The Making of a Global World
एक वैश्विक दुनिया का बनना
📋 Chapter at a Glance
| 📚 Subject | History (India and Contemporary World-II) |
| 🎓 Class | 10th (RBSE / CBSE) |
| 📖 Chapter | 3 - The Making of a Global World |
| 📊 Board Weightage | 4-6 Marks (out of 20) |
| ⏰ Time Period | Pre-modern to 20th Century |
| 📅 Exam Date | 17 February 2026 |
📚 Related Chapters (History)
← Chapter 1: Rise of Nationalism in Europe
← Chapter 2: Nationalism in India
→ Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation (Coming Soon)
📑 Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Pre-Modern World
3. Silk Routes
4. Food Travels
5. Conquest, Disease and Trade
6. The 19th Century (1815-1914)
7. Role of Technology
8. Late 19th Century Colonialism
9. Rinderpest in Africa
10. Indentured Labour Migration
11. Indian Entrepreneurs Abroad
12. Indian Trade, Colonialism and Global System
13. The Inter-War Economy
14. The Great Depression
15. India and the Great Depression
16. Post-WWII Bretton Woods
17. Important Dates Timeline
18. Key Terms Glossary
19. MCQ Questions
20. Short Answer Questions
21. Long Answer Questions
22. Quick Revision
1. Introduction
Globalisation is not a new phenomenon. The world has been interconnected through trade, migration, and cultural exchange for thousands of years. This chapter traces the history of how the modern world became increasingly interconnected through three phases: the pre-modern world, the 19th century, and the inter-war period.
We will explore how trade in silk, spices, precious metals, and food items connected distant parts of the world long before modern transportation. We will examine how colonialism, industrialisation, and technology transformed global trade and labour migration in the 19th century, and how the Great Depression and World Wars reshaped the global economic order.
📘 Key Concept: Three Types of Movement/Flows
Economists identify three types of flows within international economic exchanges:
1. Trade (flow of goods): Cotton, silk, spices, manufactured goods
2. Labour (flow of people): Migration of workers to new lands
3. Capital (flow of investments): Short-term and long-term loans and investments
2. The Pre-Modern World
Long before the advent of modern transportation and communication, vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural links existed between distant parts of the world. Travelers, traders, priests, and pilgrims traveled vast distances for knowledge, opportunity, spiritual fulfillment, or to escape persecution.
These early connections shaped modern civilizations by spreading ideas, religions, technologies, and disease across continents.
3. The Silk Routes
The term "Silk Routes" refers to the network of ancient trade routes that linked the East (China) with the West (Roman Empire and Europe). The name comes from the lucrative trade in Chinese silk carried out along these routes.
Figure 1: The Ancient Silk Routes connecting China with Rome (Map not to scale)
Key Facts About Silk Routes
• The Silk Routes were active for over 2,000 years (from about 1st century BCE)
• There were multiple routes - both overland and by sea
• Chinese silk was traded for gold and silver from Europe
• Buddhism spread from India to Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan through these routes
• Christian missionaries and later Muslim preachers also traveled these routes
• Besides silk, spices, textiles, precious metals, and precious stones were traded
💡 Did You Know?
The Silk Routes were not just about trade. They were channels for the spread of religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam), technologies (papermaking, gunpowder from China), and diseases (the Black Death may have traveled along these routes).
4. Food Travels: Spaghetti and Potato
Food offers many examples of long-distance cultural exchange. Traders and travelers introduced new crops to the lands they traveled. Even common foods we eat today originated in far-away lands.
Origin of Common Foods
| Food Item | Original Home | When Introduced to World |
|---|---|---|
| 🍝 Noodles/Spaghetti | China | Reached Italy via Arab traders (became Pasta) |
| 🥔 Potato | Americas (Peru) | Introduced to Europe by Spanish after 1492 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Americas (Mexico) | Reached Europe in 16th century |
| 🌶️ Chillies (Mirchi) | Americas | Reached India via Portuguese (16th century) |
| 🌽 Maize (Corn) | Americas | Spread after Columbus (1492) |
| 🥜 Groundnuts | Americas (Brazil) | Brought to Africa and India by Portuguese |
🌍 Impact of Food Exchange
The introduction of new crops like potato, maize, and groundnuts from the Americas to Europe, Asia, and Africa transformed food cultures and helped reduce famines. The potato, for example, became a staple food in Europe and later in India.
5. Conquest, Disease and Trade
The 16th century onwards, the European seafarers found a sea route to Asia and also discovered the Americas. This marked the beginning of a new era of global trade, colonialism, and disease transmission.
