NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 8 Clothing: A Social History

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 8 Clothing: A Social History

Textbook Exercises

Question 1.
Explain the reasons for the changes in clothing patterns and materials in the eighteenth century.
Answer:
The eighteenth century Europe witnessed changes in the clothing patterns and materials. The French revolution ended the sumptuary laws meant for the socially inferiors. From now on, both, men and women, in France,.began wearing clothing that was loose and comfortable. The colours of France—blue, white and red-became popular. The other political symbols too became a part of dress were the red cap of liberty, long trousers and the revolutionary cockade pinned on to the hat. The simplicity of clothing was meant to express the idea of equality, so significant in the French revolution.

Question 2.
What were the sumptuary laws in France?
Answer:
The sumptuary Jaws were related to the dress and food codes during the medieval France/until the French revolution. The socially inferiors were to observe these laws, preventing them from wearing certain clothes, consuming certain foods and be erages (usually this referred to alcohol) and hunting game in certain areas. In medieval France, the items of clothing a person could purchase per year was regulated not only by income but also by social rank. The material to be used for clothing was also legally prescribed. Only royalty could war expensive materials like. ermine and fur, or silk, velvet and brocade.

Question 3.
Give any two examples of the ways in which the European dress codes were different from the Indian dress codes.
Answer:
There are numerous differences between the dress codes of the Europeans and the Indians. One exaimple is while the Europeans wear hat, the Indians use turban or cap. Another difference, usually the dhoti by men and sari by women. These differences relate to the times before the coming of the British in India.

Question 4.
In 1805, a British official, Benjamin Heyne, listed the manufactures of Bangalore which included the following:
— Women’s cloth of different musters and names
— Coarse chintz
— Muslins
— Silk cloths
Of this list, which kind of cloth would have definitely fallen out of use in the early 1800s and why?
Answer:
Muslins. Such a kind of cloth so fitted the body that it led to deformities.

Question 5.
Suggest reasons why women in nineteenth century India were obliged to continue wearing traditional Indian dress even when men switched over to the more convenient Western clothing. What does this show about the position of women in society?
Answer:
Women in the 19th, century India wore the traditional Indian dress because they still were confined to the household duties. Men, on the other hand, were exposed to the outer world. As such, they began wearing the western-style clothing, especially those who were engaged in. East India Company. The women had to wear the traditional clothes because caste norms did not relish the changed dress codes of the women. Furthermore, the traditional clothing which women used to wear were comfortable one.

Question 6.
Winston Churchill described Mahatma Gandhi as a ‘seditious Middle Temple Lawyer’ now ‘posing as a half naked fakir’.
What provoked such a comment and what does it tell you about the symbolic strength of Mahatma Gandhi’s dress?
Answer:
Winston Churchill was, by temperate and nature, an imperialist and by design, autocratic and arrogant. He made these comments about Gandhiji out of sheer jealousy, without knowing the support that half naked fakir’ had. Gandhiji’s strength lay in his simplicity and the live he had received form the millions of Indians for whom he not only lived, but died also. He, as the apostle of peace grandeur and simplicity, was much greater than millions of Churchills put together.

Question 7.
Why did Mahatma Gandhi dream of clothing the nation in khadi appeal only, to some sections of Indians?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was the greatest of the great which India has produced. He had mass appeal, with millions of Indians following him blindly. He was a simple man and knew the plight of a common poor Indian. He dressed himself as simple as possible. The use of Khadi by the Indian spun through charakha was symbolic of India’s patriotism. He knew that the common Indians could hardly afford costly clothes. That is different thing that some sections of Indians didnot subscribe to his views.

These Solutions are part of NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science. Here we have given NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 8 Clothing: A Social History.

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