Renaissance in europe and development of science question answer | 12th history chapter 1
1A. Choose the correct alternative and rewrite the statement.
Question - 1. In 1440 ________ started the printing press.
[a] James Watt
[b] Gutenberg
[c] Aristotle
[d] Homer
Solutions :
[b] Gutenberg
Question - 2. In 1609 _______ made a modified telescope.
[a] John Kay
[b] Copernicus
[c] Galileo
[d] Kepler
Solutions :
[c] Galileo
Question - 3. _________ was the first explorer to circumnavigate the African continent.
[a] Henry the Navigator
[b] Marco Polo
[c] Bartholomew Dias
[d] Columbus
Solutions :
[c] Bartholomew Dias
B. Find the incorrect pair from group ‘B’ and write the corrected one.
Question - 1.
| Group ‘A’ | Group ‘B’ |
| (a) John Kay | Flying shuttle |
| (b) Samuel Crompton | Cotton gin |
| (c) Edmund Cartwright | Power loom |
| (d) James Watt | Steam engine |
2. Write the names of historical places/persons/events.
Question - 1. Father of the empirical science —
Solutions :
Galileo
Question - 2. Scientists who told the world that the centre of our planetary system is the ‘Sun’ and not the ‘Earth’ —
Solutions :
Nicolaus Copernicus
Question - 3. The treatise was written by Varahmihir —
Solutions :
Brihatsamhita
3. Complete the following concept map.
Question - 1. Maharashtra Board Class 12 History Solutions Chapter 1 Renaissance in Europe and Development of Science Q3
Solutions :
Maharashtra Board Class 12 History Solutions Chapter 1 Renaissance in Europe and Development of Science Q3.1
4. Write short notes.
Question - 1. European Crusades.
Solutions :
- The two cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem considered holy by the Jews, Christians, and Muslims were under Islamic rule in the 11th century.
- Christians of Europe wanted to regain hold over these cities and fought several wars known as ‘Crusaders’.
- The common people in Europe were highly inspired to be part of such religious wars.
- When the Pope announced that the sins of those who took part in such wars would be forgiven and would immediately go to Heaven, there was spontaneous participation by the common people in the crusaders.
- Besides social and political circumstances, the Roman emperors were also trying to bring Syria and Asia Minor under their control.
- Moreover, the rich merchants in Genova and Venice in Italy were looking for Central Asian markets to establish their trade.
- The first crusade started in 1096 C.E.
- A second call for the crusade was given by Pope Eugenius III who sought help from the French King Louis VII and the German King Conrad III.
- The crusaders were ultimately defeated by the Turks and in 1187 C.E. Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt defeated the crusaders by conquering Jerusalem.
- However, the crusaders failed for several reasons such as the attitude of the Pope and the European rulers common people losing faith, the rift between the Pope and the European kings, etc.
Question - 2. Metallurgy in Europe.
Solutions :
- England had a number of iron mines.
- Therefore, it was necessary to advance the technique of smelting iron to acquire purified iron from it.
- The fuel for iron furnaces was replaced from wood to coal.
- Special machines were made to keep the furnaces at a set temperature and to maintain their aeration.
- In 1865, the process of producing steel from molten iron was invented and the nature of the iron industry underwent a major transformation.
- At about the same time, a method was adopted to pour the molten metal into casts for making iron bars [e.g. rails].
5. Explain the following statements with reasons.
Question - 1. The European Renaissance is supposed to have reached its zenith in the 15th-16th centuries.
Solutions :
- The European Renaissance began in the 14th century C.E.
- It reached its zenith in the 15th and 16th centuries.
- These three centuries laid the foundations of a culture based on rationalism and science.
- This age gave a new direction to human intellect genius and way of life.
- People started writing poetry, drama, and fiction.
- Novel experiments were conducted in the field of science.
- In the pre-renaissance period, the thought about the existence of the universe revolved around ‘God’.
- In short, in this period new inventions, machinery, art, drama, literature, and geographical discoveries have taken place.
Question - 2. The ‘Industrial Revolution first began in England.