European Discovery of the Americas
• In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas (he thought it was India)
• Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors conquered vast parts of Americas
• The Aztec Empire (Mexico) and Inca Empire (Peru) were destroyed
Role of Disease: The Silent Killer
⚠️ Exam Important: Why Europeans Conquered Americas
The most powerful weapon of the Spanish conquerors was not their superior firearms, but germs such as smallpox:
• The Native Americans had no immunity against European diseases
• Smallpox spread like wildfire, killing millions
• It is estimated that 90% of the native population was wiped out by disease
• Whole communities were destroyed before they could fight back
Wealth from the Americas
• Europeans extracted gold and silver from mines in Peru and Mexico
• This wealth enhanced Europe's economic power
• It financed European trade with Asia (buying spices, silk, etc.)
The Atlantic Slave Trade
As native populations declined, Europeans needed labor for plantations (sugar, cotton, tobacco) and mines. This led to the brutal slave trade:
• Over 12 million Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas (15th-19th century)
• The Triangle Trade: Europe → Africa (guns, cloth) → Americas (slaves) → Europe (sugar, cotton)
• Conditions were inhumane; millions died during the Middle Passage (journey across Atlantic)
Figure 2: The Triangular Trade connecting Europe, Africa, and Americas
6. The Nineteenth Century (1815-1914)
The 19th century saw a dramatic transformation in the world economy. Industrialisation, colonialism, and new technologies like railways and steamships revolutionized trade, labor migration, and capital flows.
A World Economy Takes Shape
By 1914, the world economy was fundamentally different from what it had been in 1815:
• Self-sufficient economies were replaced by interdependent economies
• Britain emerged as the center of the world economy
• Trade in food grains, raw materials, and manufactured goods grew enormously
• Capital flowed from Europe to colonies and newly settled regions
• Labor migration on an unprecedented scale occurred
Britain and the Corn Laws
📘 What were Corn Laws?
Corn Laws were laws passed in Britain that restricted the import of food grains (corn) to protect domestic farmers by keeping prices high.
Repeal of Corn Laws (1846): Under pressure from industrialists and urban consumers who wanted cheap food, these laws were abolished in 1846.
Impact: Britain began importing cheap agricultural products from America, Australia, and other regions. This marked Britain's shift to free trade.
Impact on World Agriculture
After the Corn Laws were repealed, cheap food imports flooded Britain. This had a global impact:
• Food prices fell in Britain, benefiting urban workers
• British agriculture declined as farmers couldn't compete with cheap imports
• Vast lands were cleared in America, Australia, Argentina for farming
• Railways connected interior farming regions to ports
• Steamships transported food cheaply across oceans
7. Role of Technology
Technology played a crucial role in transforming 19th-century world trade. New technologies reduced transport costs and time, making global trade economically viable.
Key Technological Innovations
| Technology | Impact on Global Trade |
|---|---|
| 🚂 Railways | Connected interior regions to ports; made transportation of bulk goods cheap |
| 🚢 Steamships | Faster and more reliable than sailing ships; reduced shipping costs |
| 📡 Telegraph | Instant communication across continents; helped coordinate trade |
| ❄️ Refrigerated Ships | Enabled transport of perishable goods (meat, fruits) over long distances |
💡 Refrigerated Ships: A Game Changer
Before refrigeration, animals were shipped live from America or Australia to Europe. Many died, got sick, or became unfit for consumption. Refrigerated ships allowed frozen meat to be transported, reducing shipping costs and losses. This enabled meat prices to fall in Europe, improving diets of common people.
8. Late 19th Century Colonialism
Trade flourished and markets expanded in the late 19th century, but this process was not always peaceful. Colonial powers used military force to open markets and acquire territories.
European Imperialism in Africa
• In 1885, European powers met at the Berlin Conference to divide Africa
• By 1914, almost all of Africa was colonized by European powers
• Only Ethiopia and Liberia remained independent
• Africa was valued for its minerals, rubber, and ivory
9. Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague
Rinderpest is an excellent example of how colonial powers used ecological disasters to strengthen their control over Africa.
⚠️ Exam Important: Rinderpest Case Study
What was Rinderpest?
• Rinderpest was a deadly cattle disease
• It arrived in Africa in 1890s with infected cattle imported from British Asia
• It spread like wildfire, killing 90% of cattle in eastern and southern Africa
Impact on African Society:
• Africans' livelihoods were destroyed (cattle were their main source of wealth)
• They lost the power to resist colonisers
• Colonial governments monopolized veterinary medicines
• Africans were forced to work in mines and plantations
10. Indentured Labour Migration from India
In the 19th century, hundreds of thousands of Indian and Chinese laborers went to work on plantations, in mines, and in road and railway construction projects around the world. This system was called Indentured Labour.
What is Indentured Labour?
📘 Definition: Indentured Labour
Indentured labour was a system where workers signed a contract (or indenture) to work for an employer for a specific period (usually 5 years) in return for their passage to the destination country. They had very few legal rights and were subject to harsh conditions.
