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GNDU Queson Paper 2024
BA 5
th
Semester
HISTORY
|History of the World (C1500-1956 A.D.)|
Time Allowed 3 Hours Maximum Marks 100
Note:-Aempt FIVE quesons in all, selecng at least ONE queson from each secon. The
h queson may be aempted from any secon. All quesons carry equal marks.
SECTION-A
1. What do you understand by Renaissance? Examine its impact on the society of Europe.
2. Explain Napoleon's rise to power and his downfall.
SECTION-B
3. Explain the Unicaon of Italy and Germany.
4. Explain the causes and impacts of World War-I.
SECTION-C
5. Discuss the New Economic Policy in detail.
6. Give brief account of modernizaon of Japan under Meiji Restoraon.
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SECTION-D
7. Write a detailed note on Great Depression of 1929 and its impact.
8. Discuss the causes of World War II and its aermaths.
GNDU Answer Paper 2024
BA 5
th
Semester
HISTORY
|History of the World (C1500-1956 A.D.)|
Time Allowed 3 Hours Maximum Marks 100
Note:-Aempt FIVE quesons in all, selecng at least ONE queson from each secon. The
h queson may be aempted from any secon. All quesons carry equal marks.
SECTION-A
1. What do you understand by Renaissance? Examine its impact on the society of Europe.
Ans: What is the Renaissance? (Simple Explanaon)
Imagine Europe as a sleeping child during the Middle Ages. People were scared to ask
quesons, most followed the Church blindly, science was ignored, and life was all about
survival. Now imagine that child waking up — curious, creave, and full of quesons. That
“waking up” is called the Renaissance, which means “Rebirth.”
It was not the birth of something totally new but the rebirth of old knowledge — mainly the
knowledge of the Greeks and Romans — which had been lost or ignored for centuries.
When and Where Did It Start?
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• Time: It began in the 14th century and lasted unl the 17th century.
• Place: It started in Italy, especially in cies like Florence, Venice, and Rome, and then
spread across Europe.
• Why Italy?
o Italy had a strong economy, thanks to trade.
o Rich families like the Medicis in Florence supported arsts and thinkers.
o Roman ruins in Italy inspired people to learn about the past.
Simple Story to Understand Renaissance:
Let’s say there was a boy named Marco, living in 1300s Florence. His father was a merchant.
Marco grows up hearing about ancient heroes, philosophers like Aristotle, and arsts who
painted beauful things.
One day, Marco sees a painng that looks very real, not like the at, boring religious
painngs in his church. This painng shows human feelings — sadness, joy, love. It makes
Marco curious. He begins to ask: “Why does the church say not to ask too many quesons?
Why can’t I study how the body works? What did people in ancient mes believe?”
This curiosity spreads — thousands of Marcos across Europe start asking quesons. They
begin learning science, literature, and art from ancient Greek and Roman books. They also
start creang new ideas of their own. This is the Renaissance spirit.
Key Features of the Renaissance (with examples)
1. Humanism:
o Humanism was the idea that humans are important and can use reason and
experience to understand the world.
o Before this, most people only focused on religion. Now, they also focused on
human life, emoons, and achievements.
o Example: Writers like Petrarch and Erasmus wrote about love, polics, and
history, not just religion.
2. Art and Realism:
o Renaissance arsts began to paint realisc human bodies, nature, and
emoons.
o They used perspecve to give depth in painng (things closer looked big,
things far looked small).
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o Example: Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa" or Michelangelo’s "David" statue.
3. Scienc Thinking:
o Instead of just listening to the Church, people now observed nature and
tested ideas.
o Example: Galileo Galilei used a telescope and said the Earth moves around
the Sun — something the Church opposed.
4. Invenon of Prinng Press:
o Around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the prinng press in Germany.
o Now, books could be printed quickly. Earlier, they were copied by hand.
o This helped spread knowledge fast all over Europe.
o Example: Within 50 years of Gutenberg's invenon, more than 20 million
books were printed!
Impact of the Renaissance on European Society
Now let’s explore how the Renaissance changed Europe:
1. Educaon Became Important
• Before the Renaissance, only religious leaders and kings were educated.
• Aer the Renaissance, common people also started reading and wring.
• New schools and universies were opened.
• People studied subjects like history, philosophy, poetry, and languages (called
humanies).
2. New Ideas Spread Everywhere
• Because of the prinng press and increased travel, knowledge spread faster than
ever before.
• Books became cheaper, and people became more open-minded.
• Ideas from one country inuenced others. For example, ideas from Italy inspired
people in France, Germany, and England.
3. Growth of Science and Discovery
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• Renaissance encouraged experiments and scienc discoveries.
• Many sciensts made discoveries that challenged the Church.
• Example: Copernicus said the Earth was not the center of the universe, and Galileo
proved it with his telescope.
• This led to the Scienc Revoluon later.
4. Change in Religion
• People started quesoning the Church’s power and teachings.
• This helped in the beginning of the Reformaon, where Marn Luther broke away
from the Catholic Church and started Protestansm.
• It weakened the absolute control of the Church over people’s lives.
5. Improvement in Art and Architecture
• Painngs, sculptures, and buildings became more beauful and realisc.