Solutions :
- ‘Industrial Revolution’ indicates the transition from manual production to mechanized production.
- In England, the atmosphere was suitable for the industrial revolution.
- Large amounts of iron ore and coal were available.
- The humid climate of England was suitable for producing yarn.
- These conditions proved to be favourable for the textile industry in England.
- England had also established a large number of colonies by then so England could obtain raw material at cheap rates from these colonies.
- England could also export the processed goods and sell it in their colonies with large profit margins using their navy.
- The availability of cheap labour made it possible for them to maintain an optimum level of costs.
- These factors prepared the ground for the industrial revolution in England thus giving a boost to its economy. Because of the above reasons Industrial revolution first began in England.
6. State your opinion.
Question - 1. The European natural scientists of the 17th century laid the foundations of modern science.
Solutions :
- The scientists of the 17th century emphasized the following things:
- To prove that scientific principles established by empirical experiments are true despite time and space.
- To convert the emergent scientific rules into scientific formulae.
- To create new scientific parlance and so on.
- These efforts helped the progress of science.
Question - 2. The economy based on surplus production supported economic nationalism and also imperialism.
Solutions :
- Economic nationalism began the vicious circle of continuously capturing new marketplaces, searching for sources of a cheap supply of raw material, maintaining an unbroken chain supply of raw material], to attract more and more investors, to safeguard their investments. This resulted in limitless exploitation of the colonies.
- Extreme nationalism, industrialization, concepts of racial superiority, aggressive colonial policies further supported the growth of imperialism.
- The result was the immense expanse of the empires like England, France, Belgium, Germany, etc.
7. Answer the following Question -s in detail.
Question - 1. Explain the causes and effects of European crusades.
Solutions :
- Causes of European crusades:
- The two cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem considered holy by the Jews, Christians, and Muslims were under Islamic rule in the 11th century.
- Christians of Europe wanted to regain hold over these cities and fought several wars known as ‘Crusaders’.
- The common people in Europe were highly inspired to be part of such religious wars.
- When the Pope announced that the sins of those who took part in such wars would be forgiven and would immediately go to Heaven, there was spontaneous participation by the common people in the crusaders.
- Besides social and political circumstances, the Roman emperors were also trying to bring Syria and Asia Minor under their control.
- Moreover, the rich merchants in Genova and Venice in Italy were looking for Central Asian markets to establish their trade.
- The first crusade started in 1096 C.E.
- A second call for the crusade was given by Pope Eugenius III who sought help from the French King Louis VII and the German King Conrad III.
- The crusaders were ultimately defeated by the Turks and in 1187 C.E. Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt defeated the crusaders by conquering Jerusalem.
- However, the crusaders failed for several reasons such as the attitude of the Pope and the European rulers common people losing faith, the rift between the Pope and the European kings, etc.
- The crusades had far-reaching effects:
- According to some historians, the crusades led to the end of feudalism in Europe.
- The faith in the Pope began to decline.
- The contact with the regions in Central Asia led to the increased trade and new venues were opened for cities in Italy and Germany.
- It led to the rise of a new class of traders.
- European warfare went through many changes for e.g. they acquired expertise in building forts, managing the forts as military outposts, building bridges, etc.
- The European kings levied new taxes which were added to the royal treasury.
- The Europeans were introduced to newer types of plants, fruits, perfumes, etc.
- The Europeans came in contact with the Arabs and adopted many Arabic words in Alchemy, Music, and Commerce.
Question - 2. Give detailed information on the development of science and scientific inventions during the renaissance period.
Solutions :
- The scientists of the 17th century emphasized the following things:
- To prove that scientific principles established by empirical experiments are true despite time and space.
- To convert the emergent scientific rules into scientific formulae.
- To create new scientific parlance and so on.
- These efforts helped the progress of science.
- The compass, the barometer, telescope, and the thermometer were invented during this period.
- Microscopes were invented to observe various types of micro-organisms.
- Robert Boyle, an alchemist discovered that that the absolute pressure and the volume of a gas are inversely proportional.
