Industrialisation and Modern World
Industrialisation and Modern World
I. The Pre-Modern World
A. Early Global Connections
The Pre-Modern World
| Aspect | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Time frame | Before 18th century (before large-scale industrialisation) |
| Main system | Trade based on human/animal power, winds, and seasonal routes |
| Key regions | Asia, Europe, Africa connected through land and sea routes |
| Indian role | India was a major exporter of cotton textiles, spices, indigo and handicrafts |
- World connected through caravan routes and sea routes long before modern technology.
- Trade and migration existed using camels, horses, sailing ships and river systems.
- Markets were regional but interconnected through long-distance networks.
- Major trading cities: Calicut, Surat, Masulipatnam, Constantinople, Samarkand.
Memory Line: Pre-modern world = Slow transport + Wind power + Regional production + Interconnected trade routes.
Exam Trap: Do NOT confuse pre-modern trade speed with modern industrial trade – it was slow and seasonal.
Silk Routes Link the World
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Time period | Around 600 BCE to 15th century |
| Main regions connected | China, India, Central Asia, West Asia, Europe |
| Main goods | Silk, spices, textiles, precious stones, metals |
| Non-material exchange | Religion (Buddhism, Christianity), culture, technologies |
- Not a single road – a network of land and sea routes.
- Silk was the most famous luxury item traded from China.
- Indian ports like Tamralipta and Sopara were connected to this network.
Memory Line: Silk Routes = Goods + Ideas + Religions + Cultures moving between East and West.
Exam Trap: Silk Routes were NOT only about silk. They enabled spread of Buddhism and Islam.
Trade Links Between Asia, Europe and Africa
| Connector | Function |
|---|---|
| Indian Ocean Network | Sea trade between East Africa, India and Southeast Asia |
| Arab Traders | Main middlemen between Asian and European markets |
| Red Sea & Persian Gulf | Key routes linking Mediterranean and Indian Ocean |
- Spices from India and Southeast Asia were highly valued in Europe.
- Africa supplied gold and slaves via trans-Saharan routes.
- Indian cotton textiles dominated global markets till 18th century.
Memory Line: Asia = Spices & textiles, Africa = Gold & slaves, Europe = Silver & finished demand.
Exam Trap: Do not think Europe was always dominant. Before 1750, Asia controlled global trade.
Movement of Goods, People and Ideas Before Modern Technology
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Goods | Spices, textiles, ivory, gold, tea |
| People | Traders, pilgrims, soldiers, travelers |
| Ideas | Religions, scientific knowledge, farming methods |
- Caravans and sailing ships were main transport modes.
- Religious travels: Buddhist monks to China, Arab scholars to India.
- Knowledge like paper-making moved from China to Europe.
Memory Line: Before machines: Humans + Animals + Wind + Rivers powered movement.
Exam Trap: Avoid stating that ideas spread mainly through modern internet/press in pre-modern times.
II. The 19th Century World Economy (1815–1914)
A. Formation of a Global Economy
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Industrial Revolution (Britain) | Created mass production system |
| Colonial expansion | Raw material supply and markets ensured |
| Free trade policies | Integrated global markets |
- Europe became industrial hub; colonies became raw material sources.
- India exported raw cotton and imported British clothes.
- Global trade volume increased rapidly after 1850.
Memory Line: 19th century world economy = Factories in Europe + raw materials from colonies.
Exam Trap: Integration of world economy ≠ equal benefit. Colonies were exploited.
Spread of Industrial Goods and Raw Materials Trade
| Industrial goods | Raw materials |
|---|---|
| Textile machines | Cotton from India |
| Railway equipment | Rubber from Africa |
| Metal goods | Tea & coffee from colonies |
- Colonies forced to cultivate cash crops.
- Traditional industries declined in many regions including India.
Memory Line: Europe made goods, colonies gave resources.
Exam Trap: Do not claim that colonies benefited economically from raw material exports.
B. Role of Technology
| Technology | Role |
|---|---|
| Steamships | Faster sea transport not dependent on wind |
| Railways | Linked interior areas to ports |
| Telegraph | Instant communication across continents |
- Railways in India started in 1853 (Bombay to Thane).
- Reduced transport cost dramatically.
- Helped British control colonies more efficiently.
Memory Line: 3 Tools of global trade: Steamships + Railways + Telegraph.
Exam Trap: Do not ignore India’s role in railway expansion under British rule.
C. Later 19th Century Colonialism
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Main powers | Britain, France, Germany, Belgium |
| Objective | Control over raw materials and markets |
| Regions affected | Africa, Asia, Latin America |
- Scramble for Africa after 1880s.
- India became the largest British colony.
- Colonial economies served European industries.
Memory Line: 19th century colonialism = Resource control + Market expansion.
Exam Trap: Differentiate old colonial trade (pre-1750) and new imperialism (post-1850).
