<–2/”>a >Indian trade links with Europe started in through sea route only after the arrival of Vasco Da Gama in Calicut, India on May 20, 1498. The Portuguese had traded in Goa as early as 1510, and later founded three other colonies on the west coast in Diu, Bassein, and Mangalore. In 1601 the East India Company was chartered, and the English began their first inroads into the Indian Ocean. At first they were little interested in India, but rather, like the Portuguese and Dutch before them, with the Spice Islands. But the English were unable to dislodge the Dutch from Spice Islands. In 1610, the British chased away a Portuguese naval squadron, and the East India Company created its own outpost at Surat.This small outpost marked the beginning of a remarkable presence that would last over 300 years and eventually dominate the entire subcontinent. In 1612 British established a trading post in Gujarat. As a result of English disappointments with dislodging the Dutch from the Spice Islands, they turned instead to India.
By the beginning of the eighteenth century only two European trading companies of the British and the French were left in India competing for the Indian Resources. The Anglo- French rivalry, taking the form of three Carnatic Wars constituted landmarks in the history of British conquest of south India in the Eighteenth Century. In order to establish their supremacy, it was necessary for the English East India Company to eliminate the French from this region. As a result of Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) in Europe, the French and English settle- ments in India also became involved in open hostilities. In the third Carnatic war, the British East India Company defeated the French forces at the battle of Wandiwash ending almost a century of conflict over supremacy in India. This battle gave the British trading company a far superior position in India compared to the other Europeans.
The French were defeated by Sir Eyre Coote at Wandiwash in January, 1760, and Pondicherry capitulated a year later. The work of Dupleix and Bussy in the South was thus destroyed in 1760–1761; the French possessions in India were, however, restored by the treaty of Paris (1763). This conflict was resolved in the English East India Company’s favour because of its strong navy in India, its progressively increasing military strength and good Leadership, the support they received from the Government in England, and the larger resources at its command in Bengal. A part of the fallout of the events in the Carnatic cycle of wars that the weakness of the Indian regional powers (in particular their inability to make naval interventions and the ineffectiveness of large armies of some of their powers against smaller European forces) became manifest and this had grave implications in the political history of the rest of the eighteenth century.
The ‘First Phase’ of British Colonism is generally dated from 1757, when the British East India Company acquired the rights to collect revenue from its territories in the eastern and southern parts of the subcontinent, to 1813, when the Company’s monopoly over trade with India came to an end.
The ‘Second Phase’ is generally seen to have begun with the Charter Act of 1813, when the Company lost its monopoly trading rights in India, and ended in 1858, when the British crown took over the direct control and administration of all British territory in India.
Dual or Double Government: This system was introduced in Bengal after the battle of Buxar. As the Diwan of Bengal the Company directly collected its revenue, while the nizamat or the Police and Judicial powers remained with the Nawab.
Subsidiary Alliance System: The Subsidiary Alliance System was used by lord Wellesley to bring the Indian states within the boundary of the British political power. Under this doctrine, Indian rulers under British protection suspended their native armies, instead maintaining British troops within their states. They surrendered control of their foreign affairs to the British. In return, the East India Company would protect them from the attacks of their rivals.
Doctrine of Lapse: It was an annexation policy by the British East India Com- pany, introduced by lord Dalhousie Governor -general of India. Under the doc- trine princely territory under the direct rule of the East India Company would automatically be annexed if the ruler was either incompetent or died without a direct heir.
Charter Acts: The Charter Acts were passed by the British Parliament to govern the activities of the East India Company, endowed it with enormous Commercial privileges and granted them the powers to rule India up to 1858. The Charter Acts issued enabled the East India Company, commercial privileges in several series, for twenty years each. The first Charter Act was granted in 1793, granting the company provision of 20 years. Later the Charter Act was renewed in the year 1813, 1833 and 1853 respectively.
| War | Year | Treaty | Gov General | Battles et al |
| Anglo Marathas | ||||
| First | 1775-82 | Began: Treaty of Surat
End: Treaty of Salbai |
Warren Hastings | Battle of Wadgaon |
| Second | 1803-05 | Began: treaty of Bassein | Lord Wellesley | Battle of Assaye |
| Third | 1816-19 | Treaty of Gwalior | Marquess of Hastings | Battle of Pindari
End of Peshwa rule |
| Anglo French | ||||
| First | 1746-48 | Treaty of Aix-la-Chepelle | Reason: Austrian SUCCESSION in Europe | 1746: Battle of Adyar/San Thome |
| Second | 1749-54 | War of succession between Nasir Jung (English) and Muzaffar Jung (French) after death of Nizam | 1749: Battle of Ambur
Rise of Robert Clive |
|
| Third | 1758-63 | Treaty of Paris | Reason: 7 years war in Europe | 1760: Battle of Wandiwash (French defeat) |
| Anglo Mysore | ||||
| First | 1766-69 | |||
| Second | 1780-1784 | Treaty of Mangalore | Warren Hastings | After death of Hyder Ali in 1782 Tipu led the war |
| Third | 1789-92 | Treaty of Seringapatnam | Cornwallis | Defeat of Tipu |
| Fourth | 1799 | Wellesley | Battle of Seringapatnam. Death of Tipu. | |
| Anglo Sikh War | ||||
| First | 1845-46 | Treaty of Lahore | Hardinge | |
| Second | 1848-49 | Dalhousie | Final Subjugation of the Sikhs |
1806 – Treaty of Raighat – Peace with Holkars,
The Advent of Europeans and Factors Leading to the British Supremacy
The advent of Europeans in the Americas began in the late 15th century with the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Columbus was an Italian explorer who was sponsored by the Spanish crown to find a new route to Asia. He landed in the Bahamas in 1492, believing that he had reached India. In the years that followed, other European explorers, such as Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, followed in Columbus’s footsteps and explored the coasts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
The arrival of Europeans in the Americas had a profound impact on the native peoples of the land. The Europeans brought with them diseases such as smallpox and measles, to which the native peoples had no immunity. These diseases killed millions of native people. The Europeans also brought with them guns and other weapons, which they used to conquer the native peoples and take their land.