- The research in physics was more focused on heat and sound.
- In zoology, a methodology known as ‘Taxonomy’ was developed to classify animals.
- Benjamin Franklin’s research was on lightning and electricity. He coined many technical terms which are used in science even today.
Try to do this. [Textbook Page No. 3]
Collect information about how the early European universities worked.
Solutions :
- Early European universities were the University of Bologna in 1088 or the University of Paris [1150-1170].
- the University of Bologna is considered the ‘mother of universities’.
- European universities concentrated on science and research
- Original Medieval universities arose from the Roman Catholic Church schools
- Purposes included training of professionals, scientific investigation, and teaching critical thinking and research.
- During Renaissance, the humanist ideas were slowly accepted
- Universities began preparing the student for a civilized life
- The curriculum included liberal arts such as Trivium [grammar, rhetoric, logic] and Quadrivium [arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music]
Find it out. [Textbook Page No. 8]
Make a list of the European countries where the Industrial Revolution spread in its first stage.
Solutions :
The industrial revolution first began in Britain in the late 1770s and first spread to Belgium followed by France and the German states and in North America.
Project [Textbook Page No. 9]
Collect detailed information about the voyages of Bartholomew Dias and Vasco-da- Gama and read it aloud in the class.
Solutions :
[A] Bartholomew Dias:
- Bartholomew Dias was a Portuguese explorer.
- He was the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa which the Portuguese would name as the ‘Cape of Good Hope.
- Dias and his crew departed from Lisbon, Portugal in August 1487 with three ships.
- Dias’s expedition sailed along the African coast following the route of Diogo Cao who had earlier sailed along the African coast in the 1480s.
- Near the southern tip of Africa Dias’s 3 ships sailed into a dangerous storm that pushed them away from the African coast. They sailed around the tip of Africa in January 1488 without seeing the land.
- After 30 days without seeing land, he entered what he named Aguada de Sao Bras [Bay of Saint Blaise] in February 1488.
- Dias wanted to continue to India but he was forced to turn back when his crew refused to go further and the rest of the officers favored going back home.
- It was on his return journey that he actually discovered the Cape of Good Hope in May 1488.
- Dias returned to Lisbon in December 1488 after an absence of 16 months and 17 days.
[B] Vasco da Gama:
- Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea.
- His initial voyage to India was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and therefore the West and the Orient.
- This discovery is considered to be a milestone in world history.
- Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India opened the way for an age of imperialism in Asia.
- Vasco da Gama landed in Calicut, India on May 20, 1498.
- This boosted the economy of the Portuguese Empire.
- Vasco da Gama led the two of the India Armadas, the first and the fourth.
- In 1524, Vasco da Gama was appointed as Governor of India, with the title of Viceroy, and was ennobled as Count of Vidigueria in 1519.
Renaissance in europe and development of science question answer | 12th history chapter 1
As the ‘Mediaeval Period’ in Europe
was nearing its end, it saw advances in
various fields of life. Europeans discovered
unknown lands and there were movements
of religious reformation. The foundations
of the ‘Modern Period’ were laid in this
period. Hence, this period is called
‘Renaissance’, which means rebirth.
In this period, the ancient Greek and
Roman traditions of art, architecture,
philosophy, etc. were revived. However,
renaissance is not only the revival of
ancient traditions. Renaissance also saw
overall development in many fields and it
proved to be the beginning of a new era.
European Crusades and its farreaching consequences
Jerusalem and Bethlehem are the two
cities, which are considered holy by the
Jews, Christians and Muslims. These cities
were under Islamic rule in the eleventh
century. Several wars were fought by the
Christians in Europe in eleventh century to
regain hold on these cities. These wars are
known as ‘Crusades’.
Supporting the Crusades : The
common people in Europe were highly
inspired by the idea of being part of the
wars, which were fought for the cause of
religion.
Pope, the highest authority of the
Catholic Church had announced that those
who fought in a crusade would be forgiven
of their sins and would immediately go to
heaven. This led to spontaneous participation
by common people in the crusades. Besides,
the social, political circumstances in Europe
were also among the causes for the
beginning of these wars.
