HISTORY A-LEVEL INDIA TIMELINE

By phoenix.e.chelai@gmail.com

  • Merchants ask to voyage to Indian Ocean

  • Founding of the EIC

  • William Hawkings becomes the first EIC member in India

  • First trading post for textiles is set up

  • Battle of Plassey

    Resulted in the annexation of Bengal by the EIC.
    By this time, there were only 45552 European soldiers out of a total of 277746 soldiers, with the rest being sepoys.

  • Battle of Buxar

  • Regulating Act of 1773

    • Created a governning council of five for the company
    • Two members were selected by company and other three chosen by parliament
    • Act ensured the Gov. General in India was appointed by council selected by monarch

  • Regulating Act of 1784

    • Established a Board of Control to regulate political functions of the EIC
    • Membership of the board decided by parliament and the king

  • 1786 Act

    • Company became a regularised subsidiary of the crown. (it was no longer an independent company, and was overseen by parliament)
    • Gave Gov. Genral in India the powers to override governing council in special circumstances
  • Period: to

    Reshaping of the trading function

    • EIC had become an administrator to territory rather than simply engaging in commercial activity
    • British representatives in India saw themselves as rulers rather than traders
    • EIC now employed civil servants to help administer and collect taxes

  • Founding of Haileybury College

    EIC established the college in Hertfordshire to specifically train civil servants to help run the growing terrirtory

  • 1813 Charter Act

    • Ended the EIC monopoly on trade except for the trade in tea with China
    • Permitted Christian missionaries the chance to preach in Company territory
    • Suggested provisions for the education of Indians
  • Period: to

    Annexation of Assam, Manipur and Cacher

    The successful annextion came at a significant financial cost, resulting in the EIC turning their attention to the North-West frontier in the 1830s
  • Period: to

    Series of wars in Afghanistan, Sind and the Punjab

    In 1843, Sind was annexed after a decisive campaign.
    In 1849, the Punjab was finally brought under EIC control after the death of Ranjit Singh.
    The brave fighting of the Sikh soldiers earned them respect and admiration from British soldiers though

  • 1833 Charter Act

    Completely removed the EIC monopoly. Caused the Company to rethink its function.
  • Period: to

    First Afghan War

    Culminated in a famous retreat from Kabul. The campaign cost over 20000 lives and £15 million