NCERT CLASS 8 HISTORY CHAPTER 2: FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY

 NCERT CLASS 8 HISTORY CHAPTER 2 FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY

4.                  4       What attracted European trading companies to India?

• India was a hub of trade and commerce, with a long history of international trade relations and a diverse range of valuable commodities, including spices, textiles, and precious stones.
• The Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of India at the time, had a liberal trade policy that allowed for foreign traders to enter and conduct business in the country.
• European trading companies, such as the British East India Company, were able to establish profitable trading posts and monopolies in India, which eventually led to the colonization of the country.

5. What were the areas of conflict between the Bengal nawabs and the East India Company?

• The Bengal nawabs and the East India Company clashed over issues of trade, taxation, and territorial control.
• The nawabs saw the Company's growing power as a threat to their own authority and attempted to restrict their activities and privileges.
• The Company, on the other hand, wanted to expand their influence and profit margins in Bengal, leading to conflicts over trade regulations and taxation policies.

6. How did the assumption of Diwani benefit the East India Company?

• The assumption of Diwani gave the East India Company the right to collect revenue from the territories of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, which were under the control of the Mughal Emperor.
• This allowed the Company to control the economic and political affairs of these regions and establish a stronger foothold in India.
• The revenue collected from these territories also helped the Company to finance its military campaigns and further expand its territorial control.

7. Explain the system of “subsidiary alliance”.

• The system of "subsidiary alliance" was a policy adopted by the British East India Company in its dealings with Indian rulers in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
• Under this system, Indian rulers were required to maintain British troops in their territories, pay for their upkeep, and provide them with supplies and provisions.
• In return, the British guaranteed the ruler's security and protection against external threats and internal rebellions.
• This system effectively allowed the British to control and manipulate the affairs of the Indian states without having to annex them.

8. In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?

• The administration of the East India Company was centralized, bureaucratic, and aimed at maximizing profits and revenue collection.
• The Company's officials were appointed on the basis of merit and qualifications, rather than social status or hereditary rights.
• In contrast, the administration of Indian rulers was often decentralized and based on personal relationships and patronage networks.
• Officials were often appointed based on their social status and connections, rather than their qualifications or abilities.

9. Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army.

• The East India Company's army underwent significant changes over time, reflecting the evolving nature of its territorial control and military requirements.
• Initially, the Company relied on a small number of European soldiers and sepoys (Indian soldiers) to protect its trading posts and commercial interests.
• However, as the Company expanded its territorial control, it began to recruit more sepoys and establish a standing army.
• The composition of the army also became more diverse, with soldiers from different regions and castes being recruited and trained.
• Eventually, the Company's army became a key instrument of colonial control, used to quell rebellions and maintain British rule over India.