkha and the takli were household spinning instruments. The thread was spun on the charkha and rolled on the takli
• When the spinning was over the thread was woven into cloth by the weaver.
In most communities weaving was a task done by men. For coloured textiles, the thread was dyed by the dyer, called rangrez. For painted cloth the weavers needed the help of specialist block printers called chhipigars.
Question.6. Handloomproduction did not completely die in India. Why?
Answer. This was because some types of cloths could not be supplied by machines. Just take the examples of saris with intricate borders and cloths with traditional woven patterns. Machines could not produce them. These had a wide demand not only amongst the rich but also amongst the middle classes. Moreover, the textile manufacturers in Britain could not produce the very coarse cloths used by the poor people in India.
In the late 19th century, Sholapur and Madurai grew as important new centres of weaving. During the national movement, Gandhiji urged people to use hand-spun and handwoven cloth Khadi which gradually became a symbol of nationalism.
Answer. This was because some types of cloths could not be supplied by machines. Just take the examples of saris with intricate borders and cloths with traditional woven patterns. Machines could not produce them. These had a wide demand not only amongst the rich but also amongst the middle classes. Moreover, the textile manufacturers in Britain could not produce the very coarse cloths used by the poor people in India.
In the late 19th century, Sholapur and Madurai grew as important new centres of weaving. During the national movement, Gandhiji urged people to use hand-spun and handwoven cloth Khadi which gradually became a symbol of nationalism.
Question.7. Give a brief description of growth of cotton mills in India.
Answer. The first cotton mill in India was set up as a spinning mill in Bombay in 1854. By 1900, over 84 mills started operating in Bombay.
Mills were set up in other cities too. The first mill in Ahmedabad was started in 1861. A year later a mill was established in Kanpur, in the United Provinces. Growth of cotton mills led to a demand for labour. As a result, thousands of poor peasants, artisans and agricultural labourers moved to cities to work in the mills.
Answer. The first cotton mill in India was set up as a spinning mill in Bombay in 1854. By 1900, over 84 mills started operating in Bombay.
Mills were set up in other cities too. The first mill in Ahmedabad was started in 1861. A year later a mill was established in Kanpur, in the United Provinces. Growth of cotton mills led to a demand for labour. As a result, thousands of poor peasants, artisans and agricultural labourers moved to cities to work in the mills.
Question.8. Who are the Agarias? Why did they leave their village?
Answer. The Agarias are a community of iron smelters. They are specialised in the craft of iron smelting.
In the late 19th century a series of famines devastated the dry tracts of India. In central India, many of the Agaria iron smelters stopped work, deserted their villages and migrated, looking for some other work to survive the hard times. A large number of them never worked their furnaces again.
Answer. The Agarias are a community of iron smelters. They are specialised in the craft of iron smelting.
In the late 19th century a series of famines devastated the dry tracts of India. In central India, many of the Agaria iron smelters stopped work, deserted their villages and migrated, looking for some other work to survive the hard times. A large number of them never worked their furnaces again.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question.1. Write a few lines on each’of the following:
(a) Patola weave (b) Jamdani weave (c) Chintz
Answer. (a) Patola weave. It came into existence in the mid-19th century. It was woven in Surat, Ahmedabad and Patan. It was highly valued in Indonesia. It became a part of the local weaving tradition there.
(b) Jamdani weave. It grew in the early 20th century. Jamdani is a fine muslin on which decorative motifs are woven on the loom, typically in grey and white. Often a mixture of cotton and gold thread was used. The most important centres of jamdani weaving were Dacca in Bengal and Lucknow in the United Provinces.
(c) Chintz. The term chintz is derived from the Hindi word chhint, a cloth with small and colourful flowery designs. It was produced in Masulipatnam and Andhra Pradesh in the mid-19th century. It was in great demand in England and Europe.
(a) Patola weave (b) Jamdani weave (c) Chintz
Answer. (a) Patola weave. It came into existence in the mid-19th century. It was woven in Surat, Ahmedabad and Patan. It was highly valued in Indonesia. It became a part of the local weaving tradition there.
(b) Jamdani weave. It grew in the early 20th century. Jamdani is a fine muslin on which decorative motifs are woven on the loom, typically in grey and white. Often a mixture of cotton and gold thread was used. The most important centres of jamdani weaving were Dacca in Bengal and Lucknow in the United Provinces.
