Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague, Indentured Labour Migration from India: Class-10 History Notes

Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague, Indentured Labour Migration from India: Class-10 History Chapter 3 The Making of a Global World discusses that Rinderpest, or the cattle plague, was a devastating disease that spread through Africa in the late 1880s. It was carried by infected cattle that were imported from British Asia to feed Italian soldiers invading Eritrea in East Africa. The disease spread rapidly and killed around 90% of the cattle in Africa. This had a devastating impact on the African economy and society, as cattle were a vital source of food, transportation, and wealth.

In this article, we will look into the topic ‘Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague, Indentured Labour Migration from India’ in detail. It is an important topic in Class-10 History. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on the topic of Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague, Indentured Labour Migration from India.

Rinderpest and Indentured Labor Migration

Rinderpest, often known as the cattle plague, was a terrible illness that spread over Africa in the late 1880s. It was spread by sick livestock brought from British Asia to feed Italian troops attacking Eritrea in East Africa. The disease spread quickly, killing around 90% of cattle in Africa. This had a terrible impact on the African economy and civilization, as cattle were a critical source of food, transportation, and income.

Indentured labor migration from India was another important factor in the making of a global world. In the 19th century, millions of Indians were recruited to work on plantations and mines in other parts of the British Empire. These workers were often contracted to work for five years, after which they were promised a return passage to India. However, many of these workers were treated poorly and were forced to work in harsh conditions. Indentured labor migration helped to spread Indian culture and ideas to other parts of the world, but it also hurt the lives of many Indian workers.

The Making of a Global World is a chapter in the Class-10 History syllabus for CBSE students. This chapter explores the various factors that contributed to the development of a globalized world, including trade, migration, and the movement of capital. Rinderpest and indentured labor migration are two important examples of how these factors impacted the lives of people around the world.

Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague

In the 1890s, a cattle plague or rinderpest in Africa severely impacted people's livelihoods and the local economy. This event highlights the European imperial impact on colonized societies, as even a disease affecting cattle reshaped the lives and fortunes of thousands of people and their relations with the rest of the world. Historically, Africa had abundant land and a relatively small population, and people rarely worked for a wage. Europeans arrived in Africa in the late nineteenth century to establish plantations and mines, hoping to produce crops and minerals for export to Europe.

However, a shortage of labour willing to work for wages led to heavy taxes, inheritance laws, and confined mineworkers. The disease, rinderpest, arrived in Africa in the late 1880s and spread westward, killing 90% of the cattle. This loss of cattle destroyed African livelihoods, allowing planters, mine owners, and colonial governments to monopolize scarce cattle resources and force Africans into the labor market. This era of conquest had similar effects on other parts of the nineteenth-century world.

Indentured Labour Migration from India

In the nineteenth century, hundreds of thousands of Indian and Chinese laborers migrated to work on plantations, mines, and road and railway construction projects worldwide. Most Indian indentured workers came from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, central India, and the dry districts of Tamil Nadu. As cottage industries declined, land rents rose, and lands were cleared for mines and plantations, many poor people failed to pay rents and became deeply indebted, forcing them to migrate in search of work. The main destinations of Indian indentured migrants were the Caribbean islands, Mauritius, and Fiji.

Agents engaged by employers often tempted migrants with false information about their destinations and working conditions. This indenture has been described as a "new system of slavery." Many workers found harsh living and working conditions and few legal rights, but developed new forms of self-expression and cultural fusion. Most indentured workers stayed on or returned to their new homes, creating large communities of people of Indian descent in these countries.

Conclusion: Rinderpest, or the Cattle Plague, Indentured Labour Migration from India

In conclusion, these topics discuss the various factors that have contributed to the globalization of trade, travel, and communication. One of the most important factors was the migration of people in search of work. This migration was often involuntary, as people were forced to leave their homes due to poverty, famine, or war. One example of this is the indentured labor migration from India. Another factor that contributed to the globalization of labor was the rinderpest, or cattle plague, that swept through Africa in the late 19th century. This disease killed millions of cattle, which devastated the local economy and led to widespread famine.