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1498-1961
1498 - 1961
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Arrival of Portuguese in India
It was the Portuguese who first discovered a direct sea route to India. Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut an important sea port located on the South-West India on May 20, 1498 AD. King Zamorin, the local ruler received him and bestowed on him certain privileges. After staying in India for a period of three months Vasco da Gama returned with a rich cargo which he sold in the European market at an exorbitant price- 60 times the cost of his voyage.
Rise of Portuguese power In India
In 1505 AD, Francisco de Almeida was appointed as the first Portuguese governor in India. His policy being centric to controlling the Indian Ocean was known as the Blue Water Policy. Alfonso de Albuquerque who replaced Almeida as the governor in 1509 AD, and captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510 AD is considered the real founder of the Portuguese power in India. Goa subsequently became the headquarters of the Portuguese settlements in India. Portuguese hold over the coastal areas and superiority in naval power helped them significantly. By the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese captured not only Goa, Daman, Diu, and Salsette but also a vast stretches along the Indian coast.
Decline of Portuguese Power
But the Portuguese rise in Indian had a short life as the new rival trading communities from Europe posed a big challenge to them. Struggle among various rival trading blocs ensued in which Portuguese had to give way to the more powerful and enterprising competitors gradually rendering them an atrophied entity.
1605 - 1825
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Arrival of the Dutch
The people of Holland (present Netherlands) are called the Dutch. Next to the Portuguese, the Dutch set their feet in India. Historically the Dutch have been experts in sea trade. In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands was formed and given permission by the Dutch government to trade in the East Indies including India.
Decline of Dutch Power
Dutch presence on the Indian subcontinent lasted from 1605 AD to 1825 AD. The rise of the British power in the Eastern trade posed serious challenge to the commercial interest of the Dutch leading to bloody warfare between them in which Britishers were the clear winners owing to huge resources at their disposal. The brutal killing of some English traders by the Dutch in Amboyna in 1623 further aggravated the situation. The British won after another captured Dutch stronghold.
1612 - 1947
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THE BRITISH ARE KNOWN AS THE MAIN COLONIZER OF INDIA: RAJ
Arrival of the British
Arrival of the British and the establishment of British East India Company was the outcome of the Portuguese traders who earn enormous profit by selling their merchandise in India. Being motivated by the successful business stories of the Portuguese a group of English merchants -‘Merchant Adventurers’ formed a company- the East India Company in 1599 AD. The Company received a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600 AD authorizing it to trade in the East. Queen was herself a share holder in the East India Company.
The Provinces of India, earlier Presidencies of British India and still earlier, Presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in India. Collectively, they were called British India. In one form or another, they existed between 1612 and 1947, conventionally divided into three historical periods:
-Between 1612 and 1757 the East India Company set up "factories" (trading posts) in several locations, mostly in coastal India, with the consent of the Mughal emperors or local rulers. Its rivals were the merchant trading companies of Portugal, Denmark, Holland and France.
-During the period of Company rule in India, 1757–1858, the Company gradually acquired sovereignty over large parts of India, now called "Presidencies". However, it also increasingly came under British government oversight, in effect sharing sovereignty with the Crown. At the same time it gradually lost its mercantile privileges.
-Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the Company's remaining powers were transferred to the Crown. In the new British Raj (1858–1947), sovereignty extended to a few new regions, such as Upper Burma.
Why did England want to control India?
-Export raw materials
-Market for finished goods
Example: export cotton = import material
-Spread religion & “civilize” India (“white man’s burden”)
Impacts on India
-High taxes
-Salt monopoly: led to Salt March (24 days, 240 miles)
protest tax on salt which was widely used to replace salt from sweating in the tropical climate
-Famines – worse b/c of poor administration (British)
-Indians = 2nd class citizens
-Infrastructure improvements (roads, bridges, RRs, etc.)
-Changes to Hinduism
Some religions practices were banned
1620 - 1869
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Danish India is a term for the former colonies of Denmark-Norway (after 1814 Denmark) in India. Denmark-Norway held colonial possessions in India for more than 200 years. The Danish presence in India was of little significance to the major European powers as they presented neither a military nor a mercantile threat.
1668 - 1954
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Arrival of the French
The last European people to arrive in India were the French. The French East India Company was formed in 1664 AD during the reign of King Louis XIV to trade with India.
Decline of French
The Independence of India on 15 August 1947 gave impetus to the union of France's Indian possessions with former British India. On 1 November 1954, the four enclaves of Pondichéry, Yanam, Mahe, and Karikal were transferred to the Indian Union.