• Arsts became celebries — Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael were
famous all over Europe.
• Architecture became more symmetrical and inspired by Roman style.
6. Rise of Individualism
• People began to believe in their own power and talent.
• The idea of the “Renaissance Man” became popular — a person skilled in many
elds.
• Example: Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, scienst, inventor, and musician.
7. Women’s Role (Sll Limited)
• Some educated women like Chrisne de Pizan wrote books.
• But in most parts of Europe, women sll didn’t get equal opportunies as men.
Fun Fact & Data
• The number of books in Europe grew from thousands to over 10 million within 50
years aer the prinng press.
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• Europe’s populaon began to grow due to beer living condions, new invenons,
and trade during and aer the Renaissance.
Conclusion (In Student’s Words)
In simple words, the Renaissance was like a fresh start for Europe. People came out of the
darkness of ignorance and started exploring art, science, and themselves. It changed the way
people thought about the world and their place in it. Just like how we feel excited when we
learn something new or see something beauful, the people of Renaissance Europe felt the
same — and that spark of curiosity changed everything.
2. Explain Napoleon's rise to power and his downfall.
Ans: PART 1: Napoleon's Rise to Power
1. Background: Who was Napoleon?
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica in 1769. He came from a not-so-rich family and was
sent to France to study in a military school. From a young age, he was brilliant in studies,
especially in math and history, and he loved reading about great military leaders.
He wanted to be strong and famous, just like the heroes he read about.
2. The French Revoluon (1789): A Chance for Napoleon
Imagine France like a burning house in 1789 — people were angry, the king (Louis XVI) was
losing control, and the French Revoluon had started.
During this chaos:
• The monarchy was destroyed
• There was no strong government
• And war was happening with other countries like Austria, Prussia, and Britain
Napoleon saw this as a perfect chance. He used his skills and joined the French army.
3. Napoleon Becomes a Hero
Napoleon rst became famous in 1793 when he won a bale against Brish forces at Toulon.
He used new and smart strategies. Everyone started nocing him.
But his real big break came in 1796, when he was given command of the French army in
Italy. In Italy, he:
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• Defeated strong armies like Austria
• Captured many cies
• Took control of northern Italy for France
People in France started calling him a "military genius".
4. The Government Was Weak – Napoleon Took Over
By 1799, the French government (called the Directory) was weak and corrupt. People had
lost trust in it. Soldiers and common people wanted a strong leader.
Napoleon returned to France and did a coup d'état (a sudden takeover of the government)
in November 1799. He made himself First Consul — the most powerful man in France.
In 1804, he made himself Emperor of France! Yes — from a poor boy to the Emperor — what
a story!
5. Why Did People Support Napoleon?
People loved him because:
• He gave peace and order aer years of chaos
• He brought new laws (like the Napoleonic Code) which were fair and modern
• He won wars and made France strong again
• He opened schools, improved roads, and helped the economy
PART 2: Napoleon’s Downfall
Now let’s see how he lost everything — slowly and painfully.
1. Too Many Wars – Too Much Pride
Napoleon was very ambious. He wanted to rule all of Europe. So he kept ghng wars. He
defeated many countries like Austria, Prussia, and Spain. But he also made many enemies.
Even though he was clever, he started losing support because:
• The wars killed many soldiers
• The economy started geng weaker
• People in conquered countries started rebelling (they didn’t want a French emperor)
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2. The Connental System Failed
Napoleon tried to defeat Britain by blocking trade with them. This was called the Connental
System.
Example: Imagine banning all your friends from buying from one shop, thinking the shop will
close. But instead, your friends suer, and the shop (Britain) sll survives.
That’s what happened. Europe suered, but Britain survived. Countries got angry with
Napoleon’s policy.
3. The Russian Disaster (1812)
This was the turning point.
Napoleon took 600,000 soldiers and invaded Russia. But Russia was smart — they burned
their own cies and ran away, giving Napoleon nothing to capture.
By the me winter came, Napoleon’s army:
• Had no food
• Faced heavy snow
• Suered from disease and cold
Only 100,000 out of 600,000 soldiers returned!
This shocked Europe.
4. Napoleon Is Defeated and Sent to Exile
In 1814, many European countries — Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria — formed an alliance
and defeated Napoleon.
He was forced to give up his throne and was exiled to the island of Elba.
5. The Return and the Final Fall (1815)
Surprisingly, Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France in 1815. The French army
joined him again. For 100 days, he ruled France again.
But nally, he was defeated at the Bale of Waterloo by Brish and Prussian forces.
He was now sent far away to Saint Helena — a lonely island in the Atlanc Ocean. He lived
there ll he died in 1821.
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Summary with Easy Examples
Stage
What Happened
Like a Story
Rise
Napoleon used his military skills to
become famous.
Like a smart student becoming school
captain during a crisis.
Power
He brought peace, made good laws,
became Emperor.
Like a leader who solved many problems
and became popular.
Mistakes
Fought too many wars, blocked
trade, invaded Russia.
Like a leader who became too proud and
tried to control everyone.
Downfall
Lost wars, exiled, came back, lost
again.
Like someone who got a second chance but
didn’t succeed.
