Introduction & Imperialism

in India

Country Profile• Full name: Republic of India • Population: 1.2 billion (UN, 2010) • Capital: New Delhi • Most-populated city: Mumbai (Bombay) • Area: 1.2 million sq miles, excluding Indian-administered Kashmir (38,830 sq

miles) • Major languages: Hindi, English and at least 16 other official languages • Major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism• Life expectancy: 64 years (men), 68 years (women) (UN) • Monetary unit: 1 Indian Rupee = .0195 dollar; 1 U.S. dollar = 51.2 Indian

Rupees• Main exports: Agricultural products, textile goods, gems and jewelry, software

services and technology, engineering goods, chemicals, leather products • GNI per capita: US $1,340 (World Bank, 2010)

Forms of Imperialism in Asia:

• Imperialism = the process of one people ruling or controlling the other– Colony- a territory governed by a foreign power– Protectorate- territory that has its own

government but is controlled by a foreign power– Sphere of Influence- territory in which a country

claims exclusive political and economic control

What was the British East India Company?

• Created to control trade between Britain, India and East Asia

• Started in 1600- individual investors created a trading company by putting up money for travel expenses in exchange for profits made from goods bought in India and then sold in Europe.

• The company negotiated with the Mughal Empire on behalf of the company AND the British Monarchy

From Trading Company to Ruling Power

• Battle of Plassey (1756-1757)- The British East India Company negotiated with the military leaders fighting in Bengal to gain exclusive rights.

• British Parliament passed the Regulating Act of 1773- giving military aid to the company in exchange for more control over its actions (& money)

• Mughal Empire traditionally ruled using landlords. Local authorities sent representatives to Delhi but maintained control back home- BEIC just picked one landlord off at a time

Early 1800’s

1858

To understand the impact that the British had in India you first must understand a little bit about Indian culture before imperialism.

The Caste System BBC Clip

Cultural Impact of the British East India Company

• Introduced New Educational System– “Seeking Western Education” Reading and

Questions – Education in India today

• Outlawed the ancient practice of Sati– YouTube Clip

• Allowed Christian Missionaries to Settle throughout the country – onset of religious tension

Sepoy Mutiny

• Sepoy were Indian soldiers who fought for the British

• In 1857 the British unveiled new rifles that required the Hindu and Muslim Sepoy soldiers to bite off the ammunition cartridge that was greased with fat from cows and pigs.

• Brutal fighting continued for 2 years.• The British crown took over rule of India

directly once they crushed the uprising

The Raj = British Rule in India

• Indian Civil Service (ICS)- mostly comprised of British, leaving educated Indians frustrated.

• British feelings of superiority• Created 3rd largest railroad system in the world– To move soldiers – To move goods

• Transitioned the economy from one that exported manufactured goods, such as textiles, to one that only exported raw materials

The Rise of Indian Nationalism

• Indian National Congress- 1885- founded by well educated, English speaking Hindu Indians who wanted a stronger say in national politics

• Bengal Partition- Britain proposed that splitting the Bengal province would make it easier to control- INC saw it as a ploy to separate Hindus– Swadeshi- Indians refused to buy British products, only purchasing

Indian made goods- this form of peaceful protest worked• Muslim League- 1906- created out of fear surrounding the

Bengal Partition plan and Hindu Indian’s growing political power and unity

*Credit and Debt Reading