The East India Company, which originally set up British trading centers in Asia, was first charted by Elizabeth I in 1600. It was not uncommon for European governments to charter private companies to establish colonies—many of the thirteen American colonies had started out as such. These quasi-governmental institutions had the right to make autonomous decisions and to defend their interests in far flung regions, but were required to make a report to their sovereign and have their charter extended every twenty to thirty years.

Carnatic Wars and British Conquest of Bengal—During the first 150 years of its existence, the British East India Company established several trading posts in India, first at Surat; then at Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. During most of this time, much of India was ruled by the Great Mogul Jehanjir, who was on good terms with the traders, but the Mughal empire was in decline, there was strife between Hindus and Moslems, and other trading companies, from Portugal, Holland and France, competed with the British for trade in India. After the death of the Aurangzeb, much of the power of the Mughal empire devolved to local princes, and these princes, who were often at war with each other, were aware of the advantages of western military power. The French, under Dupleix, governor at Pondicherry, were particularly astute at making alliances with the Indian Princes (Nawabs), and in a short time the French were the predominant power in Bengal. When the War of the Austrian Succession broke out in Europe, the French used the opportunity to attempt to drive England from India altogether, and thus began the Carnatic Wars.

CITY OF DELHI

At this point, there appeared on the scene, Robert Clive, a lowly and miserable company clerk, stationed at Madras, with no military experience. When the French besieged Ft. David, he distinguished himself with such valor, that a few years later the Company entrusted him to embark on a nearly hopeless quest, to take the enemy capital of Arcot. In spite of tremendous odds, Clive took and held Arcot, and greatly improved Britain's standing among the local princes, whose main concern was to make alliances with the predominant European power. Although Dupleix was a brilliant statesman, his generals were no match for the youthful and fearless Clive. Six years, and many battles later, he had greatly improved Britain's reputation with the local princes. Finally, in 1757, at the Battle of Plassey Clive won a brilliant victory over a combined French and native force fifty thousand strong, with only 800 British, and 2000 Native troops. From this point on, Britain controlled Bengal, the riches province of India, and was the most influential foreign power in the entire region.

The first few years of the British rule in Bengal, however, were utterly miserable. The East India company was accustomed to trade and to fight, but not to govern or bring justice to a foreign country. These duties were neglected, to the near ruin of the country, until Warren Hastings was appointed the first Governor of all British Provinces in India, but only after a terrible famine had brought the problems to a crisis point. Hastings was a very controversial governor, and though he did much to improve the situation, many problems were left unresolved, and he made powerful enemies. He ruled for twelve years, but upon his return home was tried for corruption, and acquitted after a contentious trial. Whether or not he deserved to be condemned, his highly publicized trial raised many of the problems of the British rule in India to the public eye.

Expansion of British Territory in India—Several well-known Indian governors followed, including General Cornwallis, of American Revolutionary fame, and Marquess Wellesley, an elder Brother of the Duke of Wellington. Britain continued to bring more of India under its sway. In some case, as in the Mysore Wars against Tipu Sultan, they conquered a Nawab and annexed his region. In other cases, they simply made a "mutual defense" treaty with a local prince that gave Britain great advantages. Finally, a policy was established that in cases when no direct heir was left to a region, Britain annexed the area, and appointed its own governor. Yet expansion did not bring peace, nor did it bring good government. The British government continued to put more constraints on the East India Company to curb abuses, but there was not a clear consensus about what the ruling policy should be—only a consensus that more money should be raised. Yet the goals of ruling India well, and at the same time extracting money from her, were at cross purposes.

After numerous missteps, years of misrule, several rebellions and mutinies, and numerous wars against the Marathas, Gurkhas, and Burmah, the British government reformed the East India Company to such an extent that it was no longer allowed to carry on trade at all, and was to focus only on more effective government of the provinces. Indian ports were thrown open to merchants of every country so in this way, the native Indians were not cheated by traders who held a monopoly. This reform occurred in 1833 and was part of the "free trade" movement that was being gradually implemented throughout the growing empire. Soon after, Lord Dalhousie became was appointed Governor and was one of the best rulers of India. He expanded British territory, adding the Punjab to British domains, but accomplished it in such a way that the Sikhs, or native Punjabis, became loyal British subjects, instead of seething rebels. He also built many roads, railways, and telegraphs, which greatly improved communication in the region.

