Class 8 history chapter 1 questions and answers

 Here is a complete set of solved questions and answers from Class 8 History – Chapter 1: How, When and Where, covering all topics in various formats:


📘 Chapter 1: How, When and Where – All Types of Questions & Answers


✅ 1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Q1. Who divided Indian history into three periods – Hindu, Muslim, and British?
A. Lord Wellesley
B. James Mill
C. Warren Hastings
D. Robert Clive
✔️ Answer: B. James Mill

Q2. When was the first census conducted in India?
A. 1765
B. 1857
C. 1871
D. 1901
✔️ Answer: C. 1871

Q3. Which of the following was not a source of official records used by the British?
A. Surveys
B. Paintings
C. Memos
D. Correspondences
✔️ Answer: B. Paintings

Q4. The British preserved official documents in:
A. Parliament
B. Police Station
C. Archives
D. Libraries
✔️ Answer: C. Archives


✅ 2. True or False

Q1. James Mill was a British economist and political philosopher.
✔️ Answer: True

Q2. The British believed that writing and maintaining records was important for administration.
✔️ Answer: True

Q3. The British did not conduct any surveys in India.
❌ Answer: False

Q4. Historians do not use official records to write history.
❌ Answer: False


✅ 3. Fill in the Blanks

Q1. James Mill wrote the book A History of British India in _______.
✔️ Answer: 1817

Q2. The first census in India was conducted in the year _______.
✔️ Answer: 1871

Q3. British preserved their official records in _______.
✔️ Answer: Archives

Q4. History is about finding out how things were in the _______ and how things have changed.
✔️ Answer: past


✅ 4. One Word Answers

Q1. Who wrote A History of British India?
✔️ Answer: James Mill

Q2. What is the name of the place where official records are kept?
✔️ Answer: Archives

Q3. When was the first complete census conducted in India?
✔️ Answer: 1871

Q4. What do we call the division of history into time periods?
✔️ Answer: Periodization


✅ 5. One-Liner Questions

Q1. What is the role of official records in history writing?
✔️ Answer: They help historians understand government decisions and administration.

Q2. Why is periodization important in history?
✔️ Answer: It helps organize events in chronological order for better understanding.

Q3. What is a survey?
✔️ Answer: A method of collecting information through inspection and measurement.

Q4. Why was James Mill's division of Indian history criticized?
✔️ Answer: Because it was based on religion and ignored social and economic factors.


✅ 6. Short Answer Questions

Q1. Who was James Mill?
✔️ Answer:
James Mill was a Scottish economist and political philosopher. He wrote A History of British India in 1817 and divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.

Q2. What are official records?
✔️ Answer:
Official records are documents maintained by the government, including letters, memos, reports, and surveys, which provide information about the administration.

Q3. Why did the British conduct surveys in India?
✔️ Answer:
The British conducted surveys to collect data on land, population, crops, forests, and tribes to better control and manage the territory.

Q4. Why do modern historians not follow James Mill’s periodization?
✔️ Answer:
Because it is Eurocentric, biased toward British rule, and ignores cultural, social, and economic diversity in Indian history.


✅ 7. Long Answer Questions

Q1. Explain how the British used official records to administer India.
✔️ Answer:
The British believed in the importance of documenting all aspects of administration. They kept records of every instruction, survey, and decision. These documents were preserved in archives and served as a reference for future governance. British officials wrote memos and reports which were filed for future use. These records helped in understanding administrative policies and maintaining control over Indian society.

Q2. Discuss how the practice of history writing changed after the British period.
✔️ Answer:
Earlier, history focused on kings, wars, and political events. British historians like James Mill wrote history to justify colonial rule. However, modern history writing became more inclusive, focusing on ordinary people, economic changes, social structures, and cultural developments. Modern historians use various sources, not just official records but also oral stories, autobiographies, and paintings, to understand the past from multiple perspectives.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Class 7 History – Chapter 2: New Kings and Kingdoms

Class 8 History – Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory

Class 8 history Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory – Questions and Answers