The Age of Industrialisation Class 10 Notes: CBSE History Chapter 4

Proto-Industrialisation

Proto-industrialisation is a phase That existed way before the inception of factory set-up began in England and the whole of Europe. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, merchants based in Europe requested production for an international market and the rules granted different guilds. Still, the merchants were restricted from expanding their production of specific products. The Proto-industrial system became a network of commercial exchanges which were controlled by merchants.

Hand Labour and Steam Power

• During Victorian rule in Britain, the country faced no shortage of human labour. Industrialists faced no problems of any sort with a labour shortage or high wage costs. 

• However, instead of machines, industrialists required large capital investments. There was an increase in demand for labour, and it turned into seasonal in several industries. 

• In all such industries where the production of labour fluctuated with the season, industrialists usually preferred hand labour over the employment of workers for a particular season. 

• This affected the workers’ lives through the abundance of labour in the market. After the 1840s, activities such as the widening of the roads, extension of the railway lines, the construction of new railway stations, embarkment of rivers, digging of tunnels dug, and even the laying of drainage and sewers.

Factory Set-Up

• During the year 1854, Bombay started and set up the first cotton mill, which later went into production after two years. 

• In 1862, the industries set up four more mills and around the same time, jute mills emerged and were set up in the state of Bengal. 

• However, the first jute mill and industry were set up in 1855, and another emerged after seven years in 1862. 

• During the 1860s, the Elgin Mill was started in North India, in Kanpur, and after a year, the first cotton mill emerged and was set up in Ahmedabad. 

• By the year 1874, the first weaving and spinning mill emerged and was set up in Madras to begin production.

Life of The Workers

• Workers' lives during the Industrial Revolution were significantly affected by the growth of factories. Many people moved to cities from rural areas to find work, which often involved long hours and difficult conditions. 

• Finding a job frequently depended on personal connections, and workers faced unpredictable job security. Work was seasonal, with periods of unemployment during economic downturns. 

• Wages fluctuated, and during economic slumps, unemployment rates rose sharply, causing financial difficulties for many. Overall, workers had to cope with tough working conditions, unstable employment, and economic uncertainty.

Industrialisation in the Colonies

• In the colonies during industrialisation, European powers greatly influenced economic and social structures by focusing on resource extraction to support their industries. 

• This period saw the introduction of new technologies and production methods aimed at improving resource extraction and processing. However, the benefits were largely enjoyed by the colonisers, while local workers faced tough conditions. 

• The colonies' economies grew, but they became more dependent on their European rulers, leading to widespread exploitation and challenging working conditions for local people.

The Market for Goods

• With the demand for more and new products, the need for advertisements occurred, and these advertisements helped people to market their products and make them appear desirable and necessary. 

• Advertisements tried to shape the minds of viewers and help in the creation of new needs.

• Today, we are surrounded by these advertisements that appear in magazines, television screens, newspapers, hoardings, and even street walls. From the inception of the Industrial age, advertisements played a significant role in the expansion of the markets for products and even shaping the new consumer culture.

What Happened to Weavers?

After the 1760s, despite the East India Company's consolidation of power, Indian textile exports did not immediately decline. Before establishing control in Bengal and Carnatic, the Company struggled to secure a steady supply of goods. Once it gained political control, it implemented a system to manage and oversee textile production by eliminating competition and ensuring a steady supply of cotton and silk. This was achieved through several measures:

• Direct Control: The Company eliminated existing traders and brokers, establishing direct control over weavers.

• Monopoly: Weavers were prohibited from selling to anyone but the Company.

• Loans: Weavers received loans to buy raw materials but had to hand over their finished goods to the Company’s agents, known as gomasthas. These agents were outsiders, lacking the close relationships that previous supply merchants had with the weavers' communities.

In response, many weavers moved their looms to other villages or revolted against the Company. As a result, many weavers stopped accepting loans, closed their workshops, and turned to agriculture. By the early 19th century, cotton weavers faced new challenges.

