Samacheer Class 8 Social Science - Urban Changes During the British Period

The network of railroads in India was introduced in 1853, marking a significant development in transportation and communication during the British period. Lord Ripon is rightly regarded as the Father of Local Self-Government in India because he introduced the Local Self-Government Act in 1882, which promoted democratic participation at local levels. The Government of India Act of 1919 introduced Dyarchy in the provinces, which was a system of dual governance where some subjects were controlled by elected representatives while others remained under British control. Sir Josiah Child was responsible for the formation of the corporation and the establishment of British trading posts in India. Francis Day and Andrew Cogan got permission to establish a factory cum trading post at Madrasapatnam in 1639, which eventually developed into the city of Madras, one of the major centers of British colonial power in India.

trade routes
2. The Presidency cities were earlier ……………….. Villages.
fishing and wearing
3. The port cities became prominent commercial areas with fall ……………….. buildings.
European – styled
4. The ……………….. were an entirely new kind of urban centre.
containment
5. ……………….. was a Mughal recreational centre.
Srinagar
6. ……………….. and ……………….. were Hindu religious centres.
Kedarnath, Badrinath
7. ……………….. was an alternative capital for Calcutta.
Ans: Darjeeling
8. ……………….. was an alternative for Delhi.
Dehradun
9. ……………….. was founded during the ……………….. war.
Simla, Gurkha
10. The chief of the Armagon factors was ……………….. .
Francis Day
11. The Government of India 1935 introduced …………………
Provincial Autonomy
12. The official interpreter of chandragiri was …………………
Beri Thimmappa
13. ……………….. was well protected from monsoon winds.
Masulipatnam .. f
14. In 1690, the English merchants founded a settlement at …………………
Sultanate
15. Srirangarayalu issued a new grant to English in 1645 called …………………
Srirangarayapatnam

Towns flourished since pre-historic times in India, with archaeological evidence showing the existence of well-planned cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley Civilization. The British acquired political control over India after the Battle of Plassey in 1757, which was a turning point in establishing British dominance in the subcontinent. Fort William is located in Calcutta, not Madras, and served as an important military and administrative center for the British. Army people began to live in cantonments during the British period, which were specially designed military settlements with European-style buildings and infrastructure. Madras was officially renamed as Chennai in 1996, not 1998, reflecting the shift towards using local language names for cities.

An urban area is one that has a high population density engaged in occupations other than food production, living in a highly built environment.

Hilly areas were few and had a small population and were often visited for specific purposes.

In the late 18th century Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras rose as Presidency cities.

Opening of Suez Canal
Introduction of steam navigation
Banking
Shipping and insurance

Since the British needed strong military camps and established the cantonment towns.
Army people began to live in these places and gradually they were grown up in a city.
E.g. Kanpur and Lahore.

Modem day Tamilnadu, the Lakshwadeep island, Northern Kerala, Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra, Districts of Karnataka, and various districts of southern Odisha.

(i) Port cities:
The British arrived in India for trading. Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay became the important ports. They played important role in trade. These cities became prominent commercial areas with tall European – styled buildings.
Fort St. George in Madras and Fort St. William in Calcutta were the best examples.
(ii) Cantonment towns:
The British occupied the Indian territory and political power by their military force. So they needed strong military camps and established the cantonments
For e.g, Kanpur, Lahore.
(iii) Hill Stations:
Hill stations were distinctive features of colonial urban development. Although Hill stations were not unknown, prior to their founding by the British in India, they were few and had a small population, and were often visited for a specific purpose.
For e.g. Srinagar was a Mughal recreational centre, Kedamath and Badrinath were Hindu religious Centres.
(iv) Railway towns:
Railway towns were also a type of urban settlements and were established in 1853 after the introduction of railways by the British.
By the nature of railway transport, all the towns were located on the plains.

The English East India Company was started in 1600.
When famine struck Masulipatnam English looked for a new site.
Francis Day chose Madrasapatnam in 1637 and set up factory.
In 1639 the deed was signed by Francis Day and Andrew Cogan to establish a factory aim trading port and fortified it and called fort St. George.
Fort St. George was called the white town and the nearby villages were called Black town which was collectively called Madras.

In the beginning, the policies of the British proved harmful to the process of urbanisation.
Later the economic policies followed by the British led to the rapid transformation of India’s economy into a colonial economy and the development of cities.
The one-way free trade predominance of British, Indian manufacturing industries was destroyed.
There was a sudden collapse of the urban handicrafts industry.
Towns and cities long famed for their specialized products gazed continually shrinking market.
The manufacturing towns lost their previous importance.
The industrial revolution, high import duties, and other restrictions imposed on the import of Indian goods into Britain and Europe led to the decline of Indian industries.
Thus, India became the agricultural colony of Britians.

Bombay was initially seven islands that were under the Portuguese from 1534.
Portuguese king gave Bombay as dowry to Charles II, in 1661. King gave to the company.
The city began to grow when the company used it as its main port.
In 1687 the company transferred its headquarters from Surat to Bombay.

In 1690, the English merchants founded a settlement at Sultanate.
In 1698 they secured zamindari rights over Sutanuti, Calcutta, and Gobindpur.
The Company established Fort William at Calcutta.
Thus Calcutta became president with a Governor and Council to manage its affairs.