The Europeans also brought with them their own culture and religion. They forced the native peoples to convert to Christianity and to adopt European customs. This led to a great deal of conflict between the Europeans and the native peoples.
The British were one of the most successful European powers in the Americas. They established colonies in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. The British colonies were very profitable, and they helped to make Britain the most powerful country in the world.
The British were able to establish such a large and powerful empire for a number of reasons. First, they had a strong navy. This allowed them to control the seas and to transport goods and people to and from their colonies. Second, they had a well-trained army. This allowed them to defend their colonies from attack. Third, they had a strong economy. This allowed them to finance their empire and to trade with their colonies.
The British Empire began to decline in the 19th century. This was due to a number of factors, including the rise of other European powers, such as Germany and France, the American Revolution, and the Industrial revolution. The Industrial Revolution led to the development of new technologies, such as steam power and railroads, which made it possible for other countries to compete with Britain economically.
The British Empire finally came to an end after World War II. The war had weakened Britain economically and militarily, and it was no longer able to maintain its empire. The colonies began to demand independence, and Britain granted them independence one by one.
The Age of Exploration
The Age of Exploration was a period of time from the 15th to the 17th centuries when European explorers set out to find new lands and trade routes. This period was marked by a number of important discoveries, including the Americas, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian subcontinent.
The Age of Exploration was driven by a number of factors, including the desire for new trade routes, the search for new lands to colonize, and the spread of Christianity. The explorers who set out during this time were motivated by a variety of reasons, including the hope of finding fame and fortune, the desire to learn more about the world, and the need to find new sources of food and resources.
The Age of Exploration had a profound impact on the world. It led to the discovery of new lands and cultures, and it helped to spread European influence around the globe. It also had a significant impact on the development of science and technology, as explorers brought back new knowledge and ideas from their travels.
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period of European history that began in Italy in the 14th century and spread to other parts of Europe by the 16th century. It was a time of renewed interest in classical Learning and culture, and it led to a flowering of art, literature, and science.
The Renaissance was caused by a number of factors, including the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, which led to the Migration of Greek scholars to Italy, the invention of the printing press in 1450, which made books more widely available, and the rise of humanism, which emphasized the importance of human reason and experience.
The Renaissance had a profound impact on European culture. It led to the development of new styles of art, literature, and music, and it helped to spread the ideas of humanism throughout Europe. It also had a significant impact on the development of science and technology, as scholars began to study the natural world in a new way.
The Scientific Revolution
The Scientific Revolution was a period of European history that began in the 16th century and lasted until the 18th century. It was a time of great change in the way people thought about the world, as scientists began to use new methods of observation and experimentation to study the natural world.
The Scientific Revolution was caused by a number of factors, including the invention of the printing press in the 15th
Advent of Europeans and factors leading to the British Supremacy
- What was the advent of Europeans?
The advent of Europeans refers to the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, Asia, and Africa. This began in the 15th century with the voyages of Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama.
- What were the factors leading to the British Supremacy?
There were many factors that led to the British Supremacy. Some of these factors include:
- The British navy was the most powerful in the world.
- The British had a strong economy.
- The British had a large Population.
- The British were good at trade.
- The British were good at colonization.
Expansion of British Empire- Wars and diplomacy
- What were some of the wars that the British fought in order to expand their empire?
The British fought in many wars in order to expand their empire. Some of these wars include:
- The Seven Years’ War
- The Napoleonic Wars
- The Crimean War
-
The Boer War
-
What were some of the diplomatic strategies that the British used to expand their empire?
The British used a variety of diplomatic strategies to expand their empire. Some of these strategies include:
- Making alliances with other countries
- Using treaties to acquire territory
-
Using economic pressure to force other countries to give up territory
-
What were some of the consequences of the British Empire’s expansion?
The British Empire’s expansion had a number of consequences. Some of these consequences include:
- The spread of British culture and values to other parts of the world
- The development of new trade routes
- The creation of new colonies
- The exploitation of Natural Resources in other parts of the world
-
The first European to reach India was:
(a) Vasco da Gama
(b) Christopher Columbus
(c) Ferdinand Magellan
(d) Marco Polo -
The British East India Company was founded in:
(a) 1600
(b) 1612
(c) 1618
(d) 1624 -
The Battle Of Plassey was fought in:
(a) 1757
(b) 1761
(c) 1764
(d) 1767 -
The Battle of Buxar was fought in:
(a) 1764
(b) 1765
(c) 1767
(d) 1769 -
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was also known as:
(a) The Sepoy Mutiny
(b) The First War of Independence
(c) The Indian Mutiny
(d) The Great Rebellion -
The British Raj came to an end in:
(a) 1947
(b) 1948
(c) 1949
(d) 1950 -
The partition of India took place in:
(a) 1947
(b) 1948
(c) 1949
(d) 1950 -
The first Prime Minister of India was:
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad -
The first President of India was:
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(c) Zakir Hussain
(d) V.V. Giri -
The current Prime Minister of India is:
(a) Narendra Modi
(b) Rahul Gandhi
(c) Sonia Gandhi
(d) Manmohan Singh