Where Did Indian Indentured Workers Go?
| Destination | Type of Work |
|---|---|
| Caribbean Islands (Trinidad, Guyana) | Sugar plantations |
| Mauritius | Sugar plantations |
| Fiji | Sugar plantations |
| Ceylon (Sri Lanka) | Tea plantations |
| Malaya (Malaysia) | Rubber plantations |
| East Africa, South Africa | Railways, mines |
Who Were the Indentured Workers?
• Most came from eastern UP, Bihar, central India, and Tamil Nadu
• They were mainly poor peasants and tribals
• Many were driven by poverty, debt, and famine
• Some sought adventure or to escape oppression
• They were recruited by agents called "maistries"
Conditions of Indentured Workers
• Many were given false information about destination and work
• Conditions on the sea voyage were harsh
• Wages were low and working conditions brutal
• They had very few legal rights
• Failure to complete the contract was punishable as a criminal offence
New Cultures in New Lands
Despite hardships, indentured workers created new cultural forms that blended Indian and local traditions:
• "Hosay" (Trinidad): A riotous carnival with Muharram procession roots
• "Chutney Music" (Caribbean): Blends Indian and Afro-Caribbean music
• Rastafarianism (Jamaica): Influenced by Indian migrants
• V.S. Naipaul (Nobel Prize winner) is of Indian indentured descent (Trinidad)
💡 Did You Know?
Indian indentured labor was abolished in 1921. Today, descendants of indentured workers form significant populations in Mauritius (~70%), Fiji (~40%), Trinidad (~40%), and Guyana (~40%).
11. Indian Entrepreneurs Abroad
Not all Indians who went abroad were indentured workers. Indian traders and moneylenders (Shikaripuri shroffs and Nattukotai Chettiars) also followed European colonizers around the world.
Key Indian Business Groups Abroad
• Shikaripuri Shroffs: Bankers from Punjab; operated in Central and Southeast Asia
• Nattukotai Chettiars: From Tamil Nadu; financed exports in Southeast Asia
• They provided finance and credit for plantations, mining, and trade
• Their operation covered Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa
12. Indian Trade, Colonialism and the Global System
India played a crucial role in the 19th-century world economy, but this role was shaped by colonial exploitation.
Britain's Trade Surplus with India
⚠️ Exam Important: How Britain Exploited India
• Britain had a trade surplus with India (exported more than it imported)
• India exported raw cotton, jute, indigo, opium, tea
• India imported manufactured goods from Britain
• Britain used this surplus to pay for its trade deficit with other countries
• The "Home Charges" (payments for Britain's India administration) also drained wealth
Figure 3: How Britain used India's trade surplus to balance its global trade
13. The Inter-War Economy (1919-1939)
World War I (1914-1918) marked a turning point in world history. The war and its aftermath transformed the global economy.
Impact of World War I
• 9 million dead; 20 million injured
• Most deaths were of young working-age men
• Reduced the workforce in Europe
• Industries were restructured for war production
• Women entered the workforce in large numbers
Post-War Economic Problems
• Britain: Borrowed heavily from the USA; ended the war as a debtor nation
• USA: Emerged as an international creditor
• War-time industries struggled to return to peacetime production
• Agricultural overproduction led to falling prices and farm debts
14. The Great Depression (1929-1930s)
The Great Depression was the most severe economic crisis of the 20th century. It began in the USA in 1929 and spread to the entire world.
⚠️ Exam Most Important: Great Depression
When: Started in October 1929; lasted through most of the 1930s
What: Sharp decline in production, employment, incomes, and international trade
Where: Started in USA; spread to the whole world
Causes of the Great Depression
1. Agricultural Overproduction: Farm output increased, but prices fell. Farmers couldn't sell their produce or repay loans.
2. Stock Market Crash (1929): On 24 October 1929 (Black Thursday), the US stock market crashed. Share prices fell dramatically.
3. Bank Failures: Banks collapsed as people rushed to withdraw savings. Credit dried up.
4. Fall in US Imports: USA stopped importing and called back overseas loans.
5. Double Obligation of Debtor Countries: Countries faced falling exports AND rising debts.
Impact of the Great Depression
| Country/Region | Impact |
|---|---|
| USA | Unemployment rose to 25%; factories closed; banks failed |
| Europe | Mass unemployment; rise of fascism in Germany (Hitler) |
| Latin America | Export prices crashed; economies devastated |
| India | Agricultural prices crashed by 50%; peasants suffered terribly |
💡 Memory Tip: Great Depression
"1929 - Black Thursday - Banks Bust - Britain Bankrupt"
Remember: The Great Depression started with the Stock Market Crash of October 1929 (Black Thursday/Black Tuesday), led to bank failures, and spread from USA to the world.
15. India and the Great Depression
The Great Depression affected India severely, particularly agricultural India.