Manchester Comes to India

In 1772, Henry Patullo predicted that Indian textiles would remain in demand due to their unmatched quality. However, by the early 19th century, Indian textile exports began to decline as British cotton goods surged. The British restricted the import of cotton piece goods into India, causing significant problems for Indian weavers:

• Collapsed Markets: The export market for Indian textiles diminished.

• Local Competition: The local market became flooded with cheaper Manchester imports.

By the 1860s, weavers faced a shortage of quality raw cotton, with increasing prices due to rising exports of raw cotton from India. This issue was compounded by the rise of local factories producing machine-made goods, which flooded the market.

The Peculiarities of Industrial Growth

• European Managing Agencies showed keen interest in specific goods or products such as coffee and tea as they established and invested in coffee and tea plantations and also in indigo, mining, and jute. 

• During the late nineteenth century, Indian business people started setting up their industries and produced yarn in the spinning mills by handloom weavers in India or exported it to China. 

• During the Swadeshi movement, the nationalists boycotted foreign clothes, and then during the 1960s, Indian yarn exported to China declined. However, when the First World War ended, industrial growth in India remained slow and stagnant. 

• Industrial production flourished over the years, and after the First World war, Manchester could never recapture and regain its old position in the Indian market.

The Early Entrepreneurs

• Trade began to grow in the late 18th century when the British started exporting opium to China and bringing tea from China to England. Some early entrepreneurs in India saw opportunities to develop industries. 

• In Bengal, Dwarkanath Tagore made his wealth from the China trade. In Bombay, Parsis like Dinshaw Petit and Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata built major industrial empires. 

• Seth Hukumchand, a Marwari businessman, established the first Indian jute mill in Calcutta in 1917. 

• Although many Indians wanted to invest in industries, colonial rules limited them to exporting raw materials like cotton, opium, wheat, and indigo, while European managing agencies handled capital and company management.

Where Did the Workers Come From?

• As factories grew, the need for workers increased. Most workers came from nearby districts. For example, over 50% of workers in Bombay's cotton mills in 1911 were from Ratnagiri, and Kanpur mills employed many from the surrounding villages. 

• Workers travelled long distances in search of jobs, but finding work was tough due to high competition. Industrialists often employed a jobber to recruit workers from their villages and provide initial support.

Small-Scale Industries Predominate

• Small-scale industries remained common, with only a small fraction of workers in registered factories. Most worked in small workshops or households. Handloom cloth production expanded in the 20th century due to technological improvements that enhanced productivity without significantly raising costs. 

• Some weavers adapted better to competition, producing either coarse or fine cloth. Despite long hours and tough conditions, these artisans played a crucial role in industrialisation, showing that their traditional skills were still important in the evolving industrial landscape.

5 Important Topics of Class 10 History Chapter 4

Importance of Revision Notes for Class 10 History Chapter 4

• Revision notes help in summarising and consolidating the information learned, making it easier to review and retain key concepts.

• They provide a condensed version of the material, allowing students to focus on important topics without having to sift through entire textbooks.

• Notes highlight important points and important details, ensuring that students can quickly reference and understand the main ideas.

• They allow for flexible study sessions, enabling students to review material at their own pace and convenience, whether for quick refreshers or comprehensive reviews.

Tips for Learning the Class 10 History Chapter 4 The Age of Industrialisation Notes

• Start by grasping the main ideas of the Industrial Revolution, including technological advancements, changes in production, and social impacts. Focus on how these concepts fit into the broader historical context.

• Incorporate maps, diagrams, and charts to visualise the geographical and economic changes during the industrialisation period. This helps in understanding the flow of information and the relationships between different factors.

• After reading each section of the chapter, summarise it in your own words. This reinforces your understanding and helps you identify key points and connections between concepts.

• Pay attention to significant individuals, such as industrialists and labour leaders, and major events that influenced industrialisation. Knowing their contributions and impact will aid in comprehending the chapter more deeply.

Conclusion

In summary, The Age of Industrialisation Class 10 Notes PDF provides a comprehensive look at how the Industrial Revolution transformed societies across the globe. It explores key technological advancements, the rise of factories, and the profound economic and social changes that followed. Understanding these elements helps grasp how industrialisation shaped the modern world, influencing everything from global trade to labour practices.

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