SECTION-B
3. Explain the Unicaon of Italy and Germany.
Ans: Introducon: What is Unicaon?
Let’s start with a simple idea: Imagine a big puzzle that has many small pieces. These small
pieces represent dierent states, and pung them together forms a whole country. This is
what happened in the 19th century in Italy and Germany.
Back in those days, Italy and Germany were not countries as we know them today. They
were divided into many small kingdoms, ruled by dierent leaders, kings, or even under
foreign control. But slowly, people began to feel that they all belong together — same
culture, same language, same dreams. So, they started working to unite all those parts into
one strong naon.
Let us now understand both unicaons like two interesng stories.
Unicaon of Italy (1815–1870)
Italy Before Unicaon
Imagine Italy like a pizza broken into many slices — all separate. These slices were:
• Kingdom of Sardinia (Piedmont)
• Kingdom of Two Sicilies (South Italy)
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• Papal States (ruled by the Pope)
• Lombardy and Venea (controlled by Austria)
• Many small duchies like Tuscany, Modena, Parma
They were all part of what we now call Italy, but they were ruled by dierent kings or
empires, especially Austria. This made Italians feel like strangers in their own land.
What Inspired Italians?
1. Common Language and Culture: People spoke Italian and shared food, music, and
tradions.
2. French Revoluon & Napoleon: These events showed that ordinary people could
ght for freedom and unity.
3. Naonalism: The idea that people who share the same culture should live in one
country.
Key Leaders of Italian Unicaon
1. Giuseppe Mazzini – The Dreamer
• Called the "Soul of Italian Unity".
• Formed the secret society Young Italy in 1831.
• Wanted to make Italy a united republic (not a monarchy).
• Though he failed in acon, he inspired thousands.
2. Count Cavour – The Planner
• Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia (1852).
• Called the "Brain of Italian Unicaon".
• Believed in polics and strategy.
• Made alliances, like with France to defeat Austria.
• United northern Italy under the king of Sardinia.
3. Giuseppe Garibaldi – The Fighter
• Called the "Sword of Italy".
• A brave soldier who wore a red shirt in bales.
• In 1860, he led the Expedion of the Thousand to free southern Italy (Sicily and
Naples).
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• Later, he gave all the land to King Victor Emmanuel II (not for himself).
Step-by-Step Unicaon of Italy
Year
Event
1859
Cavour defeated Austria with French help and got Lombardy.
1860
Garibaldi captured Sicily and Naples.
1861
Italy was declared a united kingdom with Victor Emmanuel II as king.
1866
Got Venea aer siding with Prussia against Austria.
1870
Got Rome aer French troops le during the Franco-Prussian War.
Final Result:
• Italy became a fully united country by 1870.
• Rome became the capital.
Unicaon of Germany (1815–1871)
Germany Before Unicaon
Germany was like a cake cut into 39 pieces. These were 39 small states, including big ones
like:
• Prussia (strong, modern)
• Austria (old empire)
• Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, etc.
They were all part of a group called the German Confederaon, but they were not united.
Austria and Prussia were the two most powerful states, oen compeng with each other.
Why Germans Wanted Unity?
1. Common Language and Race: All were Germans speaking German.
2. Napoleon’s Wars: Inspired Germans to ght together.
3. Trade Unity – Zollverein: A free trade group led by Prussia that connected German
states economically.
4. Naonalism: People wanted to be part of one big, powerful German naon.
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Key Leader: Oo von Bismarck – The Mastermind
• Prime Minister of Prussia (1862).
• Known as the "Iron Chancellor".
• Believed in "Blood and Iron" – using war and power to unite Germany, not speeches.
Step-by-Step Unicaon of Germany
1. War with Denmark (1864)
• Prussia + Austria vs Denmark
• Won Schleswig and Holstein (shared)
2. Austro-Prussian War (1866)
• Prussia fought Austria over control.
• Austria lost and was kicked out of German aairs.
• Prussia created North German Confederaon (without Austria).
3. Franco-Prussian War (1870–71)
• Bismarck tricked France into war.
• All German states united against a common enemy.
• France lost, and Germany took Alsace-Lorraine.
Final Result:
• In January 1871, at Versailles Palace (France), all German princes crowned King
Wilhelm I of Prussia as Kaiser (Emperor) of Germany.
• Germany became a strong empire under Prussian leadership.
Similaries Between Italy and Germany’s Unicaon
Aspect
Italy
Germany
Divided Into
Many small kingdoms
39 small states
Main Power
Piedmont-Sardinia
Prussia
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Key Leaders
Mazzini, Cavour, Garibaldi
Bismarck
Strategy
Polics + War + Inspiraon
Mostly Wars (Blood and Iron)
Completed In
1870
1871
Fact File:
• Italy’s naonal anthem: Il Canto degli Italiani (Song of the Italians)
• Germany's capital post-unicaon: Berlin
• Both unicaons were part of a larger wave of naonalism in 19th-century Europe.
Conclusion:
The unicaon of Italy and Germany shows how people with a shared language, culture, and
identy can come together to form a naon. While Italy used a mix of revoluon, diplomacy,
and war, Germany mainly used military power and strategy under Bismarck.
Think of it like solving a puzzle: each leader added one piece — unl the full picture of a
united naon appeared.
