East India Company

❖ Portuguese arrived in South Asia in 1498 under Vasco de Gama.

❖ Established the city of Goa in 1510.
❖ Their primary goal was to search for spices.
❖ In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the British East India Company (EIC) to
trade in Asia, following their failure in Africa.
❖ The first EIC ship reached Surat in 1608, but Jehangir did not allow them to trade.
❖ Initially, the Mughals did not support the British due to Portuguese influence.
❖ In 1612, Shah Jehan permitted the EIC to trade in India.
❖ EIC shifted its headquarters to Bombay in 1664.
❖ EIC fought Aurangzeb in 1686 but were defeated.
❖ By 1690, they established the city of Calcutta.
❖ By the early 18th century, EIC had three main bases: Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay.
❖ By 1740, 10% of British revenue came from the subcontinent.

Reasons for British Arrival

❖ To establish trade routes and access valuable spices.
❖ To expand British influence in Asia after failure in Africa.
❖ To compete with the Portuguese and other European traders.
❖ To capitalize on the wealth and resources of the Indian subcontinent.
❖ To establish profitable trading posts for goods like textiles and spices.

Reasons for taking control of Subcontinent

❖ Decline of the Mughal Empire
❖ Superior military and naval power
❖ Divide and rule strategy
❖ Economic control through trade
❖ Lack of unified resistance
❖ Efficient administration and governance
❖ Use of local Indian soldiers (sepoys)

British Expansion
❖ First three British presidencies in Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta
❖ War with Aurangzeb in 1686
❖ Battle of Plassey 1757
❖ Battle of Buxar 1764
❖ Regulating Act of Parliament 1773
❖ Pitt’s Indian Act 1784
❖ Anglo-Maratha treaty 1782
❖ Anglo-Mysore wars 1767-1799) 3 won by British out of 4
❖ 1799 Nawab of Oudh defeated

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 ❖ Mughal emperor Shah Alam accept British protection in 1803
❖ Anglo-Maratha wars 2 out of three won by British 1775-1818
❖ Defeated Titu Mir
❖ Defeated Amirs of Sindh (Battle of Miani) 1843
❖ Defeated Sikhs, captured NWFP and Punjab (Battle of Aliwal)1846
❖ Two Anglo-Sikh wars won by British

War with Aurangzeb 1686

❖ In 1686, the British East India Company (EIC) initiated a conflict with Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb.
❖ The war was sparked by the EIC's desire to expand its influence and secure better trading
rights.
❖ Aurangzeb responded swiftly with military force, overpowering the British forces.
❖ The EIC's trading posts were seized, and the British were forced to negotiate.
❖ The British apologized and sought forgiveness, leading to a peace settlement.
❖ As part of the settlement, the EIC was allowed to continue trading but under stricter
Mughal terms.
❖ The British shifted their focus to diplomacy after their defeat, eventually regaining favor
with the Mughal court.

Battle of Plassey 1757

❖ British East India Company sought to expand its trade and influence in Bengal.
❖ Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah resented British interference and fortifications in Bengal.
❖ In 1756, Siraj-ud-Daulah captured Calcutta, escalating tensions.
❖ Robert Clive led a British counterattack and retook Calcutta in early 1757.
❖ British secretly Bribed Mir Jafar, promising to make him Nawab in exchange for his
betrayal.
❖ The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757.
❖ Mir Jafar betrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah during the battle, ensuring a British victory.
❖ The British gained control of Bengal, installing Mir Jafar as a puppet ruler.
❖ The battle marked the beginning of British dominance in India.

Battle of Buxar 1764

❖ Mir Qasim, Nawab of Bengal, resented British interference and misuse of trade
privileges.
❖ He reformed the army and administration to strengthen his position, angering the British.
❖ Tensions escalated, leading to Mir Qasim’s defeat and replacement by a British puppet
Nawab.
❖ Mir Qasim fled and formed an alliance with Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh) and
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
❖ The Battle of Buxar took place on October 22, 1764, between the British and the allied
forces.

