Class Notes Class: Topic: From Trade to Territory VIII Subject: History – Our Pasts - III
To be continued……
Q.8)In what way was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers? Ans. The administration of the Company was different than that of Indian rulers in the following ways :-
Company administration Indian Rulers administration i) Company divided their territories into i) Indian rulers divided their territories into four administrative units called Presidencies namely – parts namely – District, Pargana, Tehsil and Villages Bengal, Madras and Bombay.In India Districts were or Parishad. the main administrative units run by the collector. ii)Each administrative unit was ruled by a Governor. ii) Zamindars or Peasants were responsible for their units. iii) Governor –General was the head of the state. iii) King or Nawab was the head of these units. iv)The main job of the Governor-General was to iv)All the orders and farmans related to revenue introduce administrative reforms while the main collection and justice were issued/decided by the job of the Collector was to collect revenue and then ruler himself. taxes and maintain law and order in his district.
Q.9) Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army. Ans. The army of EIC was known as Sepoy Army. The main participants of the army were the peasants of India, trained by the EIC to become professional soldiers. The major change in the EIC army was the domination of infantry over cavalry with the introduction of muskets, matchlocks to guard them. However , as warfare technology changed during 19th century, the cavalry requirements of the company declined and infantry soldiers became more important . The company also introduced a uniform military culture where soldiers were given European training through drills and other exercises.
Extra question
Q.10)The battle of Plassey was the first major victory of Britisher’s. Explain in brief about the Battle of Plassey. Ans. The Battle of Plassey
The battle of Plasssey was fought between Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daula and the British on 23rd June 1757.
A large section of Siraj-Ud-Daula under his Chief Commander Mir Jafar did not take part in the battle.
To protect the artilleries Clive had brought tarpaulins to keep his powder dry, but Siraj-Ud-Daula had no such plans.
British guns opened fire and slaughtered many of the cavalry, killing their commander Mir Madan Khan. The nawab panicked and ordered his forces to fall back, exposing the French artillery contingent.
With the French cannon taken, the British bombarded the nawab’s positions without reply and the tide of the battle turned. The nawab fled the battlefield on a camel, and Mir Jafar was duly installed in power as a British puppet. English East India company gradually extended their control over the province.
Questions to be done by the students.
1)Find out the names of the British Governor General/Officials from the chapter.
2)What do you understand by ‘the Doctrine of Lapse policy’?Which states of Indian territories were annexed under this policy? 3)Make a mind map of the following events of history:-
a) Mysore war b) Anglo –Maratha wars