History chapter – 7: Crafts and Industries

Date: 22-10-2021

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

A. Choose the correct option:

1. a) Surat 2. c) Calicut 3. a) Cotton 4. a) Calico

B. Fill in the blanks:

1. Agaria 2. Jamshed ji Tata 3. Calico 4. James Hargreaves

C. Correct the incorrect sentences:

1. Correct

2. Correct

3. By the close of the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing in Europe.

4. Wootz was an exceptional grade iron ore made in South and Central India

D. Short-answer questions:

Ans: 1. The reason for India’s favourable foreign trade was its excellence in local production.

Ans: 2. The British Parliament passed the Calico Acts of 1720 and 1721. According to these Acts, the import of cotton
from India was banned. This was an effort to sustain the British textile industry.

Ans: 3. TISCO was the first modern iron and steel plant in India.

Ans: 4. Wootz was an exceptional grade iron ore made in South and Central India as early as 300 BC. Made from high
grade ore, is believed to have originated in present day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.

Ans: 5. Traditionally, the Agaria tribes are iron-smelter workers and miners. The name Agaria is derived from the Hindi
word ‘aag’ meaning fire, and from the association with the furnace used for smelting iron ore.

E. Long-answer questions:

Ans: 1 The East India Company concentrated on export of Indian manufactured goods like textiles, spices etc. to Europe
because they were in great demand. The British people were extremely fond of Indian cottons especially calico.

Ans: 2. The British henceforth started using political power for the enhancement of their commercial and economic
interest. They forced artisans and weavers to sell their goods to the company at lower prices.

Ans: 3. Matters became worse for the Indian craftsmen when the British government introduced the ‘one way free
trade’. The British abolished the duty on goods entering India. The British goods thus became cheaper and this ruined
the domestic market for Indian goods. At the same time, the Indian goods going into Britain were taxed heavily making
them more expensive. Consequently, even the foreign market for Indian goods was badly affected.

Ans: 4. The British began to import iron and steel from Britain. This was used for producing articles instead of the local
steel. Also, the forest laws of the British prevented the people from using forest produce. Without wood, iron ore and
charcoal from the forests, the local iron smiths could not smelt any iron. Also, in places where the British did permit the
local people to use forest products, they had to pay very high taxes.

Ans: 5. The outbreak of the First World War proved beneficial for both the industries. The British was unable to import
steel and now became dependent on TISCO to meet its need of steel. Also, the British government could not get textiles
from Britain. During this time, the Indian textile industries benefitted immensely.