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1292
Marco Polo's Arrival to India
After his expedition to China, Marco Polo arrived on the Coromandel Coast of India in a merchant ship. He entered the kingdom of the Tamil Pandyas near modern day Tanjore. He documented Indian culture (traditions, habits, and the Hindu religion). He learned about Buddhism and was pleasantly surprised, stating that "had he been Christian, he would have been a great saint with our Lord Jesus Christ." He also took note of India's expansive range of spices and other goods. -
May 29, 1453
Collapse of Constantinople
The collapse of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire took place in May, 1453. Sultan Mehmed II, ruler of the Ottoman Turks, led the assault. The Turks employed various important war tactics in taking over the city, the siege lasted for fifty days. Mehmed renamed the city Istanbul, the city was now officially claimed for Islam.
Fall of Constantinople -
May 20, 1498
Vasco de Gama
Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut, India on May 20, 1498, sailing from Lisbon, Portugal. Having successfully sailed around the southern tip of Africa, da Gama established a sea route from Europe to Asia that bypassed the nations that controlled the overland spice trade. -
The Foundation of the British East India Company
In 1600, the East India Company of London was granted a royal charter from Elizabeth the I. In 1608, the first of the company's ships began arriving in Indian port cities to purchase goods, spices, and other items to export back to England. Eventually, by 1613, the first trading post in India would be established, and a regular trade between the two would begin. -
Death of Aurangzeb
His death marked the end of the Mughal Empire. Many say his religious intolerance is what made him unfit as a ruler, and said intolerance was the primary cause of the decline of the empire. -
Battle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey was a victory of the British over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies on 23 June 1757, under the leadership of Robert Clive. The battle was preceded by an attack on British-controlled Calcutta by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and the Black Hole massacre. -
Appointment of First Governor General
Warren Hastings was appointed the First Governor General of the BEIC. After over a decade of service in assisting the growth of the Raj, Hasting resigned from this position. -
Regulating Act of 1773
The occasion for the Regulating Act was the company’s misgovernment of its Bengal lands, brought to a crisis by the threat of bankruptcy and a demand for a government loan. This act made it difficult for private groups to manipulate votes and control policy. In 1600 AD, the British East India Company was granted a charter to trade in East. The company obtained exclusive right to trade with India for 15 years. -
Pitt's India Act
The Pitt India Act addressed the flaws of the Regulating Act of 1773. A six member board of controllers was set up for political activities and Court of directors for financial activities. This 1773 Act had only regulated the company but never took the power. The Pitt Act reduced the council of 6 members to only 3. The Act also granted governor-generals more power. -
Gandhi Makes His Own Clothes
The British destroyed all Indian spinning wheels and arrested anyone who tried to make their own cloth. As an act of resistance, Gandhi kept his spinning wheel, made his own clothes, and refused to buy British cloth. He encouraged many Indians to do the same. Gandhi was arrested on the charge of making his own cloth. -
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First Opium War
Although this war was fought between China and Britain, it should be stated that the opium exported to China was actually produced in India. The East India Company served as distributors. During the war, some Indians served in the British forces to fight against China. -
Causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857
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Amritsar Massacre
The Amritsar Massacre galvanized the general Indian ideology on local self rule. A group of 10,000 men, women, and children gathered together in the Jallianwalla Bagh, an open space with only one exit, for a spring festival. General Dyer, along with his soldiers, sealed off this exit and began firing into this crowd -
Indian Independence
The Indian independence movement was a series of activities whose ultimate aim was to end the British Raj in the Indian subcontinent. On August 15, 1947 India Gains Independence from Britain. Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the nation with a new Declaration of Independence and became the first prime minister of India.
