India The British Are Coming

Basic Background

Home to many religions  Hinduism  Buddhism  Islam  Sikh  Jainism

Mughals  1500’s ruled by Mongol descendants called Mughals – Babur (1526) – Akbar – Shah Jahan  Claimed to be descendent of Genghis Khan  Synonymous with wealth and luxury

Taj Mahal

Europeans Arrive  1498 Vasco de Gama – set up bases – set up trading posts  Portuguese control some ports  Traders spread the Indian culture to Europe Vasco de Gama

 Mughal rule begins to breaks down  Europeans fight each other for control

Robert Clive  Worked for the British East India co.  Led British forces over the French in India  Makes deals with local Mughal princes  One by one, forced local rulers to sign trading deals with the company Robert Clive meets with a Mughal Prince

A Company Rules India  East India Company sets up: – system of tax collection – Set up law codes – Court System – Private Army Sepoys - natives who work as soldiers for the company Company Flag

Sepoy Rebellion  issues of the bullets (meat)  Captured the city of Delhi  British troops sent in, takes a year to regain control  Britain supported by the Sikhs

Britain in Charge (1858)  Ruled by a governor - general (Viceroy)  Area called the “Raj” – divided into 10 provinces – built bridges, roads, dams, canals, railway – agriculture flourished British India Flag

“Jewel of the Crown”  Queen Victoria calls India the “Jewel of the Crown”  The best of all their colonies. – Intelligent People – Sheltered Market – Exotic – Great Raw Materials

Impact of Colonialism  India benefits – 3 rd largest railroad network – Modernized economy – Sanitation, schools, literacy  India Suffers – No political and economic power – Restriction on Indian industry – Famines – Threat to Indian culture