(c) Chintz. The term chintz is derived from the Hindi word chhint, a cloth with small and colourful flowery designs. It was produced in Masulipatnam and Andhra Pradesh in the mid-19th century. It was in great demand in England and Europe.
Question.2. How did Iron and Steel factories come up in India?
Answer. Jamsetji Tata had decided to spend a large part of his fortune to build a big iron and steel industry in India. But this could not be done without identifying the sources of fine quality iron ore. For this reason his son, Dorabji Tata along with Charles Weld, an American geologist, began travelling in Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits. It was the year 1904.One day, after travelling for many hours in the forests, Weld and Dorabji came upon a small village where they met the Agarias, who were carrying basket loads of iron ore. When asked where they had found the iron ore, the Agarias pointed to hill in the distance, Weld and Dorabji rushed to the hill. On exploring the hill the geologist declared that they had at last found what they had been looking for.
But there was a problem. The region was dry and the Tatas had to search for a more suitable place to set up their factory.
A few years later a large area of forest was cleared on the banks of the river Subarnarekha to set up the factory and an industrial township, i.e. Jamshedpur. Here, there was water near iron ore deposits. The Tata Iron and Steel Company, popularly known as TISCO began producing steel in 1912.
Answer. Jamsetji Tata had decided to spend a large part of his fortune to build a big iron and steel industry in India. But this could not be done without identifying the sources of fine quality iron ore. For this reason his son, Dorabji Tata along with Charles Weld, an American geologist, began travelling in Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits. It was the year 1904.One day, after travelling for many hours in the forests, Weld and Dorabji came upon a small village where they met the Agarias, who were carrying basket loads of iron ore. When asked where they had found the iron ore, the Agarias pointed to hill in the distance, Weld and Dorabji rushed to the hill. On exploring the hill the geologist declared that they had at last found what they had been looking for.
But there was a problem. The region was dry and the Tatas had to search for a more suitable place to set up their factory.
A few years later a large area of forest was cleared on the banks of the river Subarnarekha to set up the factory and an industrial township, i.e. Jamshedpur. Here, there was water near iron ore deposits. The Tata Iron and Steel Company, popularly known as TISCO began producing steel in 1912.
SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS
Question.1.Read the following extract (Source 1) taken from NCERT textbook and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i) Who wrote the petition and to whom?
(ii) What did the petition state?
Answers:
(i) Weavers wrote the petition to the Company government.
(ii)The petition stated the miserable condition of the weavers. As the Company had abolished the arrangs (warehouses) they had to face a situation of starvation. They did not know any other business and were destined to die for want of food if the Company did not timely intervene.
Questions:
(i) Who wrote the petition and to whom?
(ii) What did the petition state?
Answers:
(i) Weavers wrote the petition to the Company government.
(ii)The petition stated the miserable condition of the weavers. As the Company had abolished the arrangs (warehouses) they had to face a situation of starvation. They did not know any other business and were destined to die for want of food if the Company did not timely intervene.
PICTURE-BASED QUESTIONS
Question.1.Observe the pictures taken from NCERT textbook subsequently and answer the questions that follow:
Questions:
(i) This is an important port on the Western coast of the early 17th century India. Identify the port.
(ii) What was the significance of this port in trade during this period?
Answers:
(i) Surat
(ii) It was an important port in the early 17th century that Dutch and English trading ships used.
Questions:
(i) This is an important port on the Western coast of the early 17th century India. Identify the port.
(ii) What was the significance of this port in trade during this period?
Answers:
(i) Surat
(ii) It was an important port in the early 17th century that Dutch and English trading ships used.
Question.2.
Questions:
(i) What is it? What design does it carry?
(ii) Why does a line run through the middle?
(iii) Name the two states where these designs were mostly produced.
Answers:
(i) It is an odhni. It carries bandanna design.
(ii) In this odhni, two tie-and-dye silk pieces are seamed together with gold thread embroidery.
(iii) Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Questions:
(i) What is it? What design does it carry?
(ii) Why does a line run through the middle?
(iii) Name the two states where these designs were mostly produced.
Answers:
(i) It is an odhni. It carries bandanna design.
(ii) In this odhni, two tie-and-dye silk pieces are seamed together with gold thread embroidery.
(iii) Rajasthan and Gujarat.
MAP SKILLS
Question.1.On an outline map of India, mark the major centres of weaving that existed in the late 18th century.
Answer.
Answer.