Indian Mutiny—Yet just when conditions had begun to improve in India, disasters struck. First, in 1841, due to some foolish statesmanship, the British forced an unpopular ruler on Afghanistan, and stationed thousands of British soldiers along with their families in Kabul. In the middle of winter, the garrison was surrounded and forced to retreat from through Khyber Pass on its way back to India. Of the entire garrison of ten thousand, only one man survived to tell the tale. It was the worst massacre in British Imperial History. Fifteen years later, the Indian Mutiny broke out in Cawnpore, Lucknow, and Delhi. It was an enormous disaster that cost thousands of lives, and nearly succeeded in driving Britain from Indian soil. But after many atrocities and heroics, the British forces with their loyal Indian allies prevailed, and after consolidating their power, embarked on several important reforms, with the hope of preventing future outbreaks. It was at this time that the East India Company was completely dissolved, and the British Government took full responsibility for development of the Indian colonies.

Character/Date	Short Biography
Early India
Mahmud of Ghazni 971–1030	Moslem general who invaded India in the 11th century. Destroyed temples, collected tribute, then left.
Mohammed Ghori 1162–1206	Moslem general who invaded India in the late 12th century. Massacred thousands of Hindus.
Portuguese India: 1497-1580
Vasco da Gama 1460–1524	Portuguese explorer who voyaged to Calicut, India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
Francisco de Almeida 1450–1510	Portuguese general who served in the wars against Granada, and was appointed the first governor of Portuguese India.
Alfonso de Albuquerque 1453–1515	Portuguese commander who won numerous naval conflicts in Asia and helped establish a colony in India at Goa.
Mughal Empire: 1526-1739
Baber 1483–1530	Founder of the Moghul empire in India.
Humayun 1508–1556	Second of the Indian Mogul dynasty, and father of Akbar. Lost his kingdom but regained it with Persian help.
Akbar the Great 1542–1605	Reconquered, unified and expanded the Mughal Empire.
Jehanjir 1569–1627	Son of Akbar, and Great Mogul of India when the British first tried to establish trading posts in the region.
Nur Jehan 1577–1645	Favorite wife of Emperor Jahangir. Engaged in much legendary palace intrigue.
Aurangzeb 1618–1707	Moslem ruler of largely Hindu India. Consolidated the Mughal empire, but oppressed Hindus.
Shivaji 1630–1689	Founder of the Maratha emperor. Resisted the Moghul ruler under Aurangzeb.
Nadir Shuh 1688–1747	Great Persian General who attacked the Moghuls in India, and massacred civilians.
Muhammad Shah 1702–1748	Ruler of the Moghul Empire in India, when it was over-run by Nadir Shah of Persia.
Connaji Angria d. 1729	Pirate prince who controlled the Malabar coast of India. His base at Geriah was attacked by Popock in 1756
Baji Rao I 1699–1740	Most famous Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. Extended the Maratha kingdom to its greatest range.
Early British Era: 1740-1814
Dupleix 1697–1763	Governor of the French trading company in India; rival of Clive for control of Bengal;
Mir Jafar 1691–1765	Succeed to the position of Nawab of Bengal after Clive won the Battle of Plassey.
Robert Clive 1725–1774	British soldier, who rose to be a hero in the Carnatic Wars and delivered Bengal to Britain at the Battle of Plassey.
Siraj Ud Daulah 1733–1757	Last independent Nawab of Bengal. Lost his kingdom to Clive at Plassey.
Tipu Sultan 1750–1799	Took over the Mysore Kingdom on the death of his father Hyder Ali. Fought the British in a series of Anglo-Mysore wars.
Warren Hastings 1732–1818	Early Governor of India. Was tried for corruption, but acquitted after a lengthy trial.
Mir Cossim d. 1777	Son-in-law of Mir Jafar, who was raised to the Nawabship by the British, but rebelled against them.
Mahadaji Sindhia 1730–1794	Leader of the Sindhias of Gwalior. Fought at Panipat. Exceptional General who defeated British at Wargaom.
Hyder Ali 1722–1782	Muslim Ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in Southern India. Allied with the French against the British.
Tipu Sultan 1750–1799	Took over the Mysore Kingdom on the death of his father Hyder Ali. Fought the British in a series of Anglo-Mysore wars.
British Raj: 1814-19??
Jeswunt Rao Hoklar d. 1811	Leader of the Holkars of Idore. Fought Britain in the First and Second Maratha Wars.
Sindhia of Gwalior 1779–1827	Leader of the Sindhias of Gwalior. Fought Britain in the Second and Third Maratha Wars.
Lord Amherst 1773–1857	British ambassador to China, and then governor of India. Fought first Burmese War.
William Brydon 1811–1873	Surgeon in the Bengal army; sole surviver of the massacre at Khyber pass in Afghanistan.
Henry Havelock 1795–1857	Led a division to relieve Lucknow during the Sepoy Rebellion. Died during the siege.
Lord Dalhousie 1812–1860	Made major reforms and increased British holding in India, shortly before the mutiny.
Colin Campbell 1792–1863	Commanded the Highland Brigade during the Crimean War. Also served in India.
James Outram 1803–1863	Hero of the sieges of Cawnpore and Lucknow during the Sepoy Rebellion.
Lord Roberts 1832–1914	Career officer, saw service in Indian Mutiny, Afghanistan, Abyssinia, India and South Africa.
Marquess Wellesley 1760–1842	Governor-general of India, fought Second Maratha and Mysore wars. Later, promoted Catholic emancipation.
Nana Sahib 1824–1859	Adopted son of the Marthi Peshwar. Leader of the Indian Mutiny.
Baji Rao II d. 1851	Peshwa who fled to Britain for protection after loss to one of his enemies
Ranjit Singh 1780–1839	Sikh emperor of the Punjab. Ruled the Punjab well, as an independent state until his death.
Afghans, Burmese, Gurkhas, etc.
Alombra the Hunter 1714–1760	Burmese King. Founder of the Konbaung dynasty which bordered on Bengal.
Dost Muhammed 1793–1863	Afghan ruler during the first Anglo-Afghan War
Siddhartha Gautama 563–483 BC	Nepalese prince who left his throne to meditate and became the Buddha.

