WHAT IS HISTORY? History is derived from Ancient Greek (historía) 'inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation is the systematic study and documentation of the human past. Sources of history have been divided broadly into two parts - Literary and archaeological. Archaeological sources consist of inscription, coins, monuments, remains of cities, pottery, ornaments, etc. The famous Greek historian, Herodotus is recognized as the ‘Father of history’. IMPORTANT HISTORICAL TERMS: KEY TERM DEFINITION Chronological order Listing events in the order that they happened. Era/period A period of time that is joined by cultural/historical factors. An example of an era is the Industrial era. Decade A unit of time that is equal to ten years Century A unit of time that is equal one hundred years / one of the hundred-year periods into which human history is divided. Millennium A unit of time that is equal to one thousand years. B.C.E (Before the Common Era)/B.C (Before Christ) Used to show that a year or century comes before the year 1 of the calendar used in TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 31 much of the world, esp. in Europe and North and South America. C.E (The Common Era) Used when referring to a year after the birth of Jesus Christ when the Christian calendar starts counting years. A.D (Anno Domini) Used when referring to a year after Jesus Christ was born Carbon Dating Refers to the chemical analysis used to estimate the age of organic articles. Inscriptions The writings engraved on solid objects such as metals, rocks, pillars and walls of caves. Edicts The official order or royal command issued by rulers in ancient times. Artifacts The articles of archaeological value. Epigraphy The study of old inscriptions or epigraphs. Numismatics The study of coins. IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS: • Geography - The study of the earth’s surface. • Geology - The study of earth’s history, structure and make up. • Palaeontology - The study of fossils. • Meteorology - The scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and weather forecasting. • Ecology - The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment. • Anthropology - The scientific study of humans, human behavior and societies in the past and present. DID YOU KNOW? • Greenland is the largest Island. • Sahara, the World’s largest desert, covers about 9 million square kilometers. • Nile is the longest river in the world. Two major tributaries of Nile – White Nile and Blue Nile. TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 32 • Amazon is the world’s largest river. It is also known as ‘The River Sea’. • The dead sea is currently 429 Meters below the sea level and is sinking about 1 meter every year. The salinity of Dead Sea is 342 parts per thousand. • Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. • Canada has more than half of all the natural lakes in the world. • Though Mount Everest is the highest peak, Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is closer to the moon. • Nauru, an island country located in the Pacific Ocean has no official capital. • The Sargasso Sea is the only sea with no coast. • Istanbul is the only city located over 2 continents (Asia & Europe) • Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. • The smallest island with a county status is Pitcairn. CIVICS The constitution of India • The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. • The Indian constitution is the lengthiest constitution in the world. • Every year on November 26, India commemorates Constitution Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949. • The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on December 5, 1946. • The preamble of our constitution states that India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assures its citizens justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavors to promote fraternity. • The constitution of India has created a secular state. It means the state gives equal protection to all religions. • Fundamental rights and duties are an important part of the Indian constitution. • 6 Fundamental Rights in Indian Constitution are as- Right to equality, Right to freedom, Right against exploitation, Right to freedom of religion, Cultural and educational rights, Right to constitutional remedies. • Directive Principles are classified under the following categories: Economic and Socialistic, Political and Administrative, Justice and Legal, Environmental, Protection of Monuments, Peace and Security. • The Constitution provides for a Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. • Separation of Powers- Between Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. • There are 448 articles in the Indian Constitution (originally 395 articles were there). • The Father of our Constitution is B.R. Ambedkar. TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 33 • Article 17 of Fundamental Rights abolishes untouchability • Article 14, 15 and 16 establish principles of equality and social Justice. • Article 14 proclaims equality before law and equal protection of law for all. • Article 15(1) prohibits discrimination on grounds of race, caste, sex, religion or place of birth. Important abbreviations • ASEAN: Association of South-East Asian Nations • PSC : Public Service Commission. • IAS : Indian Administrative Services • UPSC: Union Public Service Commission. • UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund • UNESCO: UNITED NATONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION • HISTORY What is the modern Indian history? The term “modern Indian history” refers to the history of India from the middle to late eighteenth century to the present time. The sources of modern history of India were the literary sources like manuscripts, scrolls, books, important documents, etc. The second would be archaeological sources and monuments and the third would be other sources like printing, reports, radio, broadcast. First in India: • First British Governor General – Warren Hastings • First Viceroy – Lord Canning • First Governor General of Indian Union – C Rajagopalachari • First President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad • Deputy Prime Minister – Sardar Vallabhai Patel • First President of Indian National Congress – W.C. Banerjee • First Education Minister of India – Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad • First Nobel Prize Winner – Rabindra Nath Tagore • First Chairman of Rajya Sabha – Dr S Radhakrishnan • First Indian Woman to win the booker prize – Arundhati Roy • First Indian in the British Parliament – Dadabhai Naoroji Decline of the Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire, once a symbol of opulence and power, began to decline in the late 17th century. Factors such as Aurangzeb's religious policies, administrative inefficiencies, and external invasions contributed to its downfall. