ICSE History Class 8 Syllabus

The syllabus consists of eight themes on The Modern World - A Period of Transition, The Growth of Nationalism, India in the 18th Century, Traders to Rulers, British Policies and Impacts, The Great Uprising of 1857, Socio-Religious Reforms, and India’s Struggle for Freedom.

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Theme 1: A Period of Transition

  • The period of transition - basic understanding.
  • Sources - Primary and Secondary.
  • Transition from Medieval to Modern Age (a brief mention of Renaissance, Reformation, Voyages, discoveries).
  • The Industrial Revolution - meaning and reasons why it began in England, major inventions, Impacts of Industrial Revolution.
  • Imperialism - Its meaning, caused and impacts with special reference to South Asian Countries.

Theme 2: The Growth of Nationalism

  • The French Revolution - causes, the outbreak, impact, the post-revolution period, Napoleon Bonaparte (brief study of the revolution).
  • The American War of Independence - colonies, causes, beginning, birth of the United States of America.
  • American Civil War - background, causes, beginnings, role of Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address.

Theme 3: India in the 18th Century

  • Decline of the Mughal Empire - Major factors / causes.
  • Rise of independent / regional kingdoms - Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal, Rajputs, Sikhs, Mysore, Marathas (brief).

Theme 4: Traders to Rulers

  • Advent of English East India Company - a brief mention
  • Conquest of BengalBattle of Plassey, Buxar - causes and results.
  • Dual Government - Drawbacks of Dual government.
  • Policy of British Expansion (meaning and examples) - Doctrine of lapse, Subsidiary Alliance, Annexation of Awadh (pretext).

Theme 5: British Policies and Impacts

  • Economic policy
  • Land Revenue system (Permanent Settlement, Mahalwari, Ryotwari), highlight Permanent Settlement only.
  • Exploitation of artisans and weavers.
  • Drain of wealth.
  • Introduction of Modern Education.
  • Wood’s Despatch (What was Wood’s despatch and its effects).

Theme 6: The Great Uprising of 1857

  • Reasons - political, socio-religious, economic, military.
  • Immediate causes.
  • Leaders and Spread of the uprising.
  • Consequences.
  • Nature of uprising.

Theme 7: Socio-Religious Reforms

Contribution of Social Reformers in brief: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar, Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekanand, JyotibaPhule, Annie Beasant, Veerasalingam, Kandukuri, Sree Narayana Guru, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Singh Sabhas

Theme 8: India’s Struggle for Freedom

Phase 1

  • Rise of nationalism - factors - economic exploitation, spread of western education, role of the Press, repressive policy of Lord Lytton (to be covered briefly)
  • Early political associations - The Indian National Congress (formation and objectives), The Moderates - leaders, methods, demands
  • Partition of Bengal - only the Anti Partition Movement - Swadeshi and Boycott to be covered briefly, Surat split - a brief understanding.

Phase 2

  • Home Rule Movement- leaders and objectives
  • Lucknow Pact (1916) - as Unity Pact (a brief understanding).
  • Gandhian Era (1917 – 1947).
  • Early campaigns - Kheda, Champaran, Ahmedabad (a brief description).
  • Mass Movements - Noncooperation (causes, withdrawal, impact), Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala, Khilafat (Chauri Chaura).
  • Civil Disobedience Movement (causes)
  • Simon Commission, Lahore Session Quit India-Forward Bloc and INA (objectives only)
  • Independence and partition - Cabinet Mission Plan, Mountbatten plan, Indian Independence Act (only clauses).