Imperialism in South Asia

The Mughal Empire =

Muslim Changes to India: •consolidated small kingdoms (Muslim & Hindu)•religious tolerance-- mostly •A style of architecture (Taj Mahal)

•Muslim—ruled most of India & Pakistan 16th--17th c.

•Brought Islam to S.Asia

Hinduism under Muslim Rule

Hindu = majority religion in region

Mughals = tolerant of Hindus but differences between H& M = tension (based on different ideas, customs, culture, beliefs)

British East India Co. =Not Brit gov’t…but almost…

•Came to trade in 17th c. (spices, tea, cloth, silk etc.)

•BEI paid Mughal rulers to have control of land & ppl from ME which was growing weak b/c of internal fighting

•BEI = VERY important to GB economy = GB protected interests of BEI ( “Jewel in the Crown”)

Brits in India

•BEI = so powerful, had paid army—Indian Sepoys—British officers were in charge of sepoys whose job it was to protect the land

•Brits made some improvements (railroad, tech.)…but mistreated ppl (Social Darwinism)

Sepoy Mutiny

•Sepoys revolted (1st Indian Revolution) b/c BEI Co. did not respect Indian beliefs…

•Hindu v. Muslim split = could not beat GB

•GB gov’t took all control of India (The Raj 1757—1947)

Dutch East India Co. =

•Purpose = resources & trade (same old story …)

•Land seized = islands in Indian Ocean & S. China Sea (present day Indonesia)

•GB fought for Malaysia --won (shocking! The British took more land! Unbelievable!)

The Dutch

•Dutch = v. strict rulers—forced plantation work

•Native ppl had to use 1/5th of own land for export crops (native ppl were given no choice)

The French

•Fr grabbed Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia)

•Fr imposed their culture in region—upset local ppl

•Major religion = Buddhism, Fr forced conversion to Christianity

Impact of Imperialism on S. Asia

•Econ of Eur = HUGE growth

•Some improvements in region (health, sanitation, transportation)

•Clash of major world religions = still issues today