NCERT History Class 8 - Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory

Introduction

• Topic Overview: British arrival in India - from trade to territorial expansion.
• Approach: Understand this chapter as a story for more engaging learning.

Arrival of the British

• Came with the purpose of trade, not initial territorial expansion.
• Gained strength during the decline of the Mughal Empire, post-Aurangzeb.

Establishment of East India Company

• Queen Elizabeth I Charter: Exclusive rights for the East India Company (EIC) in India, excluding other British companies.
• Competition: Faced competition from Portuguese (Vasco da Gama), Dutch, and French traders.
• Trade Items: Cotton, silk, spices (pepper, cardamom), etc.
• First Factory in Bengal: Established on the Hooghly River, leading to significant influence in the region.

Struggles with Local Rulers

• Bengal Leadership: Nawabs (Murshid Quli Khan, Alivardi Khan, Siraj-ud-Daulah) strongly resisted British control.
• Battle of Plassey (1757): British, led by Robert Clive, used traitor Mir Jafar to defeat Siraj-ud-Daulah.
• Mir Jafar's and later Mir Qasim's roles and eventual British control through puppet rulers.
• Battle of Buxar (1764): Defeat of Mir Qasim securing British rule in Bengal.

Expansion Policies

• Diwani of Bengal: EIC gained revenue collection rights, became financially self-reliant in India.
• Robert Clive’s Wealth: Clive amassed significant wealth, reflecting British exploitation.

Subsidiary Alliance System

• Policy: Indian states can't maintain independent armies; British protection in exchange for payments.
• Non-compliance Penalty: Loss of territory.
• Implementation: Acquired territories from Awadh, Hyderabad, etc.

Resistance by Local Rulers

• Tipu Sultan: Strong resistance; modernized army; stopped trade with British; defeated in Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.
• Marathas: Multiple Anglo-Maratha Wars leading to British control of significant regions.

Doctrine of Lapse

• Concept: Territories without a male heir would be annexed by the British.
• Affected States: Satara, Sambalpur, Udaipur, Jhansi, and Nagpur.

British Administration

• Governance: Warrant Hastings' reforms, establishment of civil and criminal courts.
• Regulating Act of 1773: Established the Supreme Court; a system of justices for Indian districts.

Military & Technological Developments

• Army: Shift from cavalry to infantry with muskets and artillery due to global changes in warfare.
• Steam Technology: Reduced travel time between Britain and India, enhancing control.
• Global Movements: Ending slavery (1834), parallel revolutions impacting colonial policies.

Conclusion

• Chapter Summary: Covers the British transition from trade to territorial dominance in India through diplomatic and military strategies.
• Upcoming Sections: Future material on the Indian National Movement.

Additional Notes

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