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