Changes

The British first established trading posts in India. They first came to trade and not to conquer. The Anglo-Indian trade was monopolised by the East India Company. This was a company, that was owned by private shareholders. Over time, the company earned spectacular profits from the trade with India and they became increasingly influential in the affairs of Britain. They eventually even established a private army. The East Indian forces in the 1750s were led by Rober Clive (later Clive of India), and he defeated Indian, French and other forces that were contesting British influence in India <ref> Bence-Jones, Mark. Clive of India.(London, Constable & Robinson Limited, 1974), p. 89 #.</ref>". By 1760, much of the sub-continent was under the direct or indirect influence of the East India Company <ref> Bence-Jones, p. 45#.</ref>". The Company was in turn influenced by the British government. London effectively let the East Indian Company rule Indian in its name. In the remaining decades of the eighteenth century, the British, through the East India Company expanded their influence. They were resisted by native monarchs such as Tipu Sultan and the powerful Sikh state. Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, achieved significant victories against those Indian states that defied British influence <ref> Harrington, Jack. Sir John Malcolm and the Creation of British India (New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), p. 119#.</ref>". By 1800, much of the Indian sub-continent was under the de-facto control of the East India Company, which was supervised by the British government.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

In 1700, the Indian sub-continent was largely unified under the Mughal dynasty. This Muslim dynasty had conquered much of South Asia and brought a degree of peace and prosperity to the land <ref> Harrington, p. 67#.</ref>" . However, by 1750, the Mughal Empire was in decline. The Mughal’s were brilliant administrators and were great patrons of the arts. However, they were unable to directly administer their territories and they often delegated authority to appointees. These were to supply men and equipment to the Mughal army and pay taxes. Over time, these local leaders became increasingly powerful and became independent of the Mughal Court. This weakened the Mughal Emperor and the last truly effective emperor was Aurangzeb. He had been Islamic fundamentalists and he had departed from the traditionally tolerant policies of the Mughals and this led to much resentment among the majority Hindus. This was to spark a series of Hindu revolts by groups such as the Marathas. By 1750, much of Indian only paid a nominal obedience to the Mughal Empire. In reality, power was now in the hands of a multitude of Muslim and Hindi local rulers, known as Rajahs or Sultans. India was politically fragmented by the time that the British started to expand in India and this greatly facilitated their growing influence in the sub-continent. If Britain had been faced with a strong government, it is highly unlikely that they would have been able to establish their empire in South Asia <ref> Spear, Percival , A History of India, Volume 2, New Delhi and London: Penguin Books.1990) p. 298#.</ref>" .

Indirect Rule