Think back to Global I. Write three things we remember about the history or geography of India.
What is a subcontinent? India a diverse region – lots of natural resources Spices valuable in the Middle Ages During Industrial Revolution, tea, coffee, cotton some of the valuable resources
British company that takes control of India Start by taking ports, control entire region by 1757 Main goal – make money – They will use a lot of different methods to accomplish this goal
India was one of the most diverse places in world in 1800’s Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, other religions Hundreds of different tribes and languages How could the East India Company use this to their advantage? Divide and conquer – get groups to fight each other, so they can’t unite and fight against you
Why would England spend money improving infrastructure of India? Railroads – England built thousands of miles of them – 3 rd largest rail system in the world in 1850 – Also built roads and telegraph lines – India modernized in many ways by the British (education) What’s the problem with this?
Having full-time British army in India was expensive What other options did East India Company have? Sepoys – Indian soldiers that served in East India Company – both Hindu and Muslim “Mutiny among the Sepoys is the most formidable danger menacing our Indian Empire” – British General Napier
New rifle given to Sepoys More accurate, easier to load Sepoys had to bite off ends of cartridges to load bullets Cartridges were loaded with grease – Rumor was the grease was pig and cow fat – Why would this be a problem to Muslim and Hindu soldiers?
Sepoy soldiers upset about the Enfield Rifle and British control of India begin attacking anything representing British – Soldiers, families, railroads, etc. British respond brutally, kill many Sepoys, even those not involved – Went on for a year
What causes it? Effects – British take direct control of India – no more East India Company – Called The Raj – British much more racist, controlling than before mutiny