NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory OwnersNcert Textbook Questions Solved

Question 1.
What kinds of cloth had a large market in Europe?
Answer:
Chintz (chhint), Cossaes (Khassa) and Bandanna. Bandanna word was derived from the word bandhan . It referred to a variety of brightly coloured cloth, produced through a method of tying and dying.

Question 2.
What is jamdani?
Answer:
Jamdani is a fine muslin on which decorative motifs are woven on the loom, typically in grey and white.

Question 3.
What is bandanna?
Answer:
Bandanna is a brightly coloured and printed scarf for neck and head. This word was derived from the word Bandhan. It referred to a variety of brightly coloured cloth, produced through a method of tying and dying.

Question 4.
Who are the Agarias?
Answer:
Groups of men and women carrying basket-loads of iron are known as the Agarias.

Question 5.
Fill in the blanks:

1. The word chintz comes from the word ________
2. Tipu’s sword was made of _____ steel.
3. India’s textile exports declined in the _____ century.

Answer:

1. chintz
2. Wootz
3. 19th.

Question 6.
How do the names of different textiles tell us about their history?
Answer:

• European traders first saw fine cotton cloth from India in Mosul in present-day Iraq. They referred to all finely woven textiles as “muslin”.
• Portuguese first came to India in search of spices and landed in Calicut on the Kerala coast in south-west India. They took back cotton textiles to Europe, along with the spices. They named it “Calico”. Subsequently Calico became the general name for all cotton textiles.
• Many other words point to the popularity of Indian textiles in Western markets.
• The pieces included printed cotton cloths called Chintz, (?5fe), Cossaes (or Khassa) and
• Bandanna is a brightly coloured and printed scarf for the neck or head. This term was derived from the word “Bandanna” (Hindi for tying).
• Other clothes were known by their place of origin: Kasimbazar, Patna, Calcutta, Orissa and Charpoore.
• The widespread use of such words shows how popular Indian textiles had become in different parts of the world.

Question 7.
Why did the wool and silk producers in England protest against the import of Indian textiles in the early eighteenth century?
Answer:
Textile industry had just begun to develop in England in the early 18th century. The wool and silk producers in England found themselves unable to compete with Indian textiles. They wanted to secure the market within the country by preventing the entry of Indian textiles. Therefore, they protested against its import.

Question 8.
How did the development of cotton industries in Britain affect textile producers in India?
Answer:
Cotton industries in Britain developed and adversely affected textile producers in India in several ways:
1. Indian textiles faced competition from British textiles in the European and American markets.
2. Export of textiles to England became more and more difficult because the British Govt, imposed very high duties on Indian textiles.
3. In the beginning of the 19th century, cotton textiles made in Britain successfully ousted Indian goods from their traditional markets in Africa, America and Europe.
4. Thousands of weavers in India were now thrown out of employment.

• Bengal weavers were the worst hit.
• English and European companies stopped to buy Indian goods. Their agents no longer gave out advances to weavers to secure supplies.
• Distressed weavers wrote petitions to the government to help them.

5. By the 1830s British cotton cloth flooded Indian markets. Actually by the 1880s, 67% of all the cotton clothes worn by Indians were made of cloth produced in Britain. This affected not only specialist weavers but also spinners.
6. Thousands of rural spinner women were rendered jobless.

Question 9.
Why did the Indian iron smelting industry declined in the nineteenth century?
Answer:
There were several reasons:

1. The new forest laws of the colonial government prevented people from entering the reserved forests. Now it became difficult for the iron smelters to find wood for charcoal. Getting iron ore was also a big problem. Hence, many gave up their craft and looked for other jobs.
2. In some areas the government did grant access to the forest. But the iron smelters had to pay a very high tax to the forest department for every furnace they used. This reduced their income.
3. By the late 19th century iron and steel were being imported from Britain. Ironsmiths in India began using the imported iron to manufacture utensils and implements. This inevitably lowered the demand for iron produced by local smelters.
   All these reasons caused the decline of the Indian iron smelting industry.

Question 10.
What problems did the Indian textile industry face in the early years of its development?
Answer:
During the early period of its development, the textile industry in India faced many problems.

• In most countries, governments supported local manufacturers by imposing heavy duties on imports. This finished the competition and protected their infant industries.
• English producers wanted a secure market within the country by preventing the entry of Indian textiles. British government enacted the Calico Act.
• The colonial government in India usually refused such protection to local industries.

