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Guru Tegh Bahadur
He protected the rights of Sikhs and Hindus to worship however they wanted. -
Period: to
The Rule of Aurangzeb "World Seizer"
He extended his power across India. After his death, the empire began to fail. Iran and Afghanistan began to invade. His campaigns drained the treasury. His policy (favoring Islam) generated both political and social tensions. -
Maratha Kingdoms
West-central Indian establishments that challenged invading British. These were thought of as Mughal power went into decline as a way to try to reenforce it. -
Period: to
British Rule
Mughal rulers did not pay much attention to British companies. If the British gained control over Bengal, then they could end Mughal era. British influence spread throughout India with force. Leaders looked at British as protectors in the Mughal decline. -
War of Australian Succession
War between France and Britain. British factory at Madras was taken, then attacked by a local Indian prince. -
Period: to
Seven Year's War
British fortified trading post at Calcutta. Some Bengals saw this as provocative. Robert Clive allied the Hindu banking and commercial interests of the region with the East India Company. -
Battle of Plassey
During this battle the British East India Company gained control over rich eastern Mughal territory, Bengal. -
Famine
A huge famine in Bengal killed over one-third of the population (roughly 10 million people). The East India Company was blamed by some people of higher authority. They insisted that the Bengalis continued paying taxes although they were starving. The East India Company was blamed because they helped feed their employees and soldiers, but the company did not help those effected most by the famine. -
The India Act
This act was established to redress abuse. Commander of British forces in India was Lord Charles Cornwallis. He tried to draw a line between trade and administration. He did this by creating a policy stating that Company employees would have been allowed to be either officials or traders. -
Rammohun Roy
He returned to Calcutta. He supported the establishment of an English-language college. Roy rejected the idea of the Company making a Sanskrit-language school. He wanted Indians to learn English so they were able to communicate with the British.
