Migration c790 to the present day, Part3: Expansion and empire Flashcards
What resources does India have?
Iron ore, silk, copper, gold, silver, gemstones, tea, timber and spices.
Who discovered how to get to India by sea?
Vasco de Gama
From what country was Vasco de Gama?
Portugal
What were trading stations?
Permanent, well-protected bases European traders set up along the Indian coast.
What was the lifestyle of a trader?
- He lived with his family in the trading station.
When was the East India Company set up?
1600
What does EIC stand for?
East India Company
What is meant by a monopoly?
A majority control of a certain resource or trade.
When did the EIC’s monopoly on British trade in India end?
1694
When was the trading post in Surat established?
1612
When was the trading post in Madras established?
1638
When was the trading post in Bombay established?
1668
How did the East India Company make money?
They brought silk, coffee, spices and other luxuries back to England.
Who were the Mughals?
Muslims who invaded India and took control of areas mostly run by Hindo princes.
When do the Mughals start to lose control of India?
In the war 1698-1707
How did European nations take advantage of the Mughal war?
They expanded their control over India.
What did European nations do to take control of India?
They started supporting particular Indian princes with weapons in exchange for land and goods.
When did the EIC start expanding and gaining land?
In the 1700s
When was the battle of Plassey?
1757
How many EIC troops fought at the Battle of Plassey?
3000, 2200 of which were local Indians.
Who led the EIC army at the Battle of Plassey?
Robert Clive
Who do the English beat at the Battle of Plassey?
An Indian army led by a local prince.
How many troops did the local prince who fought the English at the Battle of Plassey have?
40,000
What territory did the English gain after their victory at the Battle of Plassey?
They took over Bengal
Why was Bengal valuable to the English?
It was one of the richest parts of India.
Who was the local prince the English defeated at the Battle of Plassey?
Siraj-ud-Daula
Who was Siraj-ud-Daula aided by?
The French
Who else did the EIC fight?
The Dutch, whom they defeated, and from whom they took trading posts.
Why does the EIC have money problems?
They had huge profits in India but were losing money elsewhere, in America mainly.
Why does the British Government get involved in the EIC?
It doesn’t want it to go bankrupt, as it pays a fortune to the Government in taxes.
What act is passed in 1773?
(Not the Stamp Act)
the Government of India Act
What did the Government of India Act do?
It states that both the British government and the East India Company control the territory in India jointly.
Who is appointed the first Governor General of India?
Warren Hastings
What is the effect of the loss of the American colonies on the British involvement in India?
They get more involved and the government gradually takes over the EIC’s affairs.
When did Warren Hastings become Governor General of India?
1773
Why was Warren Hastings important in India?
He strengthened British control in India, helping to establish it as a part of the British Empire.
What are some negative things about Warren Hastings?
He faced accusations of corruption, mismanagement and poor military judgement from political rivals. He faced trial in 1787 and was found not guilty in 1795.
Who as Robert Clive?
He was Governor of Bengal and won the Battle of Plassey, making a personal fortune after plundering the region.
Why was Robert Clive criticized?
He was criticized in Parliament for corruption.
By what time was most of India under British control?
By the mid 1850s, most of India was under British control.
What was the lifestyle of an employee of the East India Company?
Employees of the EIC made huge fortunes and lived in luxury.
How did the British influence India culturally?
They ignored or replaced long-standing Indian traditions, rights and customs.
How were the Indian aristocracy affected by the British?
Some of them were replaced and stripped of their wealth.
What were Indian soldiers who fought for the EIC known as?
Sepoys
What factors contributed to widespread Sepoy discontentment?
- They weren’t treated well
- Little hope of promotion
- They were first to be sent in the most dangerous places to fight
- They were pressured into converting to Christianity
- Cartridge grease controversy
When was the Enfield rifle introduced to the Sepoys?
1857
What was controversial about the new rifle introduced?
- The Sepoys had to bite of the end of the cartridges to load it.
- The cartridges were greased with animal fat, which was offensive to both the Hindu and Muslim Sepoys.
When was the Indian Rebellion?
1857
How did the Indian Rebellion start?
On the 9th May 1857, 85 Sepoys refused to use the cartridges and were sent to jail for ten years.
What happened on the 10th of May 1857?
More Sepoys rose up in support of the prisoners and broke them out of jail. Army barracks and homes of British civilians were set on fire.
When was the Cawnpore massacre?
July 1857
What was the Cawnpore massacre?
The massacre of 200 British women and children at Cawnpore.
What was Britain’s reaction to the Cawnpore massacre?
It sent another 70,000 troops to India.
When did the Indian Mutiny end?
8th of July 1858
What was the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny?
- The British Government took over India from the EIC.
- They were more wary of religious issues in colonies
- They were more careful about how they goverened.
What was the Indian Universities Act?
It created universities in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras
Why was the Indian Universities Act significant?
It helped raise the literacy rate of India to make it more civilised.
How much railway did the British build in India?
30,000 kilometres
How many bridges did the British build in India?
130,000