Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-2-Europe and India-Maharashtra Board

Advantages of Renaissance :

• There was revival of the Greek and Roman traditions.
• The changes were seen in the fields of art, architecture and philosophy in Europe.
• Humanitarianism got impetus.
• Humanism was the value put forth by Renaissance.
• The outlook changed. More emphasis was given on treating each other as a human being.
• Man became the centre of all ideologies instead of religion.
• The reform movement spread to all sectors of human life.
• The sentiments and emotions of human being found expressions in the art and literature.
• Literature was produced in local languages for the understanding of the people.

Geographical Discoveries :

• Constantinople (Istanbul) was the capital of Byzantine Empire.
• Ottoman Turks conquered it in 1453 AD.
• The overland trade routes going to Asia and Europe passed through it.
• As the Turks blocked this route, it became necessary for the Europeans to find new routes to reach Asia.

During 15th century, European sailors went on expedition to discover sea route to India.

• Bartolomeu Dias (1487 AD): A Portuguese sailor, began expedition in search of India but reached 'Cape of Good Hope’, the southern tip of Africa.
• Christopher Columbus (1492 AD) : A Spanish sailor, began his journey to reach India by sailing toward west but reached on the eastern coast of American continent.
• Vasco-da-Gama (1498 AD) : A Portuguese sailor, managed to sail past the Cape of Good Hope and reached the Indian coast in Calicut.

The Bill of Rights (England-1689) :

• The Bill of Rights was passed by the Parliament.
• The sovereignty of Parliament was established.
• Powers of the king was curtailed.
• This gave momentum to the development of parliamentary democracy.

American war of Independence (America 1776-1781) :

• Imperialist European countries established colonies in different regions of America
• England established 13 colonies on the East coast of America.
• England laid oppressive restrictions and taxes on these colonies which created discontent and the people revolted.
• George Washington led the American army in the war against England.
• The colonies won the war and a new nation known as 'The United States of America’ was born.
• It had a federal government, written constitution and was based on the principles of democracy.

French Revolution (France -1789) :

• It was a revolt by people of France against the unjust and uncontrolled monarchy and feudalism.

• The French Revolution was the first event in world history in which the might of the people's power was witnessed.
• It had put an end to uncontrolled and unjust monarchy and the feudalism.
• France became a Republican state. It gave the world principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.
• The spread of democratic form of government began with the French Revolution.

 Rise of Capitalism :

• With the discovery of new sea routes to the east, European traders started trade.
• Many traders came together as it was not easy to carry trade single handedly.
• This gave rise to many trading companies.

• Trade with the east was very profitable.
• It was responsible for economic prosperity of the nations.
• The European rulers gave military protection and trade concessions to these trading companies.
• The profit from the trade was further used in the form of capital, for Trade and Commerce.
• This gave rise to capitalist economic system in Europe.

Colonialism :

• Exploitation of one country by another and making it into a colony is called Colonialism.
• On the basis of economic and military strength one country occupies region of another country and establishes its political supremacy.
• Many European nations established their colonies in various parts of the continents of America, Asia, Africa and Australia.
• They grabbed the power by using force to exploit the colonies systematically.
• This gave rise to Imperialism.

Imperialism of British East India Company in India :

• There was a race to acquire trade monopoly in India among many European nations.
• The British established British East India Company in 1600 AD.
• Its objective was to trade with India and other Asian countries.
• The Company took permission from Emperor Jahangir and established factory at Surat.

Battle of Plassey :

• The officers of the Company misused the trade concessions and carried out fortification of the factory at Kolkata without obtaining the permission of Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.
• Siraj-ud-Daulah captured the factory at Kolkata.
• This created discontent in England leading to the Battle of Plassey in l757 AD.
• Robert Clive diplomatically bribed Mir Jafar, the commander of Nawab's army.
• He promised Mir Jafar to make him Nawab of Bengal.
• Mir Jafar remained inactive during the war.
• So, the British won the battle by treachery and deceit.
• Mir Jafar became Nawab of Bengal with the British support.

Battle of Buxar :

• When Mir Jafar opposed the British he was replaced by his son-in-law, Mir Kasim.
• The British brought back Mir Jafar when Mir Kasim tried to check their illegal trade practices.
• Mir Kasim, along with Shuja-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Ayodhya and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam formed an alliance and undertook a joint campaign to restrain the British.
• This led to the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
• The British won the battle and by the Treaty of Allahabad they secured the right to collect revenue in Bengal.
• It led to the foundation of the British rule in India.

British control over Sindh :

• The British turned their attention towards the North West frontier to strengthen their power in India.
• The British feared that Russia might attack India through Afghanistan. So, they decided to bring Afghanistan under their control to ensure safety of their Indian Empire.
• As all roads to Afghanistan Passed through Sindh, realising its strategic importance, the British captured Sindh in 1843.

The Fall of Sikh Power :

• After the death of Ranjit Singh, his minor son Duleep Singh succeeded as the niler of the state of Punjab.
• Queen Jindan assumed the reins of administration on behalf of her minor son.
• Taking advantage of her inability to control the officers, the British bribed some of them to their side.
• Thinking about the probability of a British attack on Punjab, the Sikh community launched an attack on them.
• The Sikhs were defeated in the First Anglo-Sikh War.
• The growing influence of the British led to the revolt of Mulraj, the chieftain of Multan.
• The British defeated the Sikhs in the second Anglo-Sikh war and annexed the entire region of Punjab in 1849.