SECTION II
LIVELIHOODS, ECONOMIES AND SOCIETIES
Chapter III The Making of a Global
World
Class 10 NCERT History: India and the Contemporary World-II
Updated for 2024-2025 Exams
Q.1. Give two
examples of different types of global exchanges that took place before the
seventeenth century, choosing one example from Asia and one from the Americas.
Ans.
1. From Asia: The Silk Routes linked Asia with Europe and
Northern Africa. They facilitated the trade of Chinese silk, pottery, and
Indian spices to the West, while precious metals flowed to Asia in return.
2. From the Americas: When Christopher Columbus discovered
the Americas, crops like potatoes, maize, and tomatoes were introduced to
Europe, which changed the global diet and agricultural systems.
Q.2. Explain how the
global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in the colonization
of the Americas.
Ans. Diseases like smallpox, brought by European colonizers
to the Americas, played a crucial role in colonization. The indigenous
populations, having no immunity to these diseases, suffered massive deaths,
which weakened their societies and paved the way for easier European conquest
and control.
Q.3. Write a note to
explain the effects of the following:
a) The British government’s decision to abolish the Corn
Laws.
Ans. The abolition of the Corn Laws in Britain allowed the
import of cheaper food, which lowered food prices and increased consumption.
However, it also harmed British agriculture, as it could not compete with cheap
imports, leading to unemployment and migration.
b) The coming of Rinderpest to Africa.
Ans. Rinderpest, a cattle plague, devastated African
livestock in the late 19th century, killing 90% of the cattle. It ruined
African economies and forced many Africans into the labor market, allowing
European colonizers to monopolize cattle resources and strengthen control.
c) The death of men of working age in Europe because of the
World War.
Ans. The death of millions of working-age men during World
War I caused a labor shortage, leading to a decline in household incomes. This
affected European economies and contributed to post-war economic instability
and the need for social and economic reconstruction.
d) The Great Depression on the Indian economy.
Ans. The Great Depression severely affected Indian
agriculture, as global demand for goods like jute and cotton collapsed. Prices
fell sharply, peasants faced deeper debts, and rural distress increased. Many
farmers had to sell their land and possessions to survive.
e) The decision of MNCs to relocate production to Asian
countries.
Ans. The relocation of multinational companies (MNCs) to
Asian countries, like China and India, where wages were lower, led to increased
employment and economic growth in these regions. It also stimulated global
trade but contributed to job losses in developed countries.
Q.4. Give two
examples from history to show the impact of technology on food availability.
Ans.
1. Refrigerated Shipping: In the 1870s, refrigerated ships
allowed the transportation of frozen meat from America and Australia to Europe,
making meat affordable for the European poor.
2. Railroads and Canals: The expansion of railroads and
canals in the 19th century connected agricultural regions to ports, making it
easier to transport food globally, increasing the supply and availability of
agricultural products.
Q.5. What is meant by
the Bretton Woods Agreement?
Ans. The Bretton Woods Agreement, established in 1944,
created a new international monetary system after World War II. It set up
institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to
promote global economic stability and reconstruction. The agreement also
introduced fixed exchange rates, with the US dollar linked to gold and other
currencies pegged to the dollar.
Q.6. Explain the
three types of movements or flows within international economic exchange. Find
one example of each type of flow that involved India and Indians, and write a
short account of it.
Ans.
1. Flow of Trade: In the 19th century, India exported raw
cotton to Britain, which was processed in British factories and sold worldwide.
2. Flow of Labor: Indian indentured laborers were sent to
plantations in the Caribbean, Mauritius, and Fiji under contracts, where they
worked for five years in harsh conditions.
3. Flow of Capital: Indian bankers, like the Nattukottai
Chettiars, financed export agriculture in Southeast Asia and helped develop
regional economies by providing loans to farmers and traders.
Q.7. Explain the
causes of the Great Depression.
Ans. The Great Depression was caused by multiple factors:
– Agricultural Overproduction: An excess of agricultural
products caused prices to fall, leaving farmers with reduced incomes.
– Speculative Stock Market Practices: A speculative boom in
the US stock market led to its crash in 1929, causing financial instability.
– Over-reliance on US Loans: Many countries, especially in
Europe, relied heavily on US loans, which were withdrawn when the US economy
collapsed, leading to a global financial crisis.
Q.8. Explain what is
referred to as the G-77 countries. In what ways can G-77 be seen as a reaction
to the activities of the Bretton Woods twins?
Ans. The G-77 refers to a group of developing countries that
came together in 1964 to demand a new international economic order (NIEO) that
would ensure fairer terms of trade, greater control over their resources, and
better access to markets in developed countries. The G-77 was a reaction to the
Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank), which were dominated by
Western powers and catered primarily to the needs of industrialized nations,
often neglecting the development concerns of poorer nations.