Question

Decline of handicrafts in the 19th century

Answer 1

Answer:

Tha major causes of decline in handicrafts in India during the British rule were: (i) disappearance of court culture; (ii) adverse influence of British rule on tastes and habits; (iii) competition from European manufacturers; (iv) one way free trade policy of the British; (v) exploitation of craftsmen by merchants, etc ...

Many artisans, faced with diminishing returns and repressive policies (in Bengal, during the Company's rule, artisans were paid low wages and forced to sell their products at low prices), abandoned their professions, moved to villages and took to agriculture. This resulted in increased pressure on land.