The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India
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Britain had a long history of contact with India, mainly through trading goods. In the
1600s France and Holland established strong trading links with India and China. In the
later 1600s British traders and British governments were determined to build strong links
there as well.
Why did they do this? Look at the background and the sources in this case study to see
what you can discover about their motives.
Use the Worksheet to record what you find out.
The Background will give you an introduction to the rise of the British empire in India.
1. Map of India, 1857
2. Accounts of the East
India Company, 1678
3. Document showing
ships and trade, 1692
4. Letter on the pepper
trade, 1710
5. Letter on the Seven
Years War, 1759
6. Painting of treaty
between Britain and
Bengal
7. Painting from East
India Company office,
1778
8. Letter about the island
of Diego Garcia, 1785
9. Papers from Governor
Hastings’ trial, 1785
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The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 1
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Map of India produced in 1857
(PRO ref: FO 925/2575 pt1 & pt2)
1a
1b
1c
http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs3/g1cs3s1a.htm
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 1
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the source, ask yourself:
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What information does this map provide about the rise of British power in India?
Have the British possessions been taken from Indian rulers or Europeans?
The map features developments like railways, along with trade routes and travelling times. What does this
suggest about Britain's main interests in India?
What does this source suggest about the motives behind Britain building an empire in India?
Background | Worksheet
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Source 1a
Map of India produced in 1857
(PRO ref: FO 925/2575 pt1 & pt2)
Source 1b
Detail from map of India produced in 1857
(PRO ref: FO 925.2575 pt1 & pt2)
Source 1c
Detail from map of India produced in 1857
(PRO ref: FO 925.2575 pt1 & pt2)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 2
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Extracts from the accounts of the British East India Company, 1678
(PRO ref: E 140/9/4 f42)
2b
2a
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the source, ask yourself:
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What goods are being traded?
Where are they going from and to?
Is there any evidence that this trade is valuable?
What does it tell historians about why the British became involved in India?
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Source 2a
Extracts from the accounts of the British East India Company, 1678
(PRO ref: E 140/9/4 f42)
Source 2b
Extracts from the accounts of the British East India Company, 1678
(PRO ref: E 140/9/4 f42)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 3
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British East India Company document showing ships and trade in 1692
(PRO ref: CO 388/2 f41)
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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How many ships was the British
East India Company sending out
in 1692?
How many men were on the
ships?
What does this source tell you
about the East India Company
and the trade with the East?
What does it tell historians about
why the British became involved
in India?
Background | Worksheet
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The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 4
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Letter about the pepper trade written in 1710 by the East India Company to the British monarch
(PRO ref: SP 34/30/68)
4a
4b
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What are the main concerns of the
British East India Company in
1710?
What are the Dutch East India
Company doing?
Does it seem strange to you that
the Queen should be asked to
think about how to protect
Britain's trade in pepper?
What does this suggest about the
spice trade?
What do you think the following
phrase means: the Company 'are
more concerned for the Benefit of
the Nation than themselves'?
What does this source tell
historians about why the British
became involved in India?
Background | Worksheet
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Source 4a
Letter about the pepper trade written in 1710 by the East India Company to the British
monarch
(PRO ref: SP 34/30/68)
Source 4b
Letter about the pepper trade written in 1710 by the East India Company to the British
monarch
(PRO ref: SP 34/30/68)
The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 5
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Letter by a British official in 1759 on the Seven Years War in India
(PRO ref: SP 54/45/72)
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What does this source tell you
about how the British were
performing in the Seven Years
War?
How reliable is this source as
evidence of the British
performance?
What clues does this source
provide about why the British built
an empire in India?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs3/g1cs3s5.htm
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The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 6
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Painting of a treaty between Britain and Bengal, 1765
(The British Library: Foster 29)
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the source, ask yourself:
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What is happening in this scene?
What impression does the painting give of the relationship between the British leader and the ruler of Bengal?
Is this impression correct or misleading (check the useful notes)?
Does this source provide any clues as to why the British became empire builders in India?
Background | Worksheet
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The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 7
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Wall painting from the head offices of the British East India Company, 1778
(The British Library: Foster 245, Roma Spiridione, 'The East offering its riches to Britannia')
Study this source carefully. Different parts of the source will contain clues about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the source, ask yourself:
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Can spot the various features of the painting that are outlined in the useful notes?
Can you explain which aspects of the painting show Britain as strong?
Which parts of the painting show Britain as kind?
Does this source provide any clues as to why the British became empire builders in India?
Background | Worksheet
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The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 8
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Extract from a letter written by a British official in 1785 about the island of Diego Garcia
(PRO ref: FO 148/6 no.1)
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What instructions are being sent
to Bombay from Britain?
Why do you think the British
would want to control the island of
Diego Garcia?
Does this source provide any clues
as to why the British became
empire builders in India?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs3/g1cs3s8.htm
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The National Archives Learning Curve | British Empire | Rise of the British Empire | India | Source 9
Home > Gallery > Case Study > Source
Papers from the trial of Warren Hastings, British Governor of Bengal, 1785
(PRO ref: PRO 30/8/357 f117)
Study this source carefully. Different
parts of the source will contain clues
about why the British became empire
builders in India. As you study the
source, ask yourself:
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What is Warren Hastings accused
of?
Do these accusations seem
reasonable (use the useful notes
to help you)?
What are the strengths of this
source in terms of working out the
motives of British empire builders
in India?
What are the weaknesses of this
source in terms of working out the
motives of British empire builders
in India?
Background | Worksheet
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http://learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/empire/g1/cs3/g1cs3s9.htm
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