Introduction: How When and Where Class 8 Notes: CBSE History (Our Past-III) Chapter 1

The Place of Dates in History

As discussed above, history tells us about how the world looked in the past and how it looks now. So, there is a comparison between the past and the present. As soon as we establish any kind of relationship between ‘now’ and ‘then,’ we have to skip the timelines and periods out of the picture. For example, today you are 15 years old but how do you know that? It is because you know the history of your birth. It is due to your knowledge that 15 years ago you took birth so you know you are 15 years old today.

Precise Date vs A Period of Time

If you pick up any history book, you will find two ways of talking about a time in history. First, you will see the precise dates on which certain incidents happened. Then there are the timelines during which something began to happen.

Ask your mother exactly when you started speaking. Your mother will obviously say that it was a long process. You did not just start speaking fluently one fine morning. You learn one word, then two, three, and so on. Similarly, in Europe, industrialisation did not happen at once. It was a process that spanned over the years. So, we say that the first industrial revolution started in the 18th century and we have no exact date.

Traditional history uses exact dates. Traditional historical discourse takes big events like the coronation of the king, start or end of a war, the birth of somebody famous etc. as the standard against which the events of these periods are told. Because a decisive battle was fought between the Indian King Hemu and the Mughal forces.

The Demerits of the Date-Based History

Traditional date-based history has a severe flaw in that it takes major incidents like wars, the coronation of a king etc. as the focal points and then talks about the incidents surrounding these focal points. But history is not made up of these big incidents alone. It is made up of the actions of ordinary people like you and us. Traditional history has no place for these ordinary laymen. Neither does this kind of history show things in different perspectives.

For example, when history talks about the Second Battle of Panipat, it tells the story of how the Mughal forces won Delhi after defeating Hemu. But it does not tell us a thing about how he had driven the Mughals out of Delhi to Lahore and how he had captured the entire Gangetic Plains in less than a year. He also ruled Delhi and issued coins in his name, as Hemchandra Vikramaditya. 

Who Gets to Decide Which Dates are Important?

History is filled with dates and years. It is not feasible to talk about each one of them. So, who decides which year is important and which year isn’t? If a country is ruled by foreigners, they will try to tell its history from their point of view. It is only when the countrymen take the responsibility of telling their own history that we get the real picture.

The history book talks about how the history of India written from a British perspective tends to give importance to the years that mark the rule of various governor-generals of British India. All the other dates were considered secondary.

Let us take another example. In the higher classes, you will read about the Independence of America - how it fought against the British. But did you know that the Americans were mostly the British and European settlers? Before these settlers came to America, it was inhabited by the Native Americans.

A Vox article rightly says that if the foreign settlers had not forcibly marginalised the Native Americans - depriving them of their own land, it is the Native Americans who would have built the nation-state that we call America today. The history of North America has ignored the existence of Native Americans. 

Which Periods are Important?

As we said, we cannot use dates everywhere. So, we use periods. Here too, we have the same problem of deciding what historical incidents we should use to mark the start and end of a particular period.

James Mill, a historian who supported British rule in India, divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods. The assumption was, that during the reign of the Hindu and Muslim rulers, India was in the dark ages. It is the British rulers who pulled India out of the darkness. The ancient Sanskrit language is deeply intertwined with Mathematics.

Then there is the question, why should we categorise periods based on religions? There are many aspects of history apart from the religious angles.

To banish this bias, modern historians started dividing Indian history into ancient, medieval, and modern. However the Indian civilization did not advance chronologically. It was during the so-called ‘ancient’ times that the Indians were at the prime of socio-political growth.

Only when the British came into the so-called modern age did India plunge into darkness. So, this chronological way of periodicity is wrong.

The Colonial Period

Because India plunged into darkness during British rule, modern historians refuse to term that age as the modern age. The British came to India and sucked the very life force of the country reducing it to a poor, socially divided nation.

During their 190 years of rule, they replaced the Indian customs, culture, language and even the thought process with their own versions. To this date, we shake hands when we greet people.

