Class 10 Social Science - KERALA
History: The Age of Industrialisation
The chapter 'The Age of Industrialisation' in Class 10 Kerala SCERT Social Science explores the global and local transformation of production from handcrafts to machine-made goods. It details the dominance of proto-industrialisation, the rise of factory systems in Britain, and the devastating impact of colonial rule on traditional Indian industries like textiles. You will learn how Indian weavers faced exploitation by Gomasthas, the establishment of early Indian factories by entrepreneurs like Dwarkanath Tagore and J.N. Tata, and how advertisements played a crucial role in creating new markets. This chapter is vital for board exams as it tests analytical understanding of economic history and imperialism.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Proto-Industrialisation
A phase of industrial production in Europe before the factory system, where goods were produced by artisans in their homes for international markets, largely controlled by merchants.
Gomasthas
Paid servants appointed by the British East India Company to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth in India.
Spinning Jenny
A machine devised by James Hargreaves in 1764 that sped up the spinning process and reduced labor demand, sparking fear and protests among traditional hand spinners.
Industrialisation in India
A process where traditional Indian handloom industries declined due to cheap British Manchester imports, later followed by the growth of modern factories in regions like Bombay and Bengal.
Trade Guilds
Associations of producers that trained craftspeople, maintained control over production, restricted entry of new traders, and regulated prices in medieval towns.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Kerala SCERT Class 10 Social Science board examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions often include short answers about the impact of Manchester imports on Indian weavers, the role of Gomasthas, reasons for the preference of hand labor over machines in Victorian Britain, and source-based or paragraph questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did industrialists in Victorian Britain prefer hand labour over machines?
Machines required huge capital investment, were costly, and broke down frequently. In contrast, there was an abundance of cheap seasonal labour in Britain, especially in industries like bookbinding and gasworks where production depended on specific seasonal designs.
How did the East India Company establish monopoly control over Indian weavers?
The Company eliminated competing traders, prevented weavers from dealing with other buyers by using a system of advances, and appointed paid agents called Gomasthas to supervise and control them.
What role did advertisements play in the expansion of markets?
Advertisements made new products appear desirable and necessary, shaped people's minds, created new needs, and featured images of Indian gods and royalty to make foreign machine-made goods acceptable to Indian consumers.
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