Revision Notes
Class - 9 History
Chapter 4 – Forest Society and Colonialism
Despite the fact that we are living in a hyper-industrialized period, woods
continue to play an important role in our lives. The paper for your books and
copies comes from the forest. The cooking oil, gum, coffee, honey, the fruits
you eat, the material with which tires are made, a lot of medicines, timbers, and
a whole lot of other things come from the forest. How come so many things are
available in the forest? Because forests house a variety of trees, not just one or
two kinds. However, the trees in the forest are fast disappearing to make way
for the growing population and their cultivation needs. CBSE Class 9 Social
Science History Chapter 4 is dedicated to the historical analysis of the forest
society in India, how it suffered when the British Raj came, and what happened
afterward.
a) The trend of the decline in forest cover in the colonial and post-colonial
India
, b) Why Were the Forests Cleared?
The felling of trees and deforestation is not a sickness of the modern world. It
has its roots in the past - even before the British came to India. But when the
British came, this deforestation became an organized affair. The rate of
deforestation increased too. So what was the reason for the deforestation?
c) The Need for More Land to Cultivate
With the increase in population, people had to clear forests to increase the land
for cultivation. As your book informs, in the 1600s only one-sixth of the land
was used for cultivation. Now, almost half of the landmass is used for
cultivation.
As the British settled in India, the rate of cultivation increased manifold.
During the 17th and 18th century the population of Europe exploded. To
feed this huge population the British wanted to export sugar, wheat,
barley, etc.
On the other hand, the British also wanted India to be the primary
exporter of raw cotton so that English industries could have a steady
supply of raw materials.
Because of these reasons, they encouraged cultivation. And as a result,
the British supported the clearing of the forests.
The British were of the opinion that the forests were useless and more
and more forests should be cleared so that cultivation could happen which
would increase the income of the state.
d). The Export of Timber
England faced a severe shortage of oak forests in the 19th century.
This resulted in the short supply of timber for the Royal Navy.
So, once again India became their favorite destination to plunder. From
1820 to 1830 and thereafter, they started growing a vast number of trees
and exported the timbers to England.
Class - 9 History
Chapter 4 – Forest Society and Colonialism
Despite the fact that we are living in a hyper-industrialized period, woods
continue to play an important role in our lives. The paper for your books and
copies comes from the forest. The cooking oil, gum, coffee, honey, the fruits
you eat, the material with which tires are made, a lot of medicines, timbers, and
a whole lot of other things come from the forest. How come so many things are
available in the forest? Because forests house a variety of trees, not just one or
two kinds. However, the trees in the forest are fast disappearing to make way
for the growing population and their cultivation needs. CBSE Class 9 Social
Science History Chapter 4 is dedicated to the historical analysis of the forest
society in India, how it suffered when the British Raj came, and what happened
afterward.
a) The trend of the decline in forest cover in the colonial and post-colonial
India
, b) Why Were the Forests Cleared?
The felling of trees and deforestation is not a sickness of the modern world. It
has its roots in the past - even before the British came to India. But when the
British came, this deforestation became an organized affair. The rate of
deforestation increased too. So what was the reason for the deforestation?
c) The Need for More Land to Cultivate
With the increase in population, people had to clear forests to increase the land
for cultivation. As your book informs, in the 1600s only one-sixth of the land
was used for cultivation. Now, almost half of the landmass is used for
cultivation.
As the British settled in India, the rate of cultivation increased manifold.
During the 17th and 18th century the population of Europe exploded. To
feed this huge population the British wanted to export sugar, wheat,
barley, etc.
On the other hand, the British also wanted India to be the primary
exporter of raw cotton so that English industries could have a steady
supply of raw materials.
Because of these reasons, they encouraged cultivation. And as a result,
the British supported the clearing of the forests.
The British were of the opinion that the forests were useless and more
and more forests should be cleared so that cultivation could happen which
would increase the income of the state.
d). The Export of Timber
England faced a severe shortage of oak forests in the 19th century.
This resulted in the short supply of timber for the Royal Navy.
So, once again India became their favorite destination to plunder. From
1820 to 1830 and thereafter, they started growing a vast number of trees
and exported the timbers to England.