AD Year	Event
1497	Vasco da Gama establishes a trade-route by sea between Portugal and India.
1510	Alfonso de Albuquerque Conquers Goa and establishes a permanent Portuguese colony.
Mughal Empire: 1526-1740
1526	Baber founds the Mughal empire in India.
1566-1605	Reign of Akbar greatest of the Mughal emperors.
1658-1707	Reign of Aurangzeb—strict adherence to Islamic law alienates Hindu subjects.
1674	Shivaji founds the Maratha empire in the Deccan as the Mughul empire began to collapse.
1739	Nadir Shuh, a Persian general invades India, sacks Delhi, and steals the Peacock throne.
Early British Era: 1740-1815
1600	British East India Company granted a charter.
1612	First British trading post established at Surat.
1650	More British trading Trading posts established at Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras.
1751	Siege of Arcot is Clive's first great success in India.
1756	Over a hundred British citizens perish in the "Black Hole of Calcutta".
1757	With the help of the traitor Mir Jafar, Clive wins Bengal for Britain at the Battle of Plassey.
1773	Warren Hastings appointed first Governor of India. Later, tried in Britain for corruption.
1775-1803	Victories over the Mahratta kingdoms in the Deccan increase Britain's influence in central India.
1799	Death of Tipu Sultan bring thirty years of wars with the Mysore Kingdome in southern India to a close.
Later British Era: 1815-1947 AD
1842	First Anglo-Afghan War—Massacre at Khyber Pass.
1845	Sikh Wars results in the annexation of Punjab.
1852	Burmah is annexed to British territory.
1857	Indian Mutiny—worst rebellion in history of the British empire.
1858	East India Company is dissolved—India made colony of the British Empire.

Book Title	Selected Chapters (# chapters)
Core Reading Assignments
Marshall - Our Empire Story	Part V—India to The Empress of India (28)
Home - India: Peeps at History	entire book
Supplemental Recommendations
Gaskoin - The Hanoverians	Our Indian Empire (1)
Surridge - India	entire book
Gilliat - Heroes of the Indian Mutiny	entire book
Younghusband - The Story of the Guides	entire book
Steel - The Adventures of Akbar	entire book
Wood - The Boy's Book of Battles	Plassey to Delhi (2)
Easy Reading Selections
Lang - The Story of Lord Clive	entire book
Sellar - The Story of Lord Roberts	entire book