Chapter 3. Modern World – I Textbook Solutions

NIOS Class 10 Social Science Chapter 3 Question Answer

INTEXT QUESTIONS 3.1

1. Fill in the blanks:

(a) ………………… expressed its belief in the creative potential of human beings.

Ans: Renaissance scholars

(b) Ignatius Loyal founded the …………………

Ans: Society of Jesus

2. Define feudalism. Give at least two features of feudalism.

Ans: Feudalism is defined as a system in which people were given land and protection by lords in return for their labor. Its two features were:

(a) The workers worked and fought for their lords.
(b) The king was the most powerful feudal chief.

3. What were the main ideas of the Renaissance?

Ans: The spirit of humanism, rationalism and inquiry.

4. Enlist at least two teachings of Martin Luther which influenced reforms in the Church.

Ans:

(a) Martin Luther advocated for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and not through the blind faith in the church.
(b) The Bible was the only source of religious authority.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 3.2

1. Choose the correct answer:

(a) Who discovered the sea route to India?

(i) Bartholomew Dia

(ii) Vasco da Gama

(iii) Columbus

(iv) None of these

Ans: (ii) Vasco da Gama

(b) Which of the following was not a result of the voyages of discovery?

(i) Setting up of colonies in Asia and Africa

(ii) Expansion of European commerce

(iii) Rise in the prosperity of the colonies

(iv) Beginning of slave trade

Ans: (iii) Rise in the prosperity of the colonies

2. Name at least two contributions of the Renaissance in the field of Science.

Ans:

(a) The emphasis is on reason rather than on blind faith.
(b) Scientific inquiry based on observation and experimentation.

3. Enlist at least three discoveries which helped the Europeans to find new sea routes.

Ans: Compass, astrolabe, and the art of map making.

4. Identify the significant change in the society due to the Industrial Revolution.

Ans: The society became unequal and was divided into two groups of people – the capitalist or the bourgeoisie, and the worker or the proletariat.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 3.3

1. Choose the correct answer:

(a) In how many colonies was America divided?

(i) 13

(ii) 14

(iii) 15

(iv) 16

Ans: (i) 13

(b) The Third Estate in France comprised of the:

(i) Nobility

(ii) Clergy

(iii) Commoners

(iv) Monarchy

Ans: (iii) Commoners

(c) German Unification was successfully carried out under the leadership of:

(i) Cavour

(ii) Mazzini

(iii) Bismarck

(iv) Garibaldi

Ans: (iii) Bismarck

2. ‘The Glorious Revolution of 1688 was a source of inspiration for the world’. Justify this statement within 30 words.

Ans: The Glorious Revolution proved to be a source of inspiration for the world because the Parliament was able to replace the autocratic rule of James II with a constitutional form of government without shedding any blood.

3. Enlist at least two similarities between the American War of Independence and the French Revolution.

Ans:

(a) Both the Revolutions helped assert the rights of the people and spoke against exploitation.
(b) Both popularised the feeling of nationalism all over the world.

4. The Russian Revolution was inspired by the ideology of socialism. Explain briefly.

Ans: The French and Renaissance ideas like equality, freedom of speech and democracy, along with the writings of Marx, helped in strengthening the idea of socialism. It advocated the control of the ownership of the means of production in the hands of the state, which would give birth to an equal society. This influenced people and led to the political awakening of the people, especially the workers, resulting in the Russian Revolution.

TERMINAL EXERCISES

1. How did the rise of towns and emergence of trade led to the decline of feudalism?

Ans: The atmosphere of the towns was free from feudal restriction and control. Towns attracted artisans and peasants from rural areas who were paid in cash for their products. As money became the medium of exchange, the lords began to accept money from their vassals instead of services, as they also needed money to buy various luxurious commodities. This led to the rise of a powerful merchant class and began to aspire for a higher status in the social hierarchy. They began to support the powerful monarchs to undermine the position of the feudal lords, which weakened the feudal structure and led to the decline of the feudal order.

2. Why do you think Renaissance marks a break from earlier patterns of thought and existence? Write in about 100 words.

Ans: During the 14th century, the geographical position of Italian cities such as Venice made them great trading and intellectual centers that brought wealth from far corners of the globe. The new form of political and social organization gave political freedom and a suitable atmosphere for academic, artistic, and cultural advancement.

Many commercial and financial techniques were developed for trade practices like bookkeeping, bills of exchange, and public debt. The major developments of this time were the revival of urban life, commerce based on private capital, banking, the formation of nation-states, explorations to find new routes and territories, and the development of vernacular literature, which was popularized by the printing press. This new mercantile society was less hierarchical and more concerned with secular objectives. It was in sharp contrast to the earlier rural, tradition-bound society.