Question 11.
What helped TISCO expand steel production during the First World War?
Answer:
Before the First World War India imported British steel for rails. When in 1914 the war broke out, steel produced in Britain now had to meet the demands of the war in Europe. So, imports ‘of British steel into India declined and the Indian Railways turned to TISCO for the supply of rails.

As the war dragged on for several years, TISCO had to produce shells and carriage wheels for the war. By 1919 the colonial government was buying 90% of the steel manufactured by TISCO. Over time TISCO became the biggest steel industry within the British empire.

Question 12.
Find out about the history of any craft around the area you live in. You may wish to know about the community of craftsmen, the changes in the techniques they use, and the markets they supply. How have these changed in the past 50 years?
Answer:
History of Handloom weaving:

• Spinning of thread
• Weaving by Julahas in village
• Sale of the fabric in the local market
• Looms were set up
• Fabric woven for local, national and international markets
• Powerlooms
• International markets.

Changes in the Past 50 years

• Constitution of All India Handloom board in 1952.
• Government support for the supply of yam, dyes chemicals, etc.
• Encouragement by giving awards.
• Insurance cover against calamities etc.

Question 13.
On a map of India, locate the centres of different crafts today. Find out when these centres came up.
Answer:

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters, and Factory Owners Exercise Questions

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)

Question 2.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. The cotton textiles which the Portuguese took back to Europe, along with the spices came to be known as …………..
2. The …………….. was invented by John Kaye which increased the of the traditional spindles.
3. Weavers often belonged to communities that specialized in ……………..
4. ………….. and ………………. emerged as important new centres of weaving in the late 19th century.
5. Indian Wootz steel fascinated ………………. scientists.
6. The Tata Iron and Steel factory is situated on the banks of the river …………..
7. TISCO had to expand its capacity and extend the size of its factory to meet the demands of the …………..

Answer:

1. Calico
2. Spinning Jenny
3. weaving
4. Sholapur; Madurai
5. European
6. Subamarekha
7. war

Question 3.
State whether each of the following statements is True or False.

1. From the 1850s, Britain came to be known as the ‘workshop of the world’.
2. The invention of the spinning jenny and steam engine revolutionized cotton textile weaving in England.
3. European trading companies such as the Dutch, the French, and the English purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing diamonds.
4. Men were usually involved in the work of spinning.
5. Iron smelting in India was extremely common until the end of the 19th century.
6. The Tata Iron and Steel Company began to produce steel after the First World War.

Answer:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. True
6. 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)

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners 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.

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.

Question 3.
During which period patola weaving was famous?
Answer:
It was famous during the mid-19th century.

Question 4.
Name the origin of the word calico.
Answer:
Calicut.

Question 5.
Name the important centres of jamdani weaving.
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.

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.

Question 8.
Name the household spinning instrument.
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.

Question 10 .
What 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.

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.

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.

Question 14.
Why was the Wootz steel making process completely lost by the mid- 19th century?
Answer:
There are two reasons for it:

1. The sword and armour making industry died with the conquest of India by the British.
2. 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.

Question 16.
Why were bellows used?
Answer:
Bellows were used to keeping the charcoal burning.

Question 17.
What were the piece goods?
Answer:
Piece goods were usually woven cloth pieces that were 20 yards long and 1 yard wide.

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners 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.

Question 2.
How did the inventions of the 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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Textile production was concentrated along the Coromandal coast stretching from Madras to northern Andhra Pradesh.
4. On the west 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:

1. the tanti weavers of Bengal.
2. the julahas or momin weavers of north India.
3. 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:

1. 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
2. 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.
Handloom production 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.

Question 7.
Give a brief description of the 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. The 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.

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Write a few lines on each of the following:
(a) Patola weave
(b) Jamdani weave
(c) Chintz
Answer:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 a 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.

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters, and Factory Owners Source-Based Questions

Question 1.
Read the following extract (Source 1) taken from the 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 arrange (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.

Class 8 History Chapter 7 Weavers, Iron Smelters, and Factory Owners Picture-Based Questions

Question 1.
Observe the pictures taken from the 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.

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.

Map Skills
Question 1.
On an outline map of India, mark the major centres of weaving that existed in the late 18th century.
Answer: