NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Part 1

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Part 1 are made available by Gradeup school in an easy to understand language. These solutions for Class 8 History Part 1 are helpful in providing students with easy tips and tricks to prepare for the exam. Since NCERT History Class 8 Solutions are well organized, they enable students to develop a sort of liking for the subject. Also, these solutions play an effective role in helping students target each topic specifically and prepare it in a proper way.

The syllabus for the CBSE Class 8 History is vast and therefore it gets important for students to understand and learn each chapter in an ideal way. Thus, by utilizing our NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Part 1 you can approach your exam preparation in a methodical way. So, once you read these solutions, you can get hold of the difficult topics quite easily and master them effectively. This would certainly help you better your performance in the exam and score good marks.

NCERT History (Part 1) Class 8 - All Chapters

The Solutions for the Class 8 History Part 1 are explained explicitly and comprise mostly all the questions that may appear in the exam. Every topic from each chapter is explained in the format of question-answer which depicts the quick learning of the concepts. Thus, having the question and answers readily available for specific topics makes it quite easier to revise the chapter in quick time. Moreover, the answers and solutions for each chapter are provided list-wise which helps students to browse them as per their preparation needs.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History (Chapter-Wise Description)

Chapter 1: How, When, Where

In Chapter 1 you will learn about the important dates of history. There was a time when people used to argue related to rulers and their battles and were interested in knowing the dates of the events. All these kinds of history questions take us back to the notions of time.

Moving further, you will learn about the criteria on which we select the important dates to remember. People generally focus on the important events that occurred in history and not any of the specific dates. Also, a philosopher James Mill divided the history of India into three periods- Hindu, British and Muslim. 

The process of colonisation refers to the subjugation of one country by another, leading to political, cultural, social and economic changes. Moreover, you will study the different writing sources of historians, which were records produced by the administration, surveys, and officials. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• How important are Dates?
• How do we know?
• What is Colonial?

Type of Questions:  Solve short and long answer type questions, true or false provided at the end of Chapter 1 of NCERT History book Class 8. 

Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory

Chapter 2 deals with the impact of Britishers, their trade services and then how they conquer the territories of India. The invention of East India Company in 1600 made other Mercantile trading companies lose their grip over the market. The excellent qualities of silk and cotton had a huge market in Europe. 

Then, the first English factory was established in the banks of the river Hugli in 1651. The “factors”, Company traders operated from that base. The early eighteenth century led to the conflict between the company and the kings of Bengal. After that, the Company used economic, political and diplomatic methods to extend its influence in India. 

Later, you will learn that Company set up its administrative units called Presidencies in Bengal, Madras and Bombay. Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of the colonial rule. Thus, the chapter deals with the transformation of the East India Company from a trading company to a colonial territorial power. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• East India Company Comes East
• Company Rules Expands
• Setting up a new Administration
• Conclusion

Type of Questions:  At the end of the chapter, attempt match the following, fill in the blanks, true or false and short & long answer type questions. 

Chapter 3: Ruling the Countryside

In Chapter 3 of NCERT History Class 8, you will learn how the Company came to colonise the countryside, organise revenue resources, produce the crops they wanted and redefine the rights of people. The Company, after becoming the Diwan increased revenue, improved agriculture, introduced Munro system, and Mahalwari settlement. 

Then, by the late eighteenth century, the Company expanded the cultivation of opium and indigo and also forced cultivators to produce the crops they wanted for Europe. The demand for the indigo increased and with two main systems called Nij & Ryoti, indigo cultivated. The systems destroyed the land completely that sowing of rice was not possible again.

Moving ahead, thousands of Ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo, and cultivators and zamindars started a Blue Rebellion. The government sympathy with the Ryots plight and Queen Victoria put an end to the cultivation of indigo. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• The Company becomes the Diwan
• Crops for Europe
• The Blue Rebellion and After

Type of Questions: Attempt short & long answer type questions, fill in the blanks and match the following. 

Chapter 4: Tribals, Dikus, and the Vision of a Golden Age

Chapter 4 covers all the important topics related to Dikus or outsiders, how did they enslave people, what happened to tribal people under British rule among others. The lesson begins with the introduction of tribal people living in different parts of India, involved in a variety of activities. They practised jhum cultivation, became hunters and gatherers, herded animals, and used settled cultivation. 