4. Explain the causes and impacts of World War-I.
Ans: World War I (WWI), also known as the First World War or the Great War, began in 1914
and lasted unl 1918. It was one of the most destrucve wars in history, involving many
countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. To understand this war, we can divide it into two
parts:
1. Causes of World War I – Why and how it started.
2. Impacts of World War I – What happened aer it ended and how it aected the
world.
Let’s understand both parts in a simple and storytelling way, just like how we explain things
in class.
PART 1: Causes of World War I
Imagine there are two groups of friends in your school, both strong and proud. Now suppose
they keep collecng weapons, ghng over small things, and also making secret promises to
ght for each other. What happens if one small ght turns into a huge bale involving
everyone? That’s exactly how World War I started!
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Here are the main causes:
1. Militarism (Love for weapons and armies)
Countries like Germany, France, Britain, etc., were increasing their armies, weapons, and
baleships. They believed "strong military = strong country".
Fact: By 1914, Germany had the biggest army in Europe. Britain had the largest navy.
This made other countries feel insecure. So, everyone started preparing for war, even if
there was no war yet.
2. Alliances (Secret promises between countries)
Countries formed groups or teams to protect each other. These teams were called alliances.
• Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
• Triple Entente – France, Russia, and Britain
Example: If one friend is aacked, the others will jump in to help, even if they don’t
know the full story.
This made a local issue become a global war because one country's problem became
everyone's problem.
3. Imperialism (Desire for colonies and power)
European countries wanted to rule more land in Africa and Asia to gain wealth and power.
Example: Britain ruled India, and Germany wanted to rule African countries. This created
jealousy and compeon.
They were ready to ght to take or keep these colonies.
4. Naonalism (Extreme love for one's country)
People were too proud of their countries and thought their culture or race was the best.
For example:
• The Serbs wanted their own Slavic naon.
• The Germans believed in "Germany above all".
• The French wanted to take back Alsace-Lorraine from Germany (lost in 1871).
This naonalism led to anger, hate, and the desire for revenge.
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5. The Spark – Assassinaon of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (28 June 1914)
This was the nal trigger. The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand, was
killed in Sarajevo (Bosnia) by a Serbian naonalist named Gavrilo Princip.
Austria blamed Serbia and declared war. Because of alliances, Germany, Russia, France, and
Britain also joined in — and the war began.
Think of it like a matchsck lighng a room full of gunpowder!
Countries Involved:
• Allies (Entente Powers): Britain, France, Russia, Italy (joined later), USA (joined in
1917)
• Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ooman Empire, Bulgaria
PART 2: Impacts of World War I
The war ended in 1918, aer four years of terrible ghng. Around 70 million soldiers
fought, and over 10 million died.
Let’s now understand how this war changed the world forever.
1. Massive Loss of Lives and Destrucon
• Around 10 million soldiers died and 20 million were injured.
• Civilians died due to bombings, starvaon, and diseases.
• Cies, villages, railways, and elds were destroyed.
Imagine a town where every third house is empty because the people either died or le.
That’s how Europe looked aer the war.
2. Economic Collapse
• Countries like Germany, France, and Britain spent billions on weapons.
• They had to borrow money (especially from the USA).
• Industries were broken, and factories were shut down.
Result: High unemployment, inaon, and poverty.
3. Fall of Empires
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Four big empires collapsed:
• German Empire → Became Weimar Republic
• Austro-Hungarian Empire → Split into Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc.
• Ooman Empire → Became Turkey, other parts became Middle East countries
• Russian Empire → Became Soviet Union aer 1917 revoluon
4. Rise of New Countries
Many new naons were formed like:
• Poland, Finland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
These were carved out of broken empires. But many had ethnic tensions inside them,
which caused problems later.
5. Treaty of Versailles (1919)
The war ocially ended with this treaty. It was especially harsh on Germany.
• Germany had to accept full blame.
• Pay huge war reparaons (about 132 billion gold marks).
• Lost colonies and territories.
• Army was limited to 100,000 soldiers.
This treaty made Germans angry and planted the seeds of World War II.
6. League of Naons Formed
To avoid future wars, the League of Naons was formed in 1920.
But:
• It had no army.
• The USA never joined, even though it was the idea of US President Woodrow Wilson.
• It failed to stop future wars like World War II.
7. Changed Role of Women
As men went to ght, women worked in factories, oces, and hospitals.
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Aer the war:
• Women in some countries got vong rights.
• It started the journey of women’s empowerment.
Example: In Britain, women over 30 got the right to vote in 1918.
8. Psychological Impact
The war le people mentally broken.
• Soldiers had “shell shock” (now known as PTSD).
• Arsts, writers, and poets like Wilfred Owen wrote about the horrors of war.
• People lost faith in governments and became angry or hopeless.
Conclusion:
World War I didn’t just start because of one event. It was the result of years of tensions,
pride, fear, and hatred among powerful countries. One assassinaon turned into a global
disaster because of alliances, militarism, and naonalism.
Its impact was huge and long-lasng — from millions of deaths, the destrucon of empires,
to economic ruin and new polical systems. The world tried to bring peace, but the unfair
treatment of countries like Germany led to another war just 20 years later (World War II).