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 ❖ The British, led by Hector Munro, decisively defeated the coalition.
❖ The victory gave the British control over Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Awadh.
❖ The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) granted the British Diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar, and
Orissa.
❖ Diwani rights refer to the rights granted to the British East India Company to collect
revenue and administer civil justice in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
❖ These rights were granted by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II after the Treaty of
Allahabad (1765).
❖ This allowed the British to control the financial and administrative affairs of these
regions.
❖ It marked the beginning of British economic and political dominance in India.
❖ The British collected taxes directly from the local population, further consolidating their
control.

Regulating Act of Parliament 1773

❖ The British Act of Parliament 1773, known as the Regulating Act, was designed to
improve the administration of the British East India Company in India.
❖ It aimed to address corruption and mismanagement within the Company, which had led to
public outcry and financial instability.
❖ The Act established a Governor-General of Bengal, with significant powers over all other
British territories in India.
❖ Warren Hastings was appointed as the first Governor-General under this Act.
❖ It created a centralized administration, placing authority over Indian affairs in the hands
of the British Parliament.
❖ The Act required the Company to submit an annual report to Parliament, increasing
governmental oversight.
❖ It also made provisions for a Supreme Court in Calcutta, enhancing the judicial system.
❖ The Act laid the groundwork for further legislative measures concerning British
governance in India.

Pitt’s Indian Act 1784

❖ Pitt’s Indian Act of 1784 aimed to reform and regulate the administration of the British
East India Company.
❖ Named after Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, the Act established greater control
of the British government over the Company’s operations in India.
❖ It created a Board of Control, consisting of government officials, to oversee the
Company’s affairs and ensure alignment with British interests.
❖ The Board had the authority to supervise and direct the Company's policies and actions in
India.
❖ The Act confirmed the position of the Governor-General and his council, further
centralizing authority in British hands.
❖ It sought to improve accountability and reduce corruption within the Company by
enforcing stricter regulations.
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 ❖ The Act marked a significant step toward the eventual direct rule of India by
the British government, setting a precedent for future reforms.

Anglo-Maratha treaty 1782

❖ The Maratha Empire was in decline due to internal conflicts and external pressures.
❖ The Second Anglo-Maratha War led to military engagements and territorial disputes.
❖ Both parties sought a resolution to avoid further conflict and stabilize the region.
❖ The treaty was signed on March 6, 1782, ending hostilities between the British and the
Marathas.
❖ It recognized Maratha sovereignty and restored their territory, promoting temporary
peace.
❖ The British retained control of territories acquired during the conflict, such as Salsette
and Bassein.
❖ Both sides agreed to respect each other's territorial integrity and avoid aggression.
❖ The treaty facilitated trade relations and established a framework for future interactions.
❖ It was significant in shaping power dynamics in India and laid the groundwork for further
British expansion.

Anglo-Mysore Wars
❖ The Anglo-Mysore Wars were a series of four conflicts between the British East India
Company and the Kingdom of Mysore from 1767 to 1799.
❖ The first war (1767-1769) began due to British expansion in southern India, ending with
the Treaty of Madras, which restored the status quo, meaning both sides agreed to return
to their original boundaries and maintain peace.
❖ The second war (1780-1784) was marked by the rise of Sultan Tipu (Tipu Sultan) of
Mysore, leading to significant battles.
❖ The second war concluded with the Treaty of Mangalore, restoring peace but leaving
tensions unresolved.
❖ The third war (1789-1792) saw a coalition of British forces against Tipu Sultan, resulting
in a decisive British victory at the Battle of Seringapatam.
❖ The third war ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam, which forced Tipu Sultan to cede
significant territories to the British.
❖ The fourth war (1798-1799) resulted from British attempts to eliminate Tipu Sultan's
power permanently.
❖ The war concluded with the British siege and capture of Seringapatam, leading to Tipu
Sultan's death in 1799.
❖ The wars resulted in the complete annexation of Mysore and further solidified British
control in southern India.

Nawab of Oudh and British 1799

❖ In 1799, the British East India Company defeated the Nawab of Oudh (Awadh) in a
significant conflict.

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 ❖ The defeat was part of the British strategy to consolidate their control over
northern India.
❖ The Nawab, Wazir Ali, faced internal challenges and external pressures from the British.
❖ The British sought to reduce the power of the Nawabs and bring Awadh under direct
British control.
❖ Following military engagements, the British captured key territories and forced Wazir Ali
to abdicate.
❖ The British placed a puppet ruler, Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, on the throne to ensure
compliance.
❖ The defeat of the Nawab of Oudh marked a significant step in British expansion and
control in India.

