History Test - 38

Archaeological findings such as Mesopotamian seals and Harappan goods in Mesopotamia indicate active long-distance trade between the two civilizations.

The Harappans created intricate seals, beads, and finely crafted pottery, showcasing their advanced skills in art and craftsmanship.

Historians and archaeologists have suggested that factors such as climatic shifts, foreign invasions, or natural calamities like floods might have led to the decline of the Harappan civilization.

On the pretext of misrule, the British had annexed Awadh in 1856. During the 1857 Revolt, after heavy fighting and use of military power on a gigantic scale, the British brought Awadh region under its control by March 1858.

In June 1858, the Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai, died while fighting the British.

Awadh was one of the friendly states of the British that played a great role in the expansion of East India Company in India. It was one of the subsidiary states of the company. However, the British wanted to annex it, Lord Dalhousie once described it as, 'A cherry that will fall in our mouth one day'. The annexation of Awadh, on the false plea of misrule, was regarded as a betrayal by the people of Awadh.

Situated 37 kms from the district headquarters Agra, Fatehpur Sikri itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar, serving this role from 1571 to 1585, when Akbar abandoned it due to a campaign in Punjab and was later completely abandoned in 1610.

The most important jins-i-kamil were cotton, oilseeds and sugarcane. Cotton was cultivated in Central. India and the highlands of Deccan. Bengal was famous for sugarcane. Pulses and oil seeds like mustard also were considered cash crops. It shows there was a mixture of food crops and cash crops in the country.

Reason for Clearing Forests:

• The British felt that forests had to be cleared in order to make way for agricultural land.
• They believed that clearing forests would lead to economic development and increase agricultural productivity.
• Forests were seen as obstacles to progress and colonization, so they were cleared to make room for settlements and infrastructure.

Impact of Clearing Forests:

• Clearing forests had a detrimental impact on the environment, leading to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
• It also disrupted the ecosystem and affected the livelihoods of indigenous communities who depended on the forests for their survival.
• Deforestation contributed to soil erosion, loss of habitat for wildlife, and changes in climate patterns.

Long-term Consequences:

• Clearing forests without sustainable practices has led to long-term environmental degradation and challenges such as desertification and climate change.
• It is important to consider the consequences of deforestation and implement conservation efforts to protect and restore forests for future generations.

Collector of Bhagalpur

• Collector: Augustus Cleveland

Detailed Solution

• Role of Collector: In the British colonial administration, the Collector was a senior official in charge of the district administration.
• Augustus Cleveland: He was a British colonial administrator who served as the Collector of Bhagalpur during the British rule in India.
• Responsibilities: The Collector was responsible for the collection of revenue, maintenance of law and order, and overall administration of the district.
• Significance: The role of the Collector was crucial in the British administrative system as they were the link between the British government and the local population.