17th Century:
The British Raj began and ended in 1858-1947.
British involvement in India began in 1600 when Queen Elizabeth I signed a royal charter which
granted an expedition for adventure merchants (later the East India Company) to Indian nations.
The merchants however were not at the time interested in trading directly with reigning indian
powers; instead they rivaled with the Dutch, French and Portuguese in the East Indies, but
overtime, the East India Company was forced out of the Indies and instead focused on India. In
1640, a representative secured a grant of land in Southern India - the first time indian land was
owned by the English. On this land was constructed Fort Saint George, this region became
known as Madras (a city.) More land was secured such as Surat, Bombay and Vizagapatam. In
1682, the English became a leading exporter of spices. “Wealth could be measured in spices.”
By 1690, the French, Danish and Dutch all be active in Indian Affairs, although Portugal was
already established in the Region.
18th Century:
The Mughal empire weakened the Maratha Kingdom, however the Maratha empire remained a
dominant power for another 80 years. In around 1748, The East India Company began to
overshadow other European competitors. Using assets to raise a private army to compare to the
Maratha and Bengal Empire. The East Indian Company benefited from the country's Navy which
enabled more men to be brought to India than European competitors were capable of. By 1750,
The British and the French were the dominant empires in India. Under Robert Clive, the East
Indian Company army was able to defeat the Bengal and their French allies at the Battle of
Plassey during the seven years war (1757) which allowed by the 1760s to assert control over
much of India. In 1769, The French East India Company collapsed although land remained in
possession.
19th Century prior to The British Raj
During the British advances into the Indian heartland, the British encountered resistance from
the Sikh Empire and other Indian states not interested in doing business with the English. The
Duke of Wellington successfully won many battles against these states. By the 1850s, Indian
civilians began to socially and economically reform. In 1857, the Indian Rebellion served as the
formal disband of the Mughal Empire and the transfer of power from the British East Indian
Company to Britain as a country.
The British Raj began and ended in 1858-1947.
British involvement in India began in 1600 when Queen Elizabeth I signed a royal charter which
granted an expedition for adventure merchants (later the East India Company) to Indian nations.
The merchants however were not at the time interested in trading directly with reigning indian
powers; instead they rivaled with the Dutch, French and Portuguese in the East Indies, but
overtime, the East India Company was forced out of the Indies and instead focused on India. In
1640, a representative secured a grant of land in Southern India - the first time indian land was
owned by the English. On this land was constructed Fort Saint George, this region became
known as Madras (a city.) More land was secured such as Surat, Bombay and Vizagapatam. In
1682, the English became a leading exporter of spices. “Wealth could be measured in spices.”
By 1690, the French, Danish and Dutch all be active in Indian Affairs, although Portugal was
already established in the Region.
18th Century:
The Mughal empire weakened the Maratha Kingdom, however the Maratha empire remained a
dominant power for another 80 years. In around 1748, The East India Company began to
overshadow other European competitors. Using assets to raise a private army to compare to the
Maratha and Bengal Empire. The East Indian Company benefited from the country's Navy which
enabled more men to be brought to India than European competitors were capable of. By 1750,
The British and the French were the dominant empires in India. Under Robert Clive, the East
Indian Company army was able to defeat the Bengal and their French allies at the Battle of
Plassey during the seven years war (1757) which allowed by the 1760s to assert control over
much of India. In 1769, The French East India Company collapsed although land remained in
possession.
19th Century prior to The British Raj
During the British advances into the Indian heartland, the British encountered resistance from
the Sikh Empire and other Indian states not interested in doing business with the English. The
Duke of Wellington successfully won many battles against these states. By the 1850s, Indian
civilians began to socially and economically reform. In 1857, the Indian Rebellion served as the
formal disband of the Mughal Empire and the transfer of power from the British East Indian
Company to Britain as a country.