When a country subjects another country to forceful rule leading to an annihilation of the local culture, traditions, language, customs, and the original thought process - we call that colonialism. That is exactly what happened when the British came to India.

Where Do Historians Get the Info?

Historical incidents of the last 250 years had the fortune of being written down. So, what are the sources of this historical info?

Official Documents

The British were of the opinion that every instruction, plan, execution of the plan, research etc. should be written down so that these things could be studied and analysed in the future.

So, every government department in the British Raj - like the courts or the village Tahsildar’s office made it a point to create documents stating their works and plans.

Surveys

The surveys of the topography, number of people in a region, density of forests, number of people belonging to a particular religion or gender etc. produced historically significant records.

Then there were archaeological, Zoological, or Botanical surveys. However, official documents were official. These documents spoke the language of the government. The lives of ordinary people, tribal and marginalised, were never in the focus.

Periodisation of Indian History into Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Periods

Apart from the classification of history by the British, historians have divided Indian history into three other subdivisions. These include the following.

1. Ancient

2. Medieval and 

3. Modern

However, this division had a number of problems and drawbacks. This classification of the periods in Indian history has the idea borrowed from the West, where the modern period was characterised by the growth and development of all the forces of modernity. These forces include science, reason, liberty, democracy, equality, etc.

‘Ancient’ refers to a very old period of history that witnessed very negligible advancement. The term ‘Mediaeval’ was used to describe a society which lacked the existence or prevalence of the features of modern society. However,  the features of the modern period of history were non-existent in India during British rule. Indians at that time did not have equality, freedom, or liberty. There was no growth or progress in trade or India's economy. Hence, many historians refer to the British period as colonial.

When, Where, and How Class 8 Summary 

In 1817, a British writer named James Mill published a three-part book with the title A History of British India. In his book, James Mill divided Indian history into three parts. The Hindu, Muslim, and British. According to Mill, every Asian community has a lower level of civilization than the people living in European countries. In his book, he described before Britishers came to India, Hindu and Muslim disputes used to rule the country. You can see the religious intolerance among the different communities. Also, there was an issue of caste taboo and the practising of the superstitions which dominated the social life of the people living in India.

In his writing, he said that during the British rule, the Indian community became more civilised. His vision of Indian history with Britisher was meant to be progressive and civilised.

5 Important Topics of Class 8 Chapter 1 Introduction: How When and Where

Importance of Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 1 Introduction: How When and Where Revision Notes 

• The notes have been prepared by the experts keeping in mind the need for quick and effective revision.

• The entire Chapter has been provided in short and crisp paragraphs and bulleted lists. These will help students revise the entire lesson without having to read through the entire Chapter.

• The revision notes PDF can be downloaded from this page for free and referred to at the student’s convenience before the exam.

• The notes simplify complex concepts related to timelines, historical records, and the methodology used by historians, making it easier for students to understand.

• Using these notes helps students study more efficiently, saving time and making their study sessions more productive

Tips for Learning the Class 8 History Chapter 1 Introduction: How When and Where

• Focus on how timelines are used to organize historical events. Visualize a timeline to grasp the sequence and importance of different events.

• Familiarise yourself with key terms like "chronology," "historical sources," and "periodization." Knowing these terms will help you understand how historians study the past.

• Understand how historians gather and interpret evidence. Learn about primary and secondary sources and their significance in studying History.

• After reading each section of the Chapter, write a brief summary in your own words. This will help reinforce your understanding and make it easier to recall key points.

• Work on past exam questions related to the Chapter. This will help you apply what you’ve learned and get familiar with the exam format.

Conclusion

How, When, and Where,' Chapter 1 of CBSE Class 8 History, takes us on a remarkable journey through India's historical landscape. This chapter has unravelled the complexities of our nation's past, shedding light on the pivotal events, rulers, and transitions that have shaped our diverse and culturally rich country. Our free PDF download notes have been a valuable resource, offering a comprehensive understanding of the historical context and helping students appreciate the significance of India's past. As we continue our historical exploration, let's carry forward the knowledge gained and delve deeper into the fascinating tapestry of our nation's history.

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