Roman emperors were trying to bring
the regions of Syria and Asia Minor under
their rule. Rich merchants in Venice and
Genova, the two trading centres in Italy
wanted to establish their trade in the
Central Asian market places.
Thus, the
crusades were supported by the rulers and
rich traders in their own interest.
The first crusade started in 1096 C.E.,
While giving a call for the second crusade,
Pope Eugenius III sought help from the
French King Louis VII and the German
King Conrad III. Ultimately the crusaders
were defeated by the Turks. In 1187 C.E.
Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt defeated the
crusaders by conquering Jerusalem.
However, the crusades did not stop after
that. In the course of time, totally nine
crusades were launched. Despite the
crusades, Jerusalem and the region around
it remained under the control of Islamic
rule.
Causes of the failure of the Crusaders :
The failure of the Christian Crusaders can
be attributed to the attitude of the Pope and
the European rulers, who initiated the
crusades mainly for their own vested
interests. Besides, the other factors like
common people losing faith, rift between
the Pope and the European kings, dispute
between the Pope and the German Emperor,
non co-operation by the Emperor of
Byzantium also caused the failure of
crusades.
Consequences of the Crusades : Some
historians feel that crusades led to the end
of feudalism in Europe. The faith in the
Pope began to decline. The contact with the
regions in Central Asia led to the increased
trade and the new avenues were opened for
the cities in Italy and Germany. It saw the
rise of a new class of traders.
The European warfare went through
many changes. European nations acquired
expertise in building forts, managing the
forts as military outposts, building bridges
for moving the army from one place to
another, destruction of the enemy’s routes,
etc. European kings levied new taxes which
were directly added to the royal treasury.
Europeans were introduced to newer
types of plants, fruits, perfumes, different
styles of clothing, sugar, silk and cotton
textiles, spices, medicinal herbs and so on.
During the prolonged times of crusades
Europeans came into contact with the Arabs
and got introduced to several new subjects.
Europeans adopted many Arabic words
used in alchemy, music and commerce.
1.2 Renaissance Period in Europe
The European renaissance began in the
14th century C.E. and reached its zenith in
the 15th-16th century C.E. These three
centuries proved to be foundational stage
of a culture based on rationalism and
science.
This period gave a new direction to
human intellect, genius and way of life.
People got more interested in unfolding the
mysteries of the universe by adopting
scientific approach.
Many people began to
write poetry, drama and fiction, a field that
had remained untouched so far. Novel
experiments were conducted in the field of
science. In the pre-renaissance times the
thought about the existence of the universe
revolved around the concept of ‘God’. Now,
humans formed the centre of this thought.
This way of thinking is called ‘Humanism’.
The European rulers of the renaissance
period encouraged adventurous seafarers to
explore distant lands. They brought back
information about the plants, fruits, flowers,
trees, unknown species of animals, weaponry
etc. from the distant
lands they visited. In
1543 C.E. Nicolaus
Copernicus told the
world that the centre
of our planetary
system is the ‘Sun’
and not the ‘Earth’.
In 1609 Galileo
prepared a more
sophisticated
telescope, which
enabled further
research in the field
of astronomy.
The
theories propounded by Copernicus and
Kepler could be supported by the empirical
observations made possible by Galileo’s
telescope. This facilitated research in the
field of physical sciences.
The inventions of gunpowder and
printing brought about fundamental changes
in the techniques of warfare and
dissemination of knowledge. The first
printing press in Germany was started in
1440 by Johannes Gutenberg. The first
printing press in Italy started in 1451. The
invention of printing has been an outstanding
gift of the renaissance period.
New avenues
opened to extend varied information and
knowledge to common people. A number of
modern universities came into existence in
Europe in the 18th century. The syllabi in
these universities included subjects like :
the Epics - ‘Illiad’ and ‘Odyssey’ written
by Homer, Greek drama, speeches of great
orators, literature, painting, sculpture, ethics,
political science and history, etc. As a result
of this people began to think freely.
