CBSE Class 10 Answered

Why the historians focus on industrialisation rather than on small workshops? What historians choose to notice and what they ignore? Why ?

Asked by pdcavita | 27 Oct, 2017, 08:36: PM

Expert Answer

Generally historians focus on big events that substantially change the lives of people. This also stands true of industrialisation. Industrialisation from 18th century onwards impacted not only the economy but also politics of various countries. Britain as a result of industrialisation emerged as a economic power. It gradually also became a political power too. Then began the process of colonisation. European countries in order to sell their manufactured goods began colonising Asian and African countries. This ruined their economies.

It was because the impact of industrialisation was huge, historians have focused more on it rather than on small workshops. Workshops employ only limited number of people and produced in limited quantity. It impact only the local economy of a town or a city unlike big factories which impact the economy of the entire country.

Historians while writing history may choose or ignore events based on their ideologies, education and preferences. This differ from person to person. For example, various historians during the Industrial Revolution in Britain largely concentrated on writing about the textile industries rather than iron and steel industries which developed during the later phase of the Industrial Revolution.

Historians also mainly write about those events which impact large number of people in a big way than events which only impact small number of people. Historians in the 19th century wrote mainly about the policies of the kings and wars rather than writing about the lives of common people and marginalised sections of the society.

Note: Please note that it is a high order thinking question and its answer may vary from person to person.

Answered by Social Science Expert | 29 Oct, 2017, 06:58: PM