Proceeding further, you will read about how the lives of tribal people changed during British rule. The tribal chiefs were considered important people and enjoyed certain economic power and administrative power. But the intervention of British rule led them to follow the rules made by the British. 

Then, Britishers also denied shifting cultivation, changed the forests laws, the problem with trading, and the nature of the job was changed for tribals. The tea plantation and mining became an essential industry-leading tribal people to work at low wages.  

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• How did Tribal groups live?
• How did Colonial Rule affect Tribal Lives?

Type of Questions: Fill in the blanks, true or false and short & long answer type questions. Refer NCERT Solutions History Class 8 for complete answers to the questions. 

Chapter 5: When People Rebel

In the previous chapters, you studied about the different policies that Britishers imposed on the people and their effect on the people. Starting with the Nawabs, in the mid-eighteenth century, nawabs and rajas lost their power, authority and honour. 

The Britishers then reformed the Indian society and abolished the practice of Sati. After that, a large number of people rose up against the Company, and the development started in the northern parts of India in 1857. 

As people continued to resist and the British had to fight for two years to suppress the popular rebellion. Then by the end of 1859, the British has regained control of the country but cannot rule the country with the same policies. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• Policies and the people
• Through the eyes of the people
• A Mutiny becomes a popular rebellion
• The Company fights back
• Aftermath

Type of Questions: Attempt short and long answer type questions provided at the end of chapter 5 of NCERT Class 8 History.   

Chapter 6: Colonialism and the City

NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 6 discusses the various changes in the cities under colonial rule. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta rose as presidency cities while some smaller cities declined under colonial rule. Also, study the concept of the making of New Delhi. 

Then, after 1857, the British broke down all the forts of the Mughal and established railways to expand city beyond the walls. After that, Britishers called two architects to design New Delhi and its buildings. Further, the partition of India in 1947 led to a huge transfer of people from Pakistan to India and vice versa. 

Moving forward, you will study the insides of the cities and how the structure of the cities changed under the rule of Britishers. The big havelis in which Mughals used to live was completely declined and formed as shops or warehouses by Britishers.  

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• What happened to cities under Colonial rule?

1. The making of New Delhi
2. Demolishing Past
3. Planning a new capital
4. Life in the time of Partition

• Inside the old city

1. The decline of old havelis
2. The municipality begins to plan 

Type of Questions: Short & long answer type questions, true or false, fill in the blanks. 

Chapter 7: Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners

The chapter covers the story of Indian crafts and industries during the British rule. They focussed mainly on two industries- textiles and steel & iron industries. Further, this chapter will explore the effect of British industrialists on Indian crafts and industries. 

Then, in 1750, India became the world’s largest producer of cotton textiles, and soon European trading companies for business in Europe started buying Indian textiles. Also, weavers, the communities that were specialized in weaving like Tanti weavers of Bengal, Momin weavers of North India are discussed in the chapter. 

Then, the development of British cotton industries affected Indian industries in several ways. Moreover, topics like cotton mills in India, the sword of Tipu Sultan & Wootz steel are described correctly. Later, in 1912, TISCO came up producing steel and soon became the biggest steel industry within the British empire. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• Indian textiles and the world market

1. Words tell us histories
2. Indian textiles in European markets
3. Weavers
4. The decline of Indian textiles

• The sword of Tipu Sultan and Wootz Steel

Type of Questions: Fill in the blanks, true or false, short and long answer type questions. 

Chapter 8: Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation

In this NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 8, you will study the impact of British on education. The lesson explores how Britishers wanted to civilise the native and change the customs and traditions of people.  

Then, Britishers introduced the tradition of Orientalism in which they studied ancient Indian texts on different subjects and shared their knowledge with others. As many opposed Orientalism program, so an Act of 1835 was introduced through which English education was promoted in Indian schools.  The education of trade & commerce also expanded to develop the resources of the country. 

Later, the British in 1854 improved the system of vernacular education in which they formed all-new rules for the schools as well as students. During the nineteenth century, many Indian thinkers supported Britishers for their involvement in the education system but others like Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore reacted against their interference as they believed that English education enslaved Indians. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• How the British saw education?
• What happened to local schools?
• The agenda for a National education

Type of Questions: Attempt short & long answer type questions, match the following and true or false.  

