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Revision Notes

Colonialism and the Countryside: Exploring Official Archives

Madhya Pradesh Board · Class 12 · History

Quick revision notes for Colonialism and the Countryside: Exploring Official Archives — Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 History. Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.

32 questions84 flashcards5 concepts

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A flowchart illustrating the chain of events and consequences of the English East India Company's revenue policies on different sections of rural society in Bengal and other regions.
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Key Topics to Revise

1

1. Bengal and the Permanent Settlement

  • The Permanent Settlement came into operation in Bengal in 1793.
  • It was introduced by Charles Cornwallis.
  • It fixed the revenue demand in perpetuity.
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2. Jotedars and Rural Power in Bengal

  • Jotedars were rich peasants who consolidated large landholdings, sometimes several thousand acres.
  • They controlled local trade and moneylending.
  • A large part of their land was cultivated by sharecroppers called adhiyars or bargadars.
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3. Paharias, Santhals, and the Rajmahal Hills

  • The Paharias lived around the Rajmahal hills.
  • They practised shifting cultivation using hoes.
  • They also hunted, gathered forest produce, and depended on forests for survival.
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4. Buchanan, Official Records, and the Problem of Sources

  • Francis Buchanan was a physician in the Bengal Medical Service from 1794 to 1815.
  • He served as surgeon to Governor-General Lord Wellesley.
  • He surveyed Rajmahal hills and Dinajpur for the Company.

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Key Concepts

The Bengal revenue system introducedUnder the Permanent SettlementRich peasants in Bengal who heldHill folk of the Rajmahal regionSettled plough agriculturists who migrated into

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Colonialism and the Countryside: Exploring Official Archives covers several key topics that are frequently asked in Madhya Pradesh Board Class 12 board exams. Focus on the core concepts listed on this page and practise related questions to build confidence.
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