It so happened...!
Galileo (1564-1642 C.E.) : Galileo
established the rational method of
empirical observation and forming a
theory on the basis of those observations.
Hence, Galileo is known as the ‘Father
of the Empirical Science’. He proved
that the speed of objects of different
weight falling down is equal by carrying
out actual demonstrations from the
heights of the tower of Pisa in Italy.
Thus, Aristotle’s view that heavy objects
will fall down faster than lighter
objects, was thoroughly disproved.
With
Galileo’s modified telescope he could
trigger a revolution. He was successful
in enhancing the strength of his
telescope many times more than the
existing telescopes. It benefitted the
seafarers to a great extent. It became
easier for them to locate lands while
sailing in the oceans. With his telescope
he could discover four major satellites
of the planet Jupiter.
Galileo also
invalidated with evidence, Aristotle’s
opinion that the Moon is self-luminous
and has smooth surface. He proved
that there are mountains and valleys on
the moon and the light emitted from it
is actually the reflected rays of the sun.
He had also calculated the time the sun
takes to complete one cycle around
itself, as 27 days. It is said that Galileo
was the first scientist to observe the
spots on the sun.
At this point, it may be noted that
Varahmihir, an Indian scholar, is said
to have mentioned the sunspots (Tamas
Kilakas) in his treatise ‘Brihatsamhita’,
(circa 6th century C.E.)
Roman Church : In the pre-renaissance
period the ‘Roman Church’ not only
controlled the religious life of people but
also controlled the individual life of people.
It exploited common people by issuing
mandates for payments of fees. It also put
restrictions on free thinking and its
circulation. Anyone who dared to interpret
Bible differently from the conventional
interpretation propagated by the Catholic
Church, was sentenced to death. The
humanist philosophy of the renaissance was
instrumental in making a ground for
resistance against the overpowering Catholic
Church
Modern Science : Scientists began
their search for reality by strictly using the
scientific method, which emphasises on
empirical experience. This very approach
led to the onset of modern age of science.
Learning mathematics, science and arts
gained importance during renaissance, for
example the works of Leonardo da Vinci.
Arts : During renaissance the scientific
approach influenced the field of arts as
well. In this period alchemy began to
separate from its mystical roots and later
transformed into the scientific discipline of
‘Chemistry’. The advancement of chemistry
expanded the knowledge of the sources of
metals and elements. A significant change
was introduced in the field of paintings. Oil
paints and boards painted by using oil
paints were made. The scientific method of
observation of nature made it possible to
paint the natural scenes with minute details.
With the same method, detailed diagrams
of the human body and its internal organs
could be drawn. The work of Leonardo da
1.3 Development of Science
It is said that the European natural
scientists of the 17th century laid the
foundations of modern science. The
scientists of the 17th century put emphasis
on the following things : to prove that
scientific principles established by empirical
experiments are true despite time and space;
to convert the emergent scientific rules into
scientific formulae; to create a new scientific
parlance and so on. These efforts helped
the progress of science.
Institutions devoted to the cause of
science :
In Europe some organisations
were established for research in science.
These organisations published scientific
journals, which included research articles
written by scientists, correspondence between
them, as also clearing doubts and exchanging
thoughts. Among them ‘Academy of the
Lynx Eyed’ or ‘Lincean Academy’ in Rome,
‘Academy for experiment’ in Florence,
‘Royal Society for Improving Natural
Knowledge’ in London, ‘French Academy
of Sciences’ in France were of prime
importance.
1.4 Scientific inventions in various
fields
Various instruments like compass,
telescope, thermometer and barometer were
invented in this period. Microscopes invented
in this period made it easier to observe
various types of micro-organisms. Robert
Boyle, an alchemist is known for discovering
that the absolute pressure and the volume
of a gas are inversely proportional. This
created interest in further research on gases
like hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.