The adventurers and explorers played a significant role in opening a world economic system. As a result, merchants, entrepreneurs, and bankers joined hands, and ‘Capital’ came to enjoy an important position in political life as well as in relations with other countries. The new ideas that were generated in this period, like humanism, rationalism, and the spirit of inquiry, brought a profound change in the thinking pattern of the people.

3. How did the Reformation impact Europe and the rest of the world?

Ans: Two major developments took place in the history of Europe towards the later part of the Renaissance. The first was the Protestant Reformation, which resulted in the split in Christianity. The second development concerned reforms within the Roman Catholic Church, generally referred to as the Catholic Reformation or Counter-Reformation. The Reformation was a part of the socio-religious and political movement that led to the emergence of the modern world.

4. How did the discovery of new lands change the economy and society in the modern world?

Ans: The new trade routes that were discovered changed the history of the world. It is said that ‘God, Glory and Gold’ was the main motive behind these discoveries. But the motive of gold or economic need was the most important. The discovery of India and America led to a tremendous increase in trade, and colonization had a great impact on the enhancement of European wealth. These voyages led to the establishment of trading outposts and colonial empires in different parts of Africa, America, and Asia. Many new commodities were added to trade, such as tobacco, molasses, ostrich feathers, potatoes, etc. It also started the inhuman slave trade in America. Slaves were captured from Africa, transported across the Atlantic Ocean, and sold to work in plantations in North America.

These trade practices and new sea routes helped the European merchants to accumulate huge wealth, which they invested in the development of new machines.

5. Enlist the main ideas given in the Declaration of American Independence.

Ans: Asserting the equality of all men, the sovereignty of the people and the rights to liberty, property, security, right to education, to free speech, to be informed, right of the poor to public assistance, a ban on torture and slavery, recognition of the right of the people to choose their government and the eligibility of all citizens for employment in public offices.

6. Which ideas of the French Revolution had an impact on the world order?

Ans: The guiding principles of the French Revolution were Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality. The revolutionaries were inspired by the ideas of many Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers such as Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.

7. Discuss the strategies used by the German and Italian leaders for their unification.

Ans:

Unification of Italy

After France became a republic, secret clubs favoring an Italian Republic were formed throughout Italy.
Many revolutionaries like Mazzini and Garibaldi, along with some secret societies, kept spreading the idea of an independent, unified republic among the Italians.
From 1849 onwards, the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which was a monarchy under Victor Emmanuel, took an active role in this unification.
Under his leadership, Cavour, the Prime Minister, ousted the Austrians from Lombardy, Tuscany, Modena, etc.
Garibaldi led the revolt and liberated Sicily and Naples.
He handed over the charge of the two states to Emmanuel and declared him the King of Italy.
Later, Rome and Venice joined the federation of Italian states.
The process of unification of Italy began with the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and ended with the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.

Unification of Germany

The King of Prussia, Kaiser William I, chose Prime Minister Bismarck to unify Germany under the rule of Prussia, and excluding Austria and France completely.
His policy came to be known as the ‘Blood and Iron’ policy and earned him the nickname of the ‘Iron Chancellor’.
With this improved army, Bismarck encouraged the German population of Schleswig and Holstein to revolt against their ruler, Denmark.
In 1864, Bismarck joined hands with Austria against Denmark. Prussia defeated Austria and formed the North German Confederation.
Austria was forced to give Venice to Italy, ending the Austrian control in Italy.
He also promised territorial compensation to Napoleon III of France and kept it out of the war.
Prussia invaded France in 1871 and defeated the French.
Napoleon III abdicated the throne, and France was forced to give up Alsace and Lorraine.
The remainder of the German states, except Austria, were annexed and joined with Germany.
The unification of Germany was complete under Kaiser William I.
Soon, Germany emerged as the leading power in Europe, building a colonial empire to further German economic interests and increase German influence in the world.

8. Describe the conditions of the industrial workers which influenced the Russian Revolution.

Ans: The workers were poor, exploited, and without any rights. Russia was industrially backward and was based on an agrarian economy. The Tsar was an autocratic and oppressive ruler; hence, the workers and the peasants suffered a lot. Exploitation, along with inhuman working conditions and huge amounts of taxes, had made the people rise against Tsar Nicholas II. People were also denied any political rights. Many skilled workers were forced to enlist in the army and fight on the battlefields, resulting in their deaths.