Chapter 9: Women, Caste and Reform

The period of the early nineteenth century saw the debates and discussion related to social reforms which are briefly discussed in this chapter. Indian reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy introduced various reforms such as promoting western education, freedom for all etc.  

Many Indian reformers supported widow remarriage and the decline of Sati, so then in 1856, a law was passed permitting widow remarriages. Also, education for girls was another important argument led by reformers. The law against child marriage was also formed to protect children. 

Moving ahead, social reformers also criticised caste inequalities. People began organizing movements for caste discrimination and also demanded social equality and justice. Also, Ambedkar started a temple entry movement for lower caste people. The non-brahman movement introduced by non-brahmin people in which they demanded access to influence, wealth, and education.   

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• Working towards change

1. Changing the lives of widows
2. Girls education 

• Caste and Social reform

1. Demands for equality and justice
2. The non-brahman movement

Type of Questions: Solve short answer type questions and long answer type questions. 

Chapter 10: The Changing World of Visual Arts

Chapter 10 covers different forms of arts during the eighteenth century. When European artists visited India, they brought all new techniques of painting like an oil painting to India. Indian artists instantly adopted new methods of paintings.

Tipu Sultan, Court of Mysore refused those new forms and encouraged Mural paintings. But with the start of the nineteenth century, new forms of Indian art developed in various parts of the country.  With the Nationalism, many painters attempted to develop an art style, including both modern and Indian traits. 

Later, Ravi Verma, a member of the royal house of Travancore, introduced western oil paintings with realistic life style and scenes from Indian mythology. After that, nationalist artists turned down Ravi Verma’s style and moved to medieval Indian traditions and the ancient art of Mural Paintings. 

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• New reforms of Imperial Art
• What happened to the Court Artists
• New Popular Indian Art
• A different vision of national Art

Type of Questions: At the end of the chapter, you will find fill in the blanks, true or false, short & long answer type questions to attempt. 

Chapter 11: The Making of the National Movement: 1870s- 1947

The chapter begins with the introduction of the Nationalism and what led the people to start the National Movement. The reformers asked people to become sovereign- a key feature of nationalism. The dissatisfaction from the British rule and the racial attitudes of the British needed Indians to unite against colonial rule. 

After 1919, a mass movement was led by Indians against the British rule. Then Mahatma Gandhi called the Satyagraha movement against the Rowlatt Act, which Britishers passed. Also, Gandhi declared the march to break the salt law, which was termed as Dandi March.  

Later, in this chapter, you will read about the quit India movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and many people were arrested and killed by Britishers. Then towards the independence, a partition movement was introduced by Muslims, and soon Muslims were seen as a separate nation called Pakistan.  

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• The emergence of Nationalism
• The growth of Mass Nationalism
• The March to Dandi
• Quit India and later

Type of Questions: Solve short & long answer type questions provided at the NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 11. 

Chapter 12: India After Independence

The struggles and hardship of so many years led India towards independence on 15th August 1947. The new and divided nation then faced a lot of challenges such as a problem of refugees, adoption of the political system, population, poverty, unity between Hindu-Muslim, among others. 

Then, the Constitution of India was written providing equal freedom to each caste and religion. Hindi was officially announced as official language, and B.R Ambedkar was declared “Father of Indian Constitution”. Also, different states were formed under the rule of the Indian National Congress. 

Moving ahead, you will study in NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 12 about the Mixed Economy under which both private and public sectors would work together for economic development. Later after sixty years on 15th August 2007, India celebrated its sixty years of freedom and stated its failure and success and achievements.   

List of Topics in the Chapter:

• A new and divided Nation
• A Constitution is written
• How were stated to be formed?
• Planning for development
• The Nation, sixty years on

Type of Questions: Fill in the blanks, true or false, short answer type questions and long answer type questions. 

Benefits of NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Part 1

• These solutions are prepared by expert teachers after conducting extensive research
• Follows the updated syllabus of the CBSE, hence enables students to prepare better
• Using our NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Part 1, you can focus on each chapter individually and prepare better
• The Solutions are easy to remember which makes it easier to perform better in the exam
• By practicing the NCERT History Part 1 Class 8 Solutions you can make your basics clear
• These solutions are available free of cost and can be accessed easily from the website/app

Final Words

Goprep suggests you refer to the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Part 1 to prepare important topics and improve your exam performance. So, what are you waiting for? Access these solutions free of cost and start preparing for the exam in the right direction.