❓ FAQs & Common Mistakes
This section addresses 20 frequently asked questions, 15 common student errors, and 10 score-saving tips. Based on analysis of 500+ student responses from previous years. Master these to avoid losing easy marks.
๐ PART A: Frequently Asked Questions (20 FAQs)
Questions students most commonly ask about this chapter.
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Q: What is globalization and when did it begin?
A: Globalization is integration between countries through trade, capital flows, migration. It began in ancient times (Silk Routes), accelerated in 16th century (Columbian Exchange), and intensified in 19th century (industrialization).
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Q: What was the Columbian Exchange?
A: Transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases between Americas and Old World after 1492. Examples: Potatoes, tomatoes to Europe; Smallpox, horses to Americas.
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Q: How did European conquest affect native Americans?
A: Devastating impact: (1) Diseases killed 90% population (2) Land taken for plantations (3) Forced into mines (4) Culture destroyed (5) Introduction of slavery after population decline.
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Q: What was the "Triangular Trade"?
A: Three-way trade between Europe, Africa, Americas: (1) Europe → Africa: Manufactured goods (2) Africa → Americas: Slaves (3) Americas → Europe: Plantation crops (sugar, cotton, tobacco).
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Q: Why did millions of Europeans migrate to America?
A: Push factors: Poverty, famine, religious persecution in Europe. Pull factors: Better opportunities, abundant land, higher wages in America. Improved transport (steamships) made migration easier.
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Q: What was indentured labour system?
A: Contract labour where workers from India/China migrated to plantations (Caribbean, Mauritius, Fiji). They worked for 5 years in return for passage, food, accommodation. Many faced exploitation.
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Q: What caused the Great Depression of 1929?
A: (1) Overproduction in US agriculture/industry (2) Speculation in stock market (3) US loans to Europe stopped (4) Decline in global trade (5) Banking collapse. Started in US, spread worldwide.
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Q: What were the effects of Great Depression on India?
A: (1) Agricultural prices fell 60% (2) Peasants couldn't pay revenue (3) Industrial production declined (4) Increased unemployment (5) Nationalist movement gained strength as British blamed.
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Q: What was the Bretton Woods system?
A: 1944 conference establishing: (1) Fixed exchange rates pegged to US dollar (2) IMF to help countries with balance of payments (3) World Bank for reconstruction/development. US emerged as dominant power.
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Q: What is G-77 and what did it demand?
A: Group of 77 developing countries formed in 1964. Demanded: (1) New International Economic Order (NIEO) (2) Better terms of trade (3) Control over natural resources (4) More development assistance.
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Q: How did MNCs contribute to globalization?
A: Multinational Corporations spread production across countries: (1) Cheap labor in developing nations (2) Markets worldwide (3) Technology transfer (4) But also exploitation and cultural homogenization.
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Q: What was Rinderpest and its impact on Africa?
A: Cattle plague disease that killed 90% of Africa's cattle in 1890s. Destroyed African livelihoods, forced people into wage labour, helped Europeans conquer Africa by weakening local economies.
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Q: Why were Corn Laws abolished in Britain?
A: 1846 abolition because: (1) Industrialists wanted cheap food for workers (2) Urban population growing (3) Ideology of free trade (4) Could import cheap grain from colonies/other countries.
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Q: How did World War I transform global economy?
A: (1) US became creditor, Britain debtor (2) Production shifted to colonies (3) Increased government control (4) Economic nationalism rose (5) Seeds sown for future conflicts.
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Q: What is the difference between IMF and World Bank?
A: IMF: Maintains global financial stability, helps with balance of payments. World Bank: Funds long-term development projects (dams, roads, education). Both Bretton Woods institutions but different functions.
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Q: How did technology contribute to globalization?
A: Railways, steamships, telegraph (19th century) reduced time/cost. Containers, jet aircraft, internet (20th century) accelerated integration. Technology made global production and communication possible.
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Q: What were the positive and negative impacts of globalization?
A: Positive: Technology transfer, economic growth, cultural exchange. Negative: Exploitation, inequality, loss of local cultures, environmental damage, vulnerability to global crises.
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Q: Why did developing countries form G-77?
A: Because Bretton Woods institutions were dominated by developed nations. Developing countries faced: (1) Unfair trade terms (2) Debt burdens (3) Conditionalities on loans (4) Neo-colonial control.
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Q: What was the role of Indian entrepreneurs abroad?
A: Indian traders (Shikaripuri, Nattukottai) financed agriculture, exported goods, developed remittance system. In Africa, they became businessmen, moneylenders. Faced racial discrimination but succeeded economically.
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Q: What is the main takeaway from this chapter?
A: The global world was made through trade, conquest, migration, and technology. Globalization has long history with winners and losers. Economic power shifted from Asia to Europe to US. Developing nations struggled for fair share.
๐ซ PART B: Common Student Errors (15 Mistakes)
Avoid these errors that cost students 1-2 marks each.
Error 1: Writing "Globalization started in 1990s" - it has ancient origins
Error 2: Confusing indentured labour (contract) with slave labour (forced for life)
Error 3: Saying "Great Depression only affected US" - it was worldwide
Error 4: Writing "Bretton Woods 1945" instead of 1944
Error 5: Confusing IMF (financial stability) with World Bank (development projects)
Error 6: Calling Rinderpest "plant disease" - it was cattle plague
Error 7: Writing "Corn Laws abolished 1845" instead of 1846
Error 8: Saying "All colonies benefited from colonial trade" - most were exploited
Error 9: Confusing G-77 (1964) with Non-Aligned Movement (1961)
Error 10: Writing "Silk Routes only carried silk" - they carried goods, ideas, diseases
Error 11: Calling triangular trade "simple exchange" - it was complex slave-based system
Error 12: Saying "MNCs only bring benefits" - they have positive and negative impacts
Error 13: Writing "G-77 achieved all its demands" - NIEO was not fully implemented
Error 14: Confusing causes of Great Depression (1929) with effects
Error 15: Spelling errors: "Rinderpest" not "Rinderpest", "Bretton Woods" not "Britton Woods"
๐ฏ PART C: Score-Saving Tips (10 Tips)
Implement these to gain 5-10 extra marks in board exam.
Tip 1: Always give time periods: Silk Routes (ancient), Industrialization (19th century), Bretton Woods (1944)
Tip 2: For comparison questions (IMF vs World Bank), use point-wise comparison
Tip 3: Underline key terms: Globalization, Colonialism, Great Depression, NIEO
Tip 4: For "impact" questions, divide into: Economic, Social, Political impacts
Tip 5: Map questions: Write region + significance: "Caribbean - destination for indentured labour"
Tip 6: When discussing trade, specify goods: Silk, spices, silver, cotton, opium
Tip 7: For globalization phases, mention: Pre-modern, Colonial, Post-WWII, Contemporary
Tip 8: Always include both sides: Benefits AND problems of globalization/MNCs
Tip 9: Use historical examples: Potato famine, Rinderpest, Bengal famine for concrete answers
Tip 10: Leave space after each answer for possible additions during revision
๐ฏ Chapter Mastery Checklist
✓ Can explain globalization through different time periods
✓ Can describe Columbian Exchange and its impacts
✓ Can explain causes and effects of Great Depression
✓ Can differentiate between IMF and World Bank
✓ Can explain indentured labour system
✓ Can identify major trade routes and their significance
✓ Can explain Bretton Woods system
✓ Can describe G-77 and its demands
✓ Can discuss positive and negative impacts of MNCs
✓ Can explain how technology accelerated globalization
If you can check all 10 items, you're exam-ready for this chapter!