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indian history. TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 34 Emergence of the British as the Central Controlling Authority The 18th century witnessed the growing influence of the British East India Company in India. With the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Treaty of Buxar in 1764, the British established themselves as the central controlling authority in India. This marked the onset of British colonial rule. Significant Events in History of Modern India: Indian Rebellion of 1857 The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, was a pivotal moment in India's struggle against British rule. It marked the first widespread uprising against colonial oppression. Birth of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885 The formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 marked the beginning of organized political resistance against British rule. INC played a crucial role in the fight for independence. Partition of Bengal in 1905 The partition of Bengal in 1905 by the British sparked widespread protests and was eventually reversed. It highlighted the divisive tactics employed by the colonial rulers. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar, where British troops opened fire on a peaceful gathering, was a brutal incident that galvanized the Indian freedom movement. Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 Under Gandhi's leadership, the Non-Cooperation Movement aimed to boycott British institutions and products, emphasizing non-violence as a powerful tool of resistance. Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 The Civil Disobedience Movement, marked by the famous Salt March, was another significant step towards freedom. Indians refused to obey certain laws, taxes, and restrictions imposed by the British as per the history of modern India! Government of India Act 1935 The Government of India Act of 1935 granted some degree of autonomy to India and paved the way for constitutional reforms. TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 35 World War II In the history of modern India's involvement in World War II had profound implications. The Quit India Movement of 1942 sought immediate British withdrawal from India during the war. Indian Independence Act of 1947 The Indian Independence Act of 1947 led to the partition of India into two independent nations, India and Pakistan, marking the end of British colonial rule. Partition of India in 1947 The partition of India and Pakistan resulted in one of the largest mass migrations in history and left a lasting impact on the subcontinent's history. India-China War 1962 The India-China War of 1962 was a brief but significant conflict over border disputes in the Himalayan region. Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s The Green Revolution, led by scientists like Norman Borlaug, brought about agricultural innovations that significantly increased food production in India. Indian Nuclear Program in 1974 In the history of modern India, the successful nuclear test in 1974 marked its entry into the group of nuclear-armed nations. The Emergency in 1975 The period of the Emergency saw a suspension of civil liberties and political dissent, raising concerns about democracy in India. Assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 had far-reaching consequences and led to a wave of violence. Economic Liberalization in 1991 The economic reforms of 1991, initiated by Manmohan Singh, unleashed India's economic potential and set the stage for rapid growth. TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 36 Rise of Right-wing Politics from the Late 1990s The late 1990s saw the rise of right-wing politics in India, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming to power. Kargil War of 1999 As per the history of modern India, the Kargil War with Pakistan in 1999 highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two nations. 2014 General Election The 2014 general election witnessed the rise of Narendra Modi and the BJP to power, signaling a shift in Indian politics. Demonetization in 2016 The demonetization of high-denomination currency notes in 2016 aimed to curb black money and promote digital transactions. Abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 In the history of modern India, the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 was a significant political development with far-reaching implications. COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, posed unprecedented challenges to India's healthcare system and economy. GEOGRAPHY • There are three main cropping seasons in India – Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. • The Kharif season started with Southwest Monsoon. • Kharif Crops : Example: rice, sorghum, maize, tea, rubber, coffee, guar, Sesame, cereals such as Arhar Dhal, pearl millet, soybeans, cotton, oilseeds, etc. • Rabi Crops - Sowing between October and November • Harvest – February to April • Example: wheat, oats, barley, pulses, cereals, oilseeds, linseed, etc. • *Zaid Crops- Sowing between March and June (between Kharif and Rabi) • Requires warm & dry weather for growth and a longer day-length for flowering. • Example: Seasonal fruits and vegetables- Pumpkin, Cucumber, Bitter Gourd. • Agriculture is the single largest employer in the world, employing 40 per cent of the global population. • Agronomy is the science of soil management and crop production. TALENT SEARCH STUDY MATERIAL –CLASS VIII Page 37 • Hay Farming: Hay farms produce grass and other forage crops that are used for livestock feed. • TISCO- Established in 1907, it is India's largest private-sector steel company and the first to be set up in Asia. • Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) was founded by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata. • The three-sector model in economics divides economies into three sectors of activity: extraction of raw materials (primary), manufacturing (secondary), and service industries which exist to facilitate the transport, distribution and sale of goods produced in the secondary sector (tertiary). • Primary sector includes mining and quarrying, poultry farming, fishing, animal husbandry, agriculture, forestry. Secondary sector includes manufacturing activities. Tertiary sector activities include insurance, services, tourism, health, education, banking, communication, transport, trade. CIVICS • Minimum age required to contest for Presidentship is 35 years. • Chief Justice of India acts as the President of India when neither the President nor the Vice President is available. • The first general election held in India in 1951,-52 • The president of India is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. • India is a federal union comprising twenty-nine states and 8 union territories • The President is responsible for appointing the governors of the 28 states; the chief justice; other judges of the court. According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court can have 1 Chief Justice and 34 other judges. • The vice president is the second-highest constitutional position in India after the president. • The Supreme Court is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal under the Constitution of India. • The Finance minister of India usually presents the annual union budget in the parliament on the last working day of February. • Lord Cornwallis is considered as the ‘Father of Indian Civil Services’.