Question

What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian history that James Mill offers?

NCERT Class 8th Social Science Chapter 1 How, When and Where

Answer 1

The book of James Mill was divided into three periods, Hindu, Muslims and British. According to the Indian history, the British rule signifies all the forces of civilization and progress and the period before it signifies merely darkness, caste taboos, religious intolerance and other bad practices. However, some of his views were not accepted due to the following reasons:

All rulers in the ancient India did not share the same faith.

There were different faiths, which were existed in the periods and categorized as Hindu and Muslim by Mill.

The two other religions also developed known as Buddhism and Jainism, which spread to the other parts of the world. 

Answer 2

Answer :

James mill divided Indian history into Hinduism and Muslim and British periods.

This periodisation is based on the religious line that there was a face for which the Hindu were the rulers and other work ruled.

Then came the face of the Muslims and Britishers i.e. Christians. He had a colonial mind and thought asians to have poorly civilized. He felt Europeans to be superior.

So , infact, through this periodisation he tried to divide the people with their own specific identity which was not a correct.

During the Muslim and British they were were thousands of Hindu and Muslim princely states.

So , this is not a proper periodisation of Indian history.

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