Impact on Indian Agriculture
• Agricultural prices fell by 50% between 1928 and 1934
• Export of wheat and raw jute crashed
• Peasants' incomes declined drastically
• But the colonial government refused to reduce taxes
• Peasants fell into deep debt
Paradox: India's Gold Exports
📘 Key Concept: India's Gold Outflow
During the Depression, India exported gold in large quantities:
• Desperate peasants sold their gold ornaments and jewelry to pay debts
• Britain welcomed this gold inflow to recover from its own crisis
• India's gold exports did NOT benefit Indian people
• It reflected deep rural poverty, not prosperity
Urban Impact
• Urban India was less severely affected
• Industrial investment grew as falling prices reduced imports
• Salaried employees benefited from falling prices
16. Rebuilding a World Economy: The Post-War Era
World War II (1939-1945) was even more devastating than World War I. After the war, world leaders sought to create a stable economic system to prevent another depression.
The Bretton Woods Conference (1944)
📘 What was Bretton Woods?
Bretton Woods Conference was held in July 1944 at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Representatives from 44 nations met to create a post-war economic order.
Key Outcomes of Bretton Woods
1. International Monetary Fund (IMF): Created to deal with external surpluses and deficits of member nations
2. World Bank (IBRD): Created to finance post-war reconstruction
3. Fixed Exchange Rates: National currencies pegged to the US dollar
4. US Dollar: Linked to gold at a fixed price ($35 per ounce)
The Bretton Woods System
| Institution | Full Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| IMF | International Monetary Fund | Stabilize currencies; provide short-term loans |
| World Bank | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) | Finance reconstruction and development projects |
Post-War Economic Boom (1950s-1970s)
The Bretton Woods system ushered in an era of unprecedented economic growth:
• World trade grew massively
• Incomes rose in most industrial nations
• Employment was stable and growing
• This period is called the "Golden Age of Capitalism"
End of Bretton Woods (1971)
• The system collapsed in 1971
• The US could no longer convert dollars to gold at fixed price
• Floating exchange rates replaced fixed rates
• This opened the way for modern globalization
🌍 Decolonisation and the New World Order
After WWII, many colonies gained independence (India in 1947). The new nations (Third World or developing countries) sought rapid economic development. They criticized the IMF and World Bank for being dominated by Western interests. In the 1970s, these institutions began focusing more on developing countries.
17. Important Dates Timeline
| Year/Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 3000 BCE onwards | Ancient Silk Routes active |
| 1492 | Columbus discovers Americas |
| 15th-19th Century | Atlantic Slave Trade (12 million Africans transported) |
| 1846 | Corn Laws repealed in Britain |
| 1885 | Berlin Conference (Scramble for Africa) |
| 1890s | Rinderpest plague in Africa |
| 1914-1918 | World War I |
| 1921 | Indentured labour abolished |
| Oct 1929 | Great Depression begins (Stock Market Crash) |
| 1930s | Great Depression spreads worldwide |
| 1939-1945 | World War II |
| July 1944 | Bretton Woods Conference (IMF and World Bank created) |
| 1947 | India gains independence |
| 1971 | Bretton Woods system collapses; floating exchange rates |
19. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
20. Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks)
21. Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
22. Quick Revision Summary
🎯 Last Minute Revision Points
✅ Three Flows: Trade (goods), Labour (people), Capital (money)
✅ Silk Routes: Connected China to Rome; spread Buddhism, trade
✅ Foods from Americas: Potato, Tomato, Chilli, Maize, Groundnut
✅ 1492: Columbus discovers Americas
✅ Smallpox: Killed 90% of Native Americans
✅ 1846: Corn Laws repealed in Britain
✅ Technologies: Railways, Steamships, Telegraph, Refrigerated ships
✅ 1885: Berlin Conference (Scramble for Africa)
✅ Rinderpest: Cattle plague; killed 90% cattle in Africa (1890s)
✅ Indentured Labour: Indians went to Caribbean, Fiji, Mauritius; abolished 1921
✅ Indian Bankers Abroad: Shikaripuri Shroffs, Nattukotai Chettiars
✅ 1929: Great Depression begins (Stock Market Crash)
✅ India in Depression: Agri prices fell 50%; gold exports increased
✅ 1944: Bretton Woods Conference (IMF + World Bank created)
✅ 1971: Bretton Woods system collapses
🧠 Memory Tricks
Foods from Americas (PTCMG):
📌 Potato, Tomato, Chilli, Maize, Groundnut
Three Flows (TLC):
📌 Trade, Labour, Capital
Bretton Woods (1944 = BMW):
📌 Bretton woods → Monetary Fund → World Bank
Great Depression (1929):
📌 "19-29 Depression = 1+9+2+9 = 21 = 21st century crisis origin"
📚 Marwari Mission 100
RBSE Class 10 Social Science - Complete Study Material
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Content prepared for RBSE/CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026
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