British East Indian
Trading Company
+ leads to British
Imperialism
British Raj
2011
+ Decline of the Mughal Empire allows for
Europeans/British to come to South Asia.
In the beginning, it was trading companies-that
established ports /settlements as the Mughals
Empire was declining in power.
I
+ Aurangzeb- The Last
Mughal Emperor!
After a two-year fight for succession
that resulted in Shah Jahan's
imprisonment, Aurangzeb (1658–
1707) assumed the throne.
By the mid-18th century, the once
great Mughal Empire was confined
to a small area around Delhi.
Aurangzeb reversed Akbar’s
policies of tolerance!
Vasco De Gama -
Portugal- 1st
explorer establish a
sea route from
Europe to India.
Once established
the Dutch, British &
French will establish
+
trading post in South
Asia.
These routes &
advancements in
ships lead to trading
companies in South
Asia.
+
East India Trading company- 1600’s
150 years British company (not government)
established cities. Britain was Not a Imperial,
conquering nation at this time &
Mughal Empire still in control- watched over British
trade cities.
+ Major Trading Cities for East Indian
Company and other countries…
Kolkata , Madras and Bombay
Other Europeans also establish
settlements…
British consumers
wanted Indian
Goods!
•
+
•
•
Hand woven
Indian textiles,
high quality, hand
loomed fabrics
Indigo blue dye
Saltpeter used for
gun powder
European
Industrialization led
to Imperialism!
The Industrial
Revolution was a period
from 1750 to 1850.
+ Britain was the first to
industrialize.
It is called a revolution
because it changed
society significantly and
rapidly and led to
modernization &
urbanization.
British Trader’s
ambitions…
+
British begin to
replace local rulers
with rulers that were
more favorable to the
British traders!
Robert Clive, Clive
of India, was British
officer who
established the
military and political
supremacy of the East
India Company in
Bengal.
+
How could the British East India Company
take over?
Wealth of Bengal 1765- used the money to finance a army .
Indian Sepoy--pay & pension soldiers & recruit the Indians
No Indian Nationalism, no sense of being an Indian, ties to
caste and regional .
East India Company strengthens army and takes over more
of India over the next 100 years..
+ East India Co.- Sepoy stArmy works well for
over 100 years- until 1 revolt-1857 Rebellion
Called the “Sepoy Rebellion” In 1857,
A rumor spread among soldiers that the British were
greasing their bullets with the fat of cows and pigs
Resentment has grown over the “superiority” of the
British in India.
+
Picture of Sepoy rebellion
+
Justice!
After the Sepoy
Rebellion, the British
government takes over
the rule of East India
Company in India.
India becomes ….The
Jewel of the British
Empire!
Queen Victoria is the
Empress of India.
+
Honoring the empress
+
Jewel of the British Empire
Trade with and eventual political dominance over India was
what provided Britain with large parts of it's wealth in the 17001900's.
India provided huge resources and massive markets for British
factories and goods. It provided tax income, natural mineral
wealth.
+
European Imperialism
+
The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters
+
The British Empire
How did the British
+ justify taking over
India?
Many British was the
Indians as ignorant,
marred in superstition, &
caste prejudices'.
The British brought the
English language,
superior western ways.
+
How did the British justify taking
over India?
God’s Chosen People
Protestant/Evangelical
Sanctity of Family & Home
+
Two Views of
Indian Life
Two views of
Indian Life
+
Rudyard Kipling
The White Man’s Burden
+
Sir Thomas Macaulay (1800-1859)
Macaulay’s Minute
on Education
+
What then shall that
language be? Sanskrit or
English?
Schools will teach..
British history, culture
Religion.
A creation of a class of
Anglicized Indians who
would serve as
intermediaries between
the British & their Indian
subjects.
The British Raj
1857-1947
The new government of
India was called the Raj, a
Sanskrit word meaning to
rule.
+
Generally, Indians had no
rights and no voice in their
own rule.
Lack of Indian
representation in
government and an
economic system that was
seen as a drain on India's
wealth were the primary
causes of agitation against
British rule in India.
+
A class of Anglicized Indians & Indian
Civil Service (ICS)

Viceroy- British Top Official in
India.

Elite-Englishmen & Indian
officials at highest level of ICS.
+ British begin census, tracking of Hindus &
Muslims- defining Indians by religion.
Divide & Conquer strategy- if distrust between the two groups they cannot unite
against the British
Remember; Muslim’s had ruled over sub-continent for over 500 years.
These divisions and past tensions between Hindus & Muslims will lead to
devastation once Britain becomes independent.
+
1857- 1947- British Raj
Colonial rule a positive or negative?
Modernization, education,
infrastructure- Railroads

Improved Roads & sea ports

Built Railroads & telegraphy system

Improved healthcare & sanitary
conditions

Established schools for elite class of
Indians (based on western values &
history)

Tax revenues from agriculture
and industry that should have
benefitted India instead went to
England.
Racism & economic exploitation

Discouraged Indian industriesneed Indians to buy expensive
western goods- Duty free British
goods

Widespread famine & food
shortages. According to official
figures, 28 million Indians
starved to death between 1854
and 1901.

Criticism of Indian religions,
culture and customs.
+
Rise of Nationalism
a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that binds a population
and often produces a call for independence. At first these groups call for
equality, better opportunities. Ultimately, they will call for independence.
Indian National Congress
Muslim League

Political organization/political
party in modern times.

Political organization to protest
Muslim rights/party

Gandhi & J. Nehru

M. Ali Jinnah
+
Stop here. Complete after the Gandhi
Film.
+
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
+
Gandhi Spinning Cloth
+
 Harbor
no anger, but suffer the
anger of the opponent. Do not
return assaults
 Do
not submit to an order
given in anger
 Refrain
from insults and
swearing
Gandhi’s
Satyagraha
 Protect
Principles of resistance to
British rule, using nonviolent, peaceful
protests/actions.
 If
Civil Disobedience, act of
refusal to obey unjust laws.
the opponents from
insult or attack, even at the risk
of life
taken prisoner, behave in an
exemplary manner
 Obey
the orders of the
satyagraha leaders
+
The 1930 Salt March
(ex. of civil disobedience)

According to law, the British had a monopoly on the manufacture
and sale of salt.

Indians were arrested if they tried to make salt.

Gandhi directly defied British law and marched to the ocean to
collect salt.
Salt March Monument
+
Gandhi picks up a grain of salt
in defiance of British law.
+
PARLIAMENT BUILDING
New Delhi, India