ICSE Class 11 History — Flashcards for Quick Revision

A: They wanted an easier way to move raw materials from the interior to ports and to send British goods into Indian markets. Better transport also helped expand trade and colonial control.

A: Railways were introduced because road and river transport were too slow and unreliable for trade. Railways could move goods quickly, link ports with interior markets, and serve British economic and im

A: Lord William Bentinck first turned attention to transport improvement. He ordered the Calcutta-U.P. trunk road, improved river transport between Calcutta and Assam, and reduced customs duty on British

A: Jyotirau Phule was a pioneer reformer of Maharashtra. Born in 1827 at Poona in a malakar or florist family, he worked for women, depressed classes, and against caste oppression. He started a girls' sc

A: The girls' school started at Poona in 1851 became the centre of the female education movement under Phule. It showed that education for girls was a major part of social reform and challenged orthodox

A: The Satya Shodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotirau Phule to direct his anti-Brahmin movement. It aimed to challenge Brahmanical superiority, oppose caste injustice, and support social equality for depres

A: Indian indigo was in wide demand in Europe as a dye for colouring cotton fabrics produced in machines. This made indigo cultivation profitable for European planters.

A: Retired army officers of the Company and planters who migrated from America started indigo plantations in Bengal and Bihar. They bought land and used it for profitable indigo cultivation.

A: Peasants were forced to cultivate indigo instead of paddy or wheat. This reduced food production and caused food shortage in peasant homes.