SECTION-C
5. Discuss the New Economic Policy in detail.
Ans: Introducon
Imagine a big joint family that runs a shop together. For many years, they did everything
themselves — bought the raw materials, made the products, and sold them. But over me,
their methods became outdated, competors became smarter, and they started losing
money. One day, they realized they needed help, new ideas, and fresh energy — so they
decided to change everything.
This is exactly what happened to India in 1991.
India was running its economy like a “closed shop” — with the government controlling
everything. But by 1991, it was almost bankrupt. To save itself, India launched a New
Economic Policy (NEP). This policy opened the doors to private businesses, foreign
investment, and modern reforms.
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Why was the New Economic Policy needed?
Let’s understand this with a story.
Story Example:
India was like a young man who started his career in 1947 (aer Independence). In the
beginning, he tried to do everything himself — he made his own clothes, grew his own food,
and even built his own house. He avoided taking help from others. For a while, he managed,
but by the me he turned 44 (in 1991), he was buried under huge debt, was jobless, and
was running out of money.
India in 1991 was:
• Facing a huge nancial crisis
• Had only enough foreign reserves to last 15 days
• Inaon was rising
• Government debt was rising
• IMF and World Bank warned India
This forced India to rethink its enre economic system.
Main Goals of the New Economic Policy
The main aim was to:
1. Open the Indian economy to the global market
2. Reduce government control in business
3. Encourage private and foreign investment
4. Make Indian industries more ecient and compeve
Major Parts of the New Economic Policy
The NEP is based on three main parts, oen called LPG:
1. Liberalizaon
It means removing restricons and giving more freedom to businesses.
Before 1991:
• Businesses needed government approval for everything (called License Raj)
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• There were limits on how much a company could produce
Aer Liberalizaon:
• Businesses could make decisions freely
• No need to take so many permissions
• More compeon, more eciency
Example: Earlier, even opening a new factory required 10–15 approvals from dierent
government departments. Aer liberalizaon, many of these rules were removed, and
private companies like Reliance, Infosys, and Tata grew quickly.
2. Privazaon
It means reducing the role of the government in businesses and encouraging private
ownership.
Before 1991:
• The government owned many companies (called Public Sector Units or PSUs)
• Many of these companies were loss-making
Aer Privazaon:
• Government started selling its shares in PSUs
• More private players entered industries like telecom, airlines, and banking
Example: Earlier, the government controlled BSNL and MTNL for telecom. Aer
privazaon, companies like Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone entered the market and gave beer
services.
3. Globalizaon
It means connecng India with the world economy.
Before 1991:
• India did not allow many foreign companies to invest
• Foreign goods were costly and rarely available
Aer Globalizaon:
• Foreign companies like Samsung, Pepsi, Apple, Toyota came to India
• Indian companies started exporng their goods and services
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Example: Earlier, we only had Ambassadors and Maru 800s. Aer globalizaon,
companies like Hyundai, Honda, and BMW started selling cars in India.
Some Key Reforms under NEP
1. Industrial Policy Reform
o Removed License Raj
o Encouraged private industries
2. Trade Policy Reform
o Reduced import dues
o Encouraged exports
3. Tax Reforms
o Simplied tax structure (later led to GST)
4. Financial Sector Reform
o Allowed private and foreign banks
o Modernized stock markets
5. Foreign Investment Policy
o Allowed 100% FDI in many sectors
Impact of New Economic Policy
Posive Eects
1. Faster Economic Growth
India’s GDP grew from 2–3% in the 1980s to 6–8% in the 2000s.
2. Rise of IT and Service Sector
Companies like Infosys, Wipro, and TCS became global giants.
3. Foreign Investment Increased
India became an aracve place for companies like Microso, Google, and Amazon.
4. Consumer Choices Increased
Now we have hundreds of choices in mobile phones, clothes, and food.
5. Infrastructure Development
Roads, airports, power plants — all improved with private and foreign help.
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Negave Eects
1. Rich-Poor Gap Increased
Rich got richer, but rural areas were le behind.
2. Small Industries Suered
Couldn’t compete with big companies and MNCs.
3. Jobless Growth
Economy grew, but job creaon was slow.
4. Foreign Dependence
More dependence on foreign companies and imports.
Data and Facts (for Exams)
• In 1991, India’s foreign exchange reserves were only $1.2 billion
• In 2024, reserves crossed $600 billion
• India received $2.4 billion FDI in 1991; now gets over $80 billion annually
• India’s GDP growth touched 9.3% in 2007 (post-reform peak)
Simple Example to Understand
Imagine your father owns a shop, but for years, only sells old-style products and never
allows outsiders to invest. The shop starts failing. One day, he decides:
• To partner with modern suppliers (globalizaon)
• To let others manage the shop beer (privazaon)
• To remove useless rules (liberalizaon)
Now the shop is full of modern products, more customers come in, and prots rise.
India did something similar with the New Economic Policy.
Conclusion
The New Economic Policy of 1991 was a turning point in India's economic journey. It shied
the country from a closed, controlled economy to a more open and compeve market. It
helped India become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. While there are sll
challenges like inequality and unemployment, the NEP laid the foundaon for modern
India’s economic strength.