III. The Cattle Plague and Its Impact
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|---|
| Year | 1890s |
| Region | Africa |
| Disease | Rinderpest (cattle plague) |
- The cattle plague and its spread
- Destroyed nearly 90% of African cattle.
- Led to famine, poverty and social breakdown.
- Helped European colonizers to expand control over weakened societies.
- Destruction of African economy and society
- Impact on colonial expansion and trade
Memory Line: Cattle plague = Disease → Famine → Collapse → Colonial expansion.
Exam Trap: Do not confuse cattle plague with human epidemics like plague.
IV. The Inter-War World Economy
A. Inter-War Economic Crisis
- The inter-war economy
- Economic instability after World War-I.
- Period: Between World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945).
- Global economic instability due to war debts and inflation.
- Many countries faced unemployment and trade shutdown.
Memory Line: Inter-war period = War damage + Debt + Economic instability.
Exam Trap: Inter-war economy is different from Great Depression (which starts in 1929).
B. The Great Depression and India
| Sector | Impact |
|---|---|
| Farmers | Crop prices fell, heavy debt increased |
| Industrial workers | Factories closed, unemployment increased |
| Trade | Exports of jute, cotton reduced |
- The Great Depression
- Effects of the Great Depression on India
- Started in 1929 in the USA.
- Indian agricultural prices fell by nearly 50%.
- Colonial government did not reduce taxes much.
- Impact on: Farmers, Industrial workers, Trade and finance
Memory Line: Great Depression = Price fall + Unemployment + Farmer crisis.
Exam Trap: Remember Indian farmers suffered most due to fixed revenue system.
V. Rebuilding a World Economy
| Institution | Role |
|---|---|
| IMF | Stable international monetary system |
| World Bank | Reconstruction and development loans |
| UNO | Global cooperation and peace |
- Rebuilding the world economy after World War-II
- New international economic systems
- Recovery plans and global cooperation
- Marshall Plan (1947) helped rebuild Europe.
- New financial systems created to prevent future depressions.
- India became independent in 1947 during this phase.
Memory Line: Post-WWII = IMF + World Bank + Global recovery.
Exam Trap: Do not mix Marshall Plan with post-WW1 reconstruction.
VI. The Age of Industrialisation
A. Before the Industrial Revolution
- Life before industrialisation
- Production based on cottage and small-scale industries.
- Hand tools and human labour used.
- Family-based production system in India.
- Cottage industries
- Hand production system
Memory Line: Pre-industrial = Cottage + Hand tools + Family labour.
Exam Trap: Cottage industries existed even after machines were introduced.
B. The Industrial Revolution
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1760 | Beginning in Britain |
| 1780s | Steam engine used in industries |
| 1850s | Railways expand globally |
- Introduction of machines
- Factory system
- Steam power and mechanisation
- Machine-based mass production started.
- Factory system replaced cottage industries.
- Urban centers expanded due to factories.
Memory Line: Industrial Revolution = Machines + Factories + Steam power.
Exam Trap: Industrial revolution first started in Britain, not France or Germany.
C. The Pace of Industrial Change
- The pace of industrial change
- Growth of factories.
- Urbanisation and industrial towns.
D. The Age of Indian Textiles
| Phase | Impact |
|---|---|
| Before British rule | India was world leader in handloom textiles |
| During British rule | Raw cotton exported, machine cloth imported |
| Result | Decline of Indian textile industry |
- India as a major global textile producer
- Role of Indian handloom industry
- Impact of British industrial policies
- Decline of Indian textiles
- Dacca muslin and Surat silk were world famous.
- Colonial policies destroyed Indian weavers’ livelihoods.
- Swadeshi movement tried to revive Indian textiles.
Memory Line: Indian textiles: Global leader → Colonial decline → Swadeshi revival.
Exam Trap: British policies favored British mills, not Indian handlooms.
VII. The Print Culture and the Modern World
A. Rise of Print Technology
- Invention of printing
- Expansion of printed materials
- Printing press invented by Johannes Gutenberg (1430s).
- Books, newspapers, pamphlets spread knowledge rapidly.
- Boosted rise of modern education and political awareness.
Memory Line: Print = Knowledge spread + Literacy + Social awareness.
Exam Trap: Printing did not automatically bring equality; access varied.
B. Print and Social Change
- Role of print in spreading ideas
- Print and the spread of nationalism
- Impact on public opinion
C. Print Culture in India
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1556 | First printing press in Goa |
| 1780 | First newspaper: Bengal Gazette |
| 19th century | Growth of nationalist newspapers |
- Print helped spread freedom struggle ideas.
- Newspapers: Kesari, Amrita Bazar Patrika played key roles.
- Social reforms spread faster through print.
- Coming of print in India.
- Role of newspapers and journals.
- Print and the freedom struggle.
Memory Line: Indian print = Awareness + Nationalism + Social reform.
Exam Trap: Remember the first press came to Goa, not Bengal.