Mughal emperor Shah Alam accept British protection in 1803

❖ In 1803, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II accepted British protection due to political
instability and threats to his authority.
❖ The British East India Company had been expanding its influence and control over Indian
territories.
❖ Shah Alam faced challenges from regional powers, including the Marathas, who were
pressuring his rule.
❖ The British offered military assistance to Shah Alam, positioning themselves as
protectors of the Mughal throne.
❖ This acceptance of protection allowed the British to exert greater control over Delhi and
the surrounding regions.
❖ The British began to intervene in the administration and governance of the Mughal
Empire, further diminishing its sovereignty.
❖ Shah Alam's acceptance of British protection marked a significant decline in the power of
the Mughal Empire and increased British dominance in India.

Battle of Miani 1843

❖ The British suffered a significant defeat in the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842),
leading to a humiliating retreat from Kabul.
❖ This defeat damaged British prestige and authority in India, creating a need for a strategic
victory.
❖ To restore their reputation, the British sought new military successes after their failure in
Afghanistan.
❖ Sindh was strategically important, located along the Indus River and serving as a gateway
to Afghanistan.
❖ The British believed that controlling Sindh would secure trade routes and provide a buffer
against Afghan threats.
❖ The Talpur Mirs were seen as unable to maintain stability and control, presenting an
opportunity for British intervention.
❖ The British launched military operations against the Talpur Mirs, culminating in the
Battle of Miani in 1843.
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 ❖ After their victory at Miani, the British annexed Sindh, allowing them to
regain some lost prestige and exert control in the region.

Anglo-Sikh Wars
❖ The Anglo-Sikh Wars were two conflicts between the British East India Company and the
Sikh Empire in the mid-19th century.
❖ The First Anglo-Sikh War occurred from 1845 to 1846, triggered by territorial disputes
and political instability in the Sikh Empire.
❖ The British aimed to exert control over the region after the weakening of the Sikh
leadership.
❖ The war included significant battles, such as the Battle of Ferozeshah and the Battle of
Sobraon.
❖ The British emerged victorious, leading to the Treaty of Lahore, which imposed heavy
conditions on the Sikh Empire.
❖ The treaty resulted in the cession of territory and a large indemnity payment to the
British.
❖ The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place from 1848 to 1849, sparked by dissatisfaction
with British rule and the annexation of the Punjab.
❖ The British defeated the Sikhs again at the Battle of Chillianwala and the Battle of Gujrat.
❖ The Second Anglo-Sikh War ended with the annexation of the Punjab into British India,
marking the decline of the Sikh Empire.

Battle of Aliwal 1846

❖ The Battle of Aliwal took place on January 28, 1846, during the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
❖ British forces, led by Sir Harry Smith, aimed to confront the Sikh army, which had been
reorganized and strengthened after earlier conflicts.
❖ The battle occurred near the village of Aliwal, along the banks of the Sutlej River.
❖ The British forces were outnumbered but used superior tactics and artillery to their
advantage.
❖ The British launched a surprise attack, quickly overwhelming the Sikh troops.
❖ The battle resulted in a decisive British victory, further weakening Sikh resistance.
❖ Following the victory at Aliwal, the British advanced towards the Sikh capital of Lahore.
❖ The battle was significant in the overall context of the Second Anglo-Sikh War,
contributing to British control over the Punjab region.

Indian Resistance
❖ British forces were defeated by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686, hindering their
territorial expansion.
❖ Siraj-ud-Daula, Nawab of Bengal, attacked Calcutta in 1756, leading to the Black Hole
incident with significant British casualties.
❖ Mir Qasim, Nawab of Oudh, and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam attempted to resist British
rule in 1784, culminating in the Battle of Buxar, which ended in a British victory.

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❖ Mysore won the first of four Anglo-Mysore Wars, but the British eventually
established dominance in southern India.
❖ The British won one out of three Anglo-Maratha Wars, with the conflicts concluding in
treaties that solidified British influence.
❖ Titu Mir achieved a significant victory against British forces at Narkelbaria in 1831,
highlighting local resistance to colonial rule.
❖ Sikh attack on British 1848-49 but lost

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