Class 10 History: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet (2025-26 Edition)

Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe

Target Keywords: Giuseppe Mazzini, Unification of Italy, Napoleonic Code, Balkan Conflict

The Hook (Frederic Sorrieu)

1848 French artist. Painted "Democratic and Social Republics." Key Concept: Utopian Vision (An ideal society that is unlikely to exist).

Napoleon’s Rule (1804)

Introduced Napoleonic Code (Civil Code of 1804).

• Good: Removed birth privileges, equality before law, secured property rights.
• Bad: Forced conscription, censorship, increased taxes.

The "Big Three" Unifications

• Germany: Otto von Bismarck (Architect) + Prussia = Victory (1871). King: Kaiser William I.
• Italy: Cavour (Brain) + Garibaldi (Sword) + Mazzini (Soul) = Unified Italy (1861). King: Victor Emmanuel II.
• Britain: No war. Long process. Act of Union (1707) formed "United Kingdom of Great Britain."

Marianne vs. Germania

• Marianne (France): Red cap, tricolour, cockade (Liberty & Republic).
• Germania (Germany): Oak leaf crown (Heroism).

Chapter 2: Nationalism in India (Most High-Scoring Chapter)

Target Keywords: Satyagraha, Jallianwala Bagh, Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience, Map Work Class 10

The Gandhi Timeline (Viral Format)

• 1915: Gandhi returns to India.
• 1917: Champaran Satyagraha (Indigo planters).
• 1918: Kheda (Peasants) & Ahmedabad (Cotton mill workers).
• 1919: Rowlatt Act (Black Act) -> Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (General Dyer).
• 1920: Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) starts. Reason: Khilafat + Jallianwala + Swaraj.
• 1922: Chauri Chaura incident (Violence) -> NCM called off.
• 1929: Lahore Congress (Purna Swaraj demand).
• 1930: Dandi March begins Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
• 1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact (CDM called off).
• 1932: Poona Pact (Gandhi & Ambedkar).

Exam Hack: Difference between NCM and CDM?

• NCM = "Refuse to cooperate" (Don't buy foreign cloth).
• CDM = "Break the law" (Make salt illegally).

Chapter 3: The Making of a Global World

Target Keywords: Silk Route, Great Depression, Bretton Woods, Rinderpest, G-77

Pre-Modern World

Silk Routes connected Asia, Europe, and Africa. Spaghetti went West to become Pasta.

19th Century Exchange

• Trade: Grain and cotton.
• Labor: Indentured Labour (Girmityas) from UP/Bihar to Caribbean.
• Capital: British loans.

The Disease Weapon

Rinderpest (Cattle Plague) in Africa (1890s). Killed 90% cattle -> Africans forced into labor market for Europeans.

Post-War Economy

• Bretton Woods Twins: IMF (Profits) + World Bank (Development).
• G-77: Group of developing nations demanding a New International Economic Order (NIEO).

Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation

Target Keywords: Spinning Jenny, Proto-industrialisation, Jobber, Manchester goods (Note: Often assessed in Periodic Tests, check your specific school syllabus)

Proto-Industrialisation

Large scale production before factories (Countryside peasants working for merchants).

Why Hand Labour?

• Machines were costly and broke often.
• Labor was cheap and abundant in Victorian Britain.
• Aristocrats preferred handmade "class."

The Game Changer

Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves, 1764): Sped up spinning -> Women workers attacked these machines (fear of unemployment).

India Context

Manchester imports killed Indian weavers. Why? Machine-made cloth was cheaper.

Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World

Target Keywords: Gutenberg Press, Protestant Reformation, Vernacular Press Act

The Journey of Print

China (Woodblock) -> Japan (Diamond Sutra) -> Europe (Marco Polo brought knowledge).

Gutenberg's Revolution (1430s)

First printing press. First book: The Bible.

Print & Revolt

• Martin Luther: Wrote "95 Theses" -> Challenged Church -> Protestant Reformation. Famous quote: "Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one."
• French Revolution: Print popularized ideas of Enlightenment thinkers (Voltaire, Rousseau).

India

• Sambad Kaumudi (Raja Ram Mohan Roy).
• Vernacular Press Act (1878): British law to gag Indian language newspapers (modeled on Irish laws).

📽️ Video for Rapid Revision

Since visual learning is effective, this video by Digraj Singh Rajput is the gold standard for Class 10 students. It covers the complete history syllabus in a "Marathon" format.

Live Marathon | Complete History Revision Class 10 SST | Session 2025 | Digraj sir

(Note: Please search "Digraj Singh Rajput History Marathon Class 10" on YouTube for the latest link if the above is not active.)