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6. Give brief account of modernizaon of Japan under Meiji Restoraon.
Ans: Introducon: The Story of Japan’s Big Change
Imagine a country that had shut its doors to the outside world for over 200 years. No foreign
trade, no new ideas, and no modern machines. That was Japan before 1868.
But suddenly, in just a few decades, it turned into a powerful, modern country — with trains,
industries, modern schools, and even a strong army. How did this happen?
The credit goes to a major event called the Meiji Restoraon — a big change that happened
in 1868, when a new young emperor named Emperor Meiji came to power and decided to
modernize Japan.
Before the Meiji Restoraon: A Backward Japan
Before 1868, Japan was ruled by Tokugawa shoguns, who followed a strict and tradional
style of government. Japan had:
• No modern industries
• No trains or telegraphs
• No modern educaon
• Strict class system (samurai, peasants, merchants)
• No contact with Western countries
It was like living in the past while the rest of the world, especially Europe and America, was
moving ahead with the Industrial Revoluon.
The Turning Point: Arrival of Foreigners
In 1853, Commodore Mahew Perry from the United States came with his navy ships and
demanded that Japan open its ports for trade.
Japan had no modern weapons to ght back. This scared many leaders in Japan. They
realized that if they didn’t modernize quickly, they could be taken over by Western powers,
just like India by the Brish or China aer the Opium Wars.
So, a group of young Japanese leaders took a bold decision: Remove the old shogun rule and
bring back the Emperor as the central power. This began the Meiji Restoraon in 1868.
What is the Meiji Restoraon?
The Meiji Restoraon means “restoring the power of the emperor”.
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In 1868, Emperor Meiji came to power and started a movement to modernize and
Westernize Japan — in its government, society, economy, military, educaon, and more.
Think of it like a full system upgrade, just like how we upgrade a mobile phone from an old
version to a new one.
How Japan Modernized: Step by Step
Let’s now understand how Japan changed under the Meiji Restoraon — in very simple
steps, like a story.
1. Polical Modernizaon: New Style of Government
Earlier, Japan was ruled by feudal lords (daimyo) and samurai under the shogun. The Meiji
leaders:
• Abolished feudalism
• Took power away from local lords
• Centralized the government under the emperor
• Built a new constuon in 1889 (like a rulebook)
They also formed a parliament called the Diet (like the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in India).
Example: Earlier, decisions were made by local warlords. Now, a central government with
ministers and elected representaves made laws for the whole country.
2. Economic Modernizaon: Building Industries
Japan wanted to become an industrial power like Britain and Germany.
So, the Meiji government:
• Built modern factories for texles, steel, and shipbuilding
• Improved transportaon — made railways, roads, and ports
• Created a banking system and modern currency
• Gave support to zaibatsu (big business families like Mitsubishi)
By 1900, Japan had thousands of factories, modern railways, and was even exporng goods.
Fact: By 1914, Japan had over 11,400 km of railway lines, connecng major cies and ports.
3. Social Modernizaon: Ending the Old Class System
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Earlier, people were stuck in their birth class — samurai, farmers, arsans, or merchants.
The Meiji government:
• Ended the class system
• Gave equal rights to all cizens (at least in law)
• Allowed everyone to choose any job or business
• Gave land ownership rights to farmers
Example: A farmer's son could now go to school and become a government ocer or start a
business — something impossible before.
4. Military Modernizaon: Creang a Strong Army and Navy
The government realized that only a strong military could protect Japan’s independence.
So they:
• Built a modern army like Germany’s
• Created a modern navy like Britain’s
• Introduced compulsory military service (like training for all men)
• Bought modern weapons and ships from Europe
Result: Japan defeated China in 1894-95 and Russia in 1904-05 — becoming the rst Asian
country to defeat a European power.
Fact: Aer the Russo-Japanese War (1905), the world saw Japan as a strong modern power.
5. Educaonal Modernizaon: Schools for All
To become modern, Japan needed an educated populaon.
So they:
• Made schooling compulsory for boys and girls
• Opened universies (like Tokyo University)
• Sent students to Europe and America
• Brought in Western teachers and books
Example: A Japanese child in 1870 had no school to aend. But by 1900, schools were
everywhere, teaching science, maths, and Western languages.
Fact: By 1905, over 90% of children were aending primary school in Japan — an amazing
achievement.
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6. Cultural and Technological Modernizaon
Japan also adopted Western:
• Clothing (suits instead of kimonos)
• Food habits
• Architecture (brick buildings instead of wooden)
• Technology (prinng press, telegraph, electricity)
At the same me, they kept their Japanese tradions alive — like maral arts, tea ceremony,
and Shinto religion.
This perfect balance between old and new made Japan unique.
Impact of Meiji Restoraon: A New Japan
By the early 1900s, Japan had:
• A strong economy and industries
• A modern army and navy
• A centralized, constuonal government
• A well-educated populaon
• Modern transport and communicaon
Japan was now ready to compete with Western powers — not as a colony, but as an equal.
Simple Summary for Students
• The Meiji Restoraon began in 1868 when Japan removed the shoguns and brought
back the emperor’s power.
• Japan modernized every part of society: government, economy, military, educaon,
and culture.
