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Colonial India. By: Shannon Starr. Information about the Flag. Colors: Saffron – courage, sacrifice, patriotism, and renunciation White – symbolizes the hope for unity and peace Green – faith, fertility, and land Blue Wheel: Ashoka Chakra (Wheel of the Law) 24 spokes
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Colonial India By: Shannon Starr
Information about the Flag • Colors: • Saffron – courage, sacrifice, patriotism, and renunciation • White – symbolizes the hope for unity and peace • Green – faith, fertility, and land • Blue Wheel: • Ashoka Chakra (Wheel of the Law) • 24 spokes • Represents the continuing progress of the nation
Pre-Colonial India • India was run by the Mogul Empire • Empire established by the Mogul conquerors of India • Babar was a Turkish-Mongol prince from Afghanistan • He is the founder of the Mogul Empire • Invaded India (1526) • His grandson, Jelaeddin Akbar eventually took over
Continued…. • Jelaeddin was one of the greatest Mogul emperors • Reigned for 49 years • After his death, the empire began to decline under the rule of Aurangzeb • The Mogul control in south India started to become under more pressure, especially with the attacks by the Hindu • Aurangzeb imposed special taxes on Hindus • This ended up destroying their temples and forced them Hindus to convert to Islam • After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mogul empire started to decline even more under the power of Bahadur Shah
Decline of the Empire • Bahadur Shah was unable to prevent the decline of the empire • He tried to impose control of the Rajput’s • Members of northern India’s Hindu warrior castle • Served as India’s first line of defense against invaders from the north • The Mogul Empire began to break up, allowing the British to step in
Rise of the British • The British came by sea rather than through the northwest • They came first to trade instead of coming in just for military conquest • The ports they established were Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta • These ports became new centers of political, economical, and social activity • The British began to dictate India by controlling sea-borne trade • This became known as the British East India Company
East India Company • Founded during a time of European trade and imperialism in Asia • Dutch East Indies Company was one of the first to start European trade • EIC was an English company that was formed for the exploitation of trade with East and Southeast Asia and India • Was formed to share in the East Indian Spice Trade • Monopoly of Spain and Portugal until the defeat of the Spanish Armada by England
What happened next? • The East India Company slowly began to take control over India • The Mogul Empire was growing weak but the EIC was growing in economic and political strength • It began to build its own military force which mainly consisted of Sepoys (Indian soldiers) and was led by British commanders
Sepoy Rebellion • As the British control started to grow, many Sepoy Indians became angered • The Indian troops started to rebel around 1857 • They believed that the cartridge grease used to load rifles was made from cow or pig fat • Unclean to Muslims and sacred to Hindus • They would refuse to obey orders and began to rebel
Continued… • Sepoys started killing their officers and then moved on to killing every European they could find • Then they moved onto the only British-held outpost • They surrounded it hoping the British would surrender • The British were able to form military columns and capture and execute all who were involved in the rebellion • India then became a British Colony and the East India Company was no longer
EIC Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0fYMIvtyU
Gaining Control • The British were able to gain much control because they were able to wage war against smaller areas in India • It also helped that the Mogul Empire was deteriorating • Queen Victoria came to rule • Many think this could have been avoided if there had been a unified state in India that was strong • Now that the British have taken over, things were going to start changing
Restrictions on the Economy • India has to produce raw materials for the British and buy British manufactured goods • India could not go into competition with British good • Raise cash crops • Tea, pepper, coffee, etc. • Forced to pay dues for military protection
Advancements on the Economy • The worlds third largest railroad network was established • Improved heath care • The British set up schools and colleges to educate • The course study stressed the English language and culture
Sources: • http://greetingindia.tripod.com/flag.html • http://www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/before.html • http://asianhistory.about.com/od/glossaryps/g/GlosRajput.htm • http://www.slideshare.net/gsill/british-in-india-presentation • http://www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/india.html • http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/empire/g2/cs4/background.htm#bullet3 • http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/india/sepoyreb.html • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0fYMIvtyU