The
research in physics was more focused on
various aspects of ‘heat’ and ‘sound’. In
zoology a methodology known as
‘Taxonomy’ was developed to classifyanimals. The research by Benjamin Franklin
was very important as it threw light on
various aspects of lightening and electricity.
He coined many technical terms, which are
used in the electrical science even today.
Textile Industry : Weaving of woollen
cloth was a very old cottage industry in
England. In the year 1738 John Kay made
and patented ‘flying shuttle’. It increased
the speed of weaving. The next advanced
stage was ‘spinning jenny’, a spinning
frame with multiple spindles, made by
James Hargreaves in England. One could
work eight spindles simultaneously on this
frame and it reduced the amount of labour
and time of production.
In the year 1769
Richard Arkwright made a more advanced
spinning frame, which mechanised the
process of spinning. It could produce yarns
much faster with better twisting and
strength. Samuel Crompton invented a more
modified spinning machine in 1779 C.E.,
named as ‘spinning mule’. With this
machine the speed of producing cloth
increased two hundred times. In 1785 C.E.
Edmund Cartwright invented power loom.
In the year 1793 a machine called ‘cotton
gin’ was introduced. This machine was
useful in removing cotton seeds from cotton
fibers with a much greater speed.
Metallurgy : England had a number
of iron mines but it was necessary to
advance the technique of smelting iron in
order to acquire purified iron from it.
Gradually the fuel for iron furnaces was
replaced from wood to coal. It facilitated
creation of furnaces that could attain much
higher temperature resulting into increased
production of iron. Later, special machines
were made to keep the furnaces burning at
a set temperature and to maintain its
aeration. In 1865 the process of producing
steel from molten iron was invented and
the nature of iron industry underwent
major transformation. At about the same time, a method was developed to pour the
molten metal into casts for making iron
bars (for example, rails).
Use of Machines : Once a machine
proved effective for one industry, people
tried to test its usefulness for other industries
too. These attempts resulted into inventions
of newer machines. In 1783 Thomas Bell
made a machine for cylinder or roller
printing on fabric. By 1809 a machine came
in use for sticking together the heels and
soles of a shoe. Tailoring machines were
made. James Watt invented steam engine.
In the beginning, this engine was only used
to transport coal and iron ore out of the
mines. Later, steam powered machinery
came to be used in textile industry.
In course of time steam powered
ploughs, harvesters, grass cutting machines
were made.
These machines could complete
agricultural operations in very short time.
In America Robert Fulton, an engineer
successfully sailed the steamboat, which
was named, ‘Clermont’. The first attempt
of using steam engine for road transport
was done by George Stephenson. A steam
engine for railway was also produced. This
railway engine could successfully cut the
distance between Liverpool to Manchester.
Later railway services were expanded
through Europe. It shortened the time of
travel within Europe.
1.5 Geographic Discoveries and
Explorers
Marco Polo : The Italian traveller,
Marco Polo, introduced China and other
Asian countries to Europe. He stayed in
China in the royal court of Kubalai Khan.
There he studied Mongolian and Chinese
languages.
Ibn Batuta : Ibn Batuta was a scholar
and famous mediaeval traveller. Ibn Batuta
visited India, Maldives, Sumatra, China,
Spain, Sardinia, East and West Africa for
various reasons.
Henry the Navigator : He was the
prince of Portugal in the 15th century. He
encouraged people to go on expeditions and
search for lands, which were not known till
then. These expeditions resulted into the
discovery of ‘Madeira’ and ‘Azores’, two
archipelagos near Africa. These two are
autonomous regions of Portugal. The
Portuguese began to transport African
people to Portugal and sell them as slaves.
African gold was also brought back to
Portugal by these people.
Bartholomew Dias : Dias began his
expedition on the orders of the King of
Portugal, John II. He reached the southern
tip of Africa, which he named as ‘Cape of
Storms,. Later, the name was changed to
‘Cape of Good Hope’. He was the first
seafarer to circumnavigate the African
continent.
Christopher Columbus : In the year
1453 Istanbul (Constantinople), the capital
city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine)
Empire was conquered by the Ottoman
army. Thereafter it became the capital of
the Ottoman Empire.