• This was done by copying Western ideas but keeping Japanese values alive.
• In just 40 years, Japan became a strong, modern, industrial naon.
• This was one of the greatest success stories in world history.
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SECTION-D
7. Write a detailed note on Great Depression of 1929 and its impact.
Ans: Imagine you’re living in a big, bright city in the 1920s. The streets are full of life. People
are buying new cars, radios, and clothes. Businesses are growing fast, and everyone is talking
about how rich they’ll become. This period is known as the "Roaring Twenes" — full of
excitement, hope, and economic boom, especially in America.
But suddenly, one day, everything crashes — people lose their jobs, homes, and savings. The
streets become silent, factories close down, and long lines of people start forming outside
soup kitchens for free food. This sad and painful me was called the Great Depression, and it
began in 1929.
Let’s understand how this happened, and what eects it had.
What was the Great Depression?
The Great Depression was the biggest and most severe global economic crisis of the 20th
century. It started in October 1929 in the United States but soon aected almost every
country in the world.
It was not just a nancial fall; it was a me of massive unemployment, poverty, and human
suering. People who were rich one day became poor the next. Companies shut down.
Banks collapsed. It lasted for almost a decade — ll the late 1930s.
How did the Great Depression start?
Let’s break it down like a story:
Story Example:
Meet John, a young man in New York City in 1929. He works in a car factory, and he's excited
about the future. His friends say, "Buy stocks! You’ll become rich!"
So, John puts all his money into the stock market — just like millions of others. The market
keeps going up and up, and people think it will never stop. But the truth is — it was like a
bubble. People were buying shares without thinking, even borrowing money to invest.
On October 24, 1929 — now called Black Thursday — the bubble burst. Stock prices fell like
a stone. Panic started. People rushed to sell their shares. On October 29 (Black Tuesday), the
market crashed completely.
John lost all his savings in one day. The factory he worked at shut down. He had no money,
no job, and no hope. Millions of people were like John — caught in this disaster.
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Major Causes of the Great Depression
Here are some simple reasons why the Depression happened:
1. Overcondence in Stock Market
• People thought stock prices would rise forever.
• Many bought shares by borrowing money.
• When prices fell, they couldn’t repay their loans.
2. Bank Failures
• Around 9,000 banks in the U.S. failed.
• People lost their life savings.
• Trust in the banking system was broken.
3. Overproducon
• Factories made more goods than people could buy.
• As a result, goods piled up, and prices fell.
• Businesses earned less and red workers.
4. Unequal Wealth Distribuon
• Rich became richer, but the poor remained poor.
• Most people had no extra money to spend.
• This led to low demand, which hurt businesses.
5. Global Economic Problems
• Aer World War I, many European countries were already weak.
• They depended on loans from the U.S.
• When the U.S. economy crashed, it aected the whole world.
Impact of the Great Depression
The eects were shocking and widespread, like a chain reacon:
1. Mass Unemployment
• In the U.S., 25% of people lost their jobs.
• In Germany, unemployment crossed 6 million.
• No jobs meant no income, and people couldn’t even buy food.
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2. Extreme Poverty and Homelessness
• People lost their homes.
• Families lived in shanty towns called "Hoovervilles" (named aer President Hoover,
who was blamed for the crisis).
• In some cases, parents sent their children away because they couldn’t feed them.
3. Hunger and Malnutrion
• Long lines formed outside soup kitchens.
• People ate cheap or expired food, just to survive.
4. Collapse of Businesses and Banks
• Thousands of businesses and banks closed forever.
• Farmers were hit hard too. Crop prices fell, and many lost their lands.
5. Mental Stress and Suicides
• People became depressed, anxious, and hopeless.
• Many commied suicide due to nancial loss.
6. Rise of Extremist Polics
• In countries like Germany, the crisis helped Hitler rise to power.
• People turned to dictators as they lost faith in democracy.
• This indirectly led to World War II.
Impact on the World
• United States: Worst aected. GDP fell by 30%. Millions lost jobs and homes.
• Germany: Suered from huge unemployment and inaon. The Nazi Party gained
popularity.
• Britain and France: Also faced unemployment and trade loss.
• India (under Brish rule): Indian farmers suered as crop prices fell, and taxes
remained high. Famines and poverty increased.
Steps Taken to Fight the Depression
1. In the U.S. – The New Deal (by President Franklin D. Roosevelt)
• Started in 1933.
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• Government created jobs through public works (like building roads, bridges, etc.).
• Social Security was introduced.
• Banks were given rules to protect savings.
• It helped slowly recover the economy.
2. Worldwide Eorts
• Many governments started controlling markets and giving relief to workers.
• Some countries turned to militarism (like Germany, Italy, and Japan) to solve
unemployment — which eventually led to World War II.
Facts & Data to Remember
• Stock Market Crash: October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday)
• U.S. Unemployment: Over 25% in 1933
• Bank Failures: Over 9,000 banks collapsed in the U.S.
• Global GDP dropped by 15%
Conclusion
The Great Depression of 1929 was not just a fall in money or stocks — it was a me of
human suering, hopelessness, and huge lessons. It showed how a booming economy can
fall overnight if it is not balanced and fair.
