Colonialism is usually defined as the practice where one country:
(a)Trades freely with another
(b)Sends students abroad
(c)Takes control of another region, establishes settlements and imposes its systems
(d)Signs peace treaties
The Colonial Era in India — Class 8 Social Science Practice Questions
Free practice questions for CBSE Class 8 Social Science, Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India, aligned with the NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Grade 8, Part 1). Pick the marks and difficulty you want and download a printable PDF worksheet with an answer key — free, with no login and no ads.
265 questions120 MCQs22 True/False8 Assertion–Reason10 Case-based35 × 2 marks30 × 3 marks15 × 4 marks15 × 5 marks
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Topics covered
- British: Traders to Rulers (40)
- Changing Landscapes (36)
- Rebellion of 1857 (33)
- Portuguese (24)
- Famines (24)
- Early Resistance (24)
- Age of Colonialism (17)
- French (16)
- Drain of Wealth (16)
- Legacy (10)
- Dutch (8)
- India before Colonialism (7)
Sample questions with answers
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(c) Takes control of another region, establishes settlements and imposes its systems
The 'Age of Colonialism' usually refers to Europe's expansion from the:
(a)10th century onward
(b)15th century onward
(c)18th century onward
(d)20th century onward
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(b) 15th century onward
State whether True or False: Colonialism began only in the 15th century.
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False. It can be traced to the great empires of the 1st millennium BCE; the 'Age of Colonialism' refers to Europe's expansion from the 15th century.
Assertion (A): European powers were attracted to India.
Reason (R): India was a vibrant economic powerhouse contributing about one-fourth of world GDP.
Reason (R): India was a vibrant economic powerhouse contributing about one-fourth of world GDP.
(a)Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b)Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c)Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(d)Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Give two reasons why European nations undertook colonial campaigns.
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Any two: political competition between European powers for territory and influence; economic gains — resources, markets, trade routes and plunder; converting people to Christianity; scientific inquiry.
Describe India's economic position before the arrival of the Europeans.
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(1) India traded with Greeks and Romans; spices, cotton, ivory, gems, sandalwood, teak and wootz steel were in demand.
(2) Until the 16th century it contributed at least one-fourth of world GDP (Maddison) — one of the two largest economies with China.
(3) European travellers called India 'flourishing', noting its manufacturing, agriculture and trade networks — which made it a target of colonial ambition.
(2) Until the 16th century it contributed at least one-fourth of world GDP (Maddison) — one of the two largest economies with China.
(3) European travellers called India 'flourishing', noting its manufacturing, agriculture and trade networks — which made it a target of colonial ambition.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
The Battle of Plassey (1757) exemplifies the 'divide and rule' approach. When tensions arose between Siraj-ud-daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and the East India Company officials led by Robert Clive, the latter identified disgruntled elements within the Nawab's court. Clive hatched a conspiracy with Mir Jafar, the Nawab's military commander, promising to install him as the new Nawab in exchange for his betrayal.
(i) Who was the Nawab of Bengal at the time? [1 mark]
(ii) What did Clive promise Mir Jafar? [1 mark]
(iii) How did the British win despite smaller numbers, and what did they gain? [2 marks]
The Battle of Plassey (1757) exemplifies the 'divide and rule' approach. When tensions arose between Siraj-ud-daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and the East India Company officials led by Robert Clive, the latter identified disgruntled elements within the Nawab's court. Clive hatched a conspiracy with Mir Jafar, the Nawab's military commander, promising to install him as the new Nawab in exchange for his betrayal.
(i) Who was the Nawab of Bengal at the time? [1 mark]
(ii) What did Clive promise Mir Jafar? [1 mark]
(iii) How did the British win despite smaller numbers, and what did they gain? [2 marks]
Show answer
(i) Siraj-ud-daulah.
(ii) To install him as the new Nawab of Bengal.
(iii) Mir Jafar's forces — the majority of the Nawab's army — stood aside; the British became kingmakers and later won revenue rights over Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.
(ii) To install him as the new Nawab of Bengal.
(iii) Mir Jafar's forces — the majority of the Nawab's army — stood aside; the British became kingmakers and later won revenue rights over Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.
'The British takeover of India was gradual, calculated and often disguised as commercial enterprise.' Explain.
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(1) Charter and pretence: royal charter (Elizabeth I) with power to raise armies, yet agents posed as traders; posts at Surat, Madras, Bombay, Calcutta.
(2) Divide and rule: took sides in rivalries and succession disputes; exploited religious tensions.
(3) Plassey (1757): Clive's conspiracy with Mir Jafar; the Company became kingmaker and won revenue rights over Bengal, Bihar, Odisha.
(4) Doctrine of Lapse: annexed states lacking a natural male heir.
(5) Subsidiary alliances: Residents and British troops paid for by rulers — 'an empire on the cheap'; by 1858 the Crown took direct control.
(2) Divide and rule: took sides in rivalries and succession disputes; exploited religious tensions.
(3) Plassey (1757): Clive's conspiracy with Mir Jafar; the Company became kingmaker and won revenue rights over Bengal, Bihar, Odisha.
(4) Doctrine of Lapse: annexed states lacking a natural male heir.
(5) Subsidiary alliances: Residents and British troops paid for by rulers — 'an empire on the cheap'; by 1858 the Crown took direct control.
All Class 8 Social Science chapters
- Ch 1Natural Resources and Their Use218 Qs
- Ch 2Reshaping India’s Political Map255 Qs
- Ch 3The Rise of the Marathas271 Qs
- Ch 4The Colonial Era in India265 Qs
- Ch 5Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System241 Qs
- Ch 6The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive246 Qs
- Ch 7Factors of Production230 Qs
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