Now the eastern sea
route was closed for
Europeans. It had
become necessary for
them to search for an
alternative route to
reach Asia. With the
support of the King
Ferdinand and Queen
Isabel of Spain, Christopher Columbus, an
Italian explorer set sail in the search of
India. He was certain that by sailing
westwards, he would find India, as the earth
is round. Instead of reaching India, he
reached the islands near America
Vasco da Gama : In the year 1497,
Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese seafarer
set sail with a fleet of 4 ships and 170
sailors in the search
of India. He reached
the eastern coast of
Africa and visited a
few African ports
like Mombasa and
Malindi. At Malindi
he met an Indian
navigator and under
his guidance Vasco
da Gama landed at
the Indian port of
Calicut (Kozhikode) in 1498. He asked
King Zamorin of Kozhikode for trading
permission. After obtaining the permission
he returned to Portugal. Thereafter he
visited India twice. He became the first
Viceroy of Goa and Kochi, after the
Portuguese rule was established there. The
trading between European countries and
India was initiated through his effort
1.6 Industrial Revolution
‘Industrial Revolution’ indicates the
transition from manual production to
mechanised production. In the 18th and 19th
centuries steam powered and water powered
(Hydraulic) machines came into use for
industrial production.
Industrial revolution could happen only
in a capitalistic economy. In the capitalistic
economy a new class of capitalists came
into existence, who were either owners of
industrial establishments (factories) or could
provide capital to such establishments.
To
produce commodities of common use with
minimum possible production cost, to pay
least possible wages in order to maintain
maximum profit margins are, the
characteristics of capitalistic economy.
Private ownership of the industrial
establishments, manufacturer’s right to
manufacture and to fix the price of the
manufactured goods, also to determine the
profit margins, as also the right of the
consumer to buy goods of his choice, are
inbuilt norms of the capitalist economy.
In England the atmosphere was suitable
for industrial revolution. Large amounts of
iron ore and coal were available. The
humid climate of England was suitable for
producing cotton yarn. With these favourable
conditions, textile industry flourished in
England. At that time England had
established their colonies in many countries.
So, England could easily obtain large
quantities of essential raw material at
cheap rates from their colonies. England
could also export the processed goods to
the colonies and sell it there with large
profit margins using their navy. The profits
earned in the colonies made large amounts
of capital available to the British merchants.
Availability of cheap labour made it
possible for them to maintain optimum
level of costs.
These factors giving boost
to economy prepared favourable ground for
the onset of industrial revolution in England.
Industrial revolution, however, affected
India adversely. It set the decline of Indian
cottage industry. The textile industry in
India almost came to a halt. The
administrative policies of the East India
Company were made to benefit the British
than the Indians. Railways made it possible
to transport European goods to rural areas
for sell. It turned into monetary exploitation
of the Indians.
1.7 Economic Nationalism
Rise of ‘Economic Nationalism’ was
an outcome of industrial revolution.
Arresting the economic growth of rival
nations along with fervently pursuing the
economic growth of one’s own nation
became vary important. It became important
to devise ways to put economic restrictions
on the rival country. Measures such as
prohibiting the import-export transactions of
other countries, levying heavy tolls on their
goods, establishing colonies mainly in the
Asian and African countries, if need be,
fighting battles with the natives of the
colonies were part of economic nationalism
The chain of surplus production was the
effect of industrial revolution and in turn
the economy based on surplus production
supported economic nationalism and also
imperialism. It began the vicious circle of
continuously capturing new marketplaces,
searching for sources of cheap supply of
raw material, to maintain an unbroken
chain of supply of raw material, to attract
more and more investors, to safeguard their
investments and so on. It resulted into
limitless exploitation of the colonies.
Extreme nationalism, industrialisation,
concepts of racial superiority, aggressive
colonial policies supported further growth
of imperialism. The result was the immense
expanse of the empires of European nations
like England, France, Belgium, Germany,
etc. In the next lesson we shall learn more
about European colonialism.
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