8. Discuss the causes of World War II and its aermaths.
Ans: What was World War II?
Before we jump into causes and aermaths, let’s understand the basic idea:
World War II (1939–1945) was the deadliest war in human history. It involved most countries
of the world and led to the deaths of more than 70 million people. It was fought mainly
between two groups:
• Allied Powers – Britain, France, Soviet Union, USA, China, etc.
• Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Now, let’s understand why this war happened and what happened aer it ended.
Causes of World War II
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To understand the causes, imagine a story like this:
Story Example:
Aer World War I ended in 1918, the world was like a broken family. Germany was blamed
for everything. They were heavily punished, forced to pay huge money (called reparaons),
lost land, and their people became very poor and angry.
Now imagine a student (Germany) in a school who is blamed for a ght. The teachers punish
him by taking away his books, lunch, and friends. Years later, that student becomes angry,
joins a gang, and starts a bigger ght to take revenge.
That’s what happened in real life. Now let’s understand the real causes one by one.
1. Treaty of Versailles (1919) – the unfair punishment
• Aer WWI, Germany was blamed for the war and was forced to sign this treaty.
• They lost 13% of their land, had to pay 33 billion dollars in reparaons.
• Their army was reduced, and they couldn’t even make new weapons.
• Result? Germans felt humiliated and angry.
• This planted the seeds of revenge.
2. Rise of Dictators – Hitler, Mussolini, and Militarism
• In Germany, Adolf Hitler became powerful. He promised to make Germany great
again.
• In Italy, Mussolini did the same.
• In Japan, military leaders took control and wanted to expand the Japanese empire.
These dictators believed in aggression, war, and power.
Hitler formed the Nazi Party, which was very aggressive and racist.
FACT: Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and started breaking the Treaty rules
immediately.
3. Economic Depression (1929) – Global Financial Crisis
• In 1929, a global economic crisis (called The Great Depression) happened.
• Many people lost jobs, homes, and savings.
• Poor countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan thought war could solve their problems
by geng more land and resources.
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Simple Example:
If many students are hungry and poor, some may start ghng to take food from others.
That’s what happened with countries.
4. Failure of League of Naons
• Aer WWI, a group called the League of Naons was made to stop wars.
• But it was weak. It had no army, and powerful countries didn’t listen to it.
• When Japan aacked Manchuria (China) in 1931, or when Italy invaded Ethiopia in
1935 — the League did nothing.
Fact: The USA never even joined the League.
5. Policy of Appeasement
• Britain and France were scared of war, so they allowed Hitler to do many wrong
things.
• Example: In 1938, Hitler took over Austria and Czechoslovakia, and nobody stopped
him.
• They thought, “Maybe if we give him what he wants, he’ll stop.”
But Hitler wanted more. He got more condent and aggressive.
6. Immediate Cause – Invasion of Poland (1939)
• On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
• Britain and France had warned Hitler not to do this.
• So, they nally declared war on Germany.
This was the start of World War II.
Aermaths of World War II (What happened aer it ended?)
The war ended in 1945 when Germany surrendered in May and Japan surrendered in August
aer the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA.
Let’s see what happened next.
1. Massive Destrucon and Death
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• Over 70 million people died — soldiers and civilians.
• Cies like Berlin, Warsaw, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki were destroyed.
• 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust by Hitler’s Nazis.
Example: Imagine every single person in a country like the UK or France losing a family
member — that’s how painful it was.
2. Creaon of United Naons (UN) – 1945
• The League of Naons had failed.
• So, in October 1945, the United Naons (UN) was formed to maintain world peace
and prevent future wars.
• All major countries became members and sll are today.
3. End of Colonialism
• Aer the war, many European countries were weak.
• Countries like India (1947), Indonesia (1945), and many in Africa started demanding
independence.
Fact: More than 70 colonies became independent aer WWII.
4. Cold War Begins (USA vs USSR)
• Aer the war, two superpowers emerged: USA (capitalist) and USSR (communist).
• They didn’t ght directly but started a Cold War — a tense compeon in polics,
space, and weapons.
• The world got divided: Western countries followed USA, while Eastern Europe
followed USSR.
5. Germany Divided
• Germany was divided into East Germany (controlled by USSR) and West Germany
(controlled by USA, UK, France).
• Berlin Wall later came up in 1961 — symbol of Cold War division.
6. Formaon of New Alliances
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• NATO (1949) – USA and its allies.
• Warsaw Pact (1955) – USSR and its allies.
The world became a dangerous place with nuclear weapons.
7. War Crimes Trials – Nuremberg Trials
• Nazi leaders were put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• Many were punished and executed.
In Simple Summary
Causes of WWII:
• Harsh Treaty of Versailles
• Rise of Hitler and dictators
• Economic Depression
• Failure of League of Naons
• Appeasement policy
• Invasion of Poland
Aermaths of WWII:
• Massive death and destrucon
• Formaon of United Naons
• Cold War begins
• Decolonizaon (countries got independence)
• Germany divided
• New alliances (NATO & Warsaw Pact)
• War crime punishments
“This paper has been carefully prepared for educaonal purposes. If you noce any
mistakes or have suggesons, feel free to share your feedback.”