1857-1947
1857 - 1947
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Indian Nationalism grew and resulted in organizations formed to fight for independence. As Indians demanded independence, violence erupted.
-1857: The Great Mutiny
British guns were greased with pork and beef fat- offensive to Muslims and Hindus
-1885: The Indian National Congress
goal = independence
-British tried to divide Hindu and Muslim communities
“the division of religious feelings is greatly to our advantage…”
- Lord Dufferin, British Viceroy of India (1884-88)
-1906: All-India Muslim League
goal = independence.
1915 - 1947
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-Lived like a poor citizen
-Lawyer- trained in London
-Originally supported the British
-Lived in South Africa:
Opposed British in South Africa;
Brought movement back to India
-Wore peasant clothes- Indian made clothing
-Spindle is a symbol for supporting Indian made goods- India's lack of need from others
-Assassinated by a Hindu who thought he was sympathetic to Muslims
Gandhi's Philosophy:
-Satyagraha: Non-violent non-cooperation
“Non-cooperation with evil is as much of a duty as cooperation with good.”
-Provided a process for achieving goals peacefully
-Strikes, boycotts, fasting, marches
Salt March to end the British monopoly on salt, which is necessary for
people in tropical locations to consume
-Greatly influenced MLK and Nelson Mandela
1947-1948
August 15, 1947
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India declared it's independence from the British on August 15, 1947. It then split into 2 countries based on religion- India (Hindu) and Pakistan (Muslim). Pakistan was made up of East and West Pakistan- East Pakistan is present day Bangladesh.
August 15, 1947 - 1948
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-Partition (1947-48) = separation of India into India, West Pakistan, and East Pakistan (Bangladesh)
-Religious violence erupted b/t Hindus and Muslims – about 1,000,000 died
-Millions migrated to the country of their religion
-Today, India and Pakistan are intense rivals (with nuclear weapons!)
October 22, 1947 - present
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The Problem: Both India and Pakistan wish to control Kashmir.
Why do both India and Pakistan believe control of Kashmir is so important?
The people of Kashmir are still tribal in nature. The geography is mostly rural, with fierce mountains, deserts, and valleys. Industry is undeveloped. If this region has natural resources such as oil or gold or silver in any quantity, this has not yet been discovered. Why the fuss?
**CONTROL OF THE INDUS RIVER: The headwaters of the Indus River are located in Kashmir. Whomever controls the headwaters, controls the river. The Indus is vital. It brings green fertile life wherever it flows. The Indus begins in Kashmir, then flows through Pakistan, then flows into mainland India. If India chose, since Kashmir is part of India, they could dam the Indus and change the flow of the river. Without fertile land to grow crops, Pakistan would become a desert and its people would starve. Pakistan does not trust India, nor does India trust Pakistan. They will not share control of the Indus. They both want total control.
**RELIGIOUS SITES: Both Pakistan and India have sites in Kashmir that are important to their respective religions.
-Pakistan is predominately Muslim. Kashmir is predominately Muslim.
- India is predominately Hindu.
**STRATEGIC LOCATION: For India, Kashmir acts as a buffer. For Pakistan, Kashmir offers a fertile roadway into India for possible invasion.
Who controls Kashmir today, and why?
Approximately seventy years ago, Kashmir was offered a choice by the UN of becoming part of India, part of Pakistan, or becoming independent. To secure Kashmir for Pakistan, in what Muslim forces perceived to be a holy war, Pakistan invaded Kashmir. The ruler of Kashmir fled to India and agreed to place Kashmir under Indian rule if India would protect Kashmir from invasion. If there had been a vote in Kashmir, a vote by the people, the majority probably would have voted to become part of Pakistan for religious reasons. Since there was no vote, Pakistan has never accepted India's control of Kashmir. Pakistan believed then and still believes today that Kashmir should be part of Pakistan.
War & Terrorism: Both India and Pakistan are convinced that they are right and that they will prevail if they continue their fight as they are doing, although this plan has not worked in seven decades. In the past 70 years, Pakistan and India have fought three wars over ownership of Kashmir. India won all three. Today, the fight continues with acts of terrorism.
Why doesn't the US lend a helping hand with the Kashmir conflict?
The US wants to be friends with both Pakistan and India. That makes US involvement in this problem very difficult. On one hand, we have a treaty with Pakistan that says if they go to war with anyone, we will help them. We will honor that treaty. Pakistan shares a border with Afganistan. In our fight on terrorism, that border is most important, and Pakistan's help is critical. On the other hand, we don't want India mad at us. We do a great deal of trade with India that is mutually advantageous. But mostly, India is our friend. If Pakistan goes to war with India, we would have a really tough time with that. So, we try very hard not to get involved.