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1488
Europe's scramble for colonies in Asia
From the moment the Portuguese rounded the Cape of Good Hope on Africa's southern tip in 1488, opening sea lanes to the Far East, European strove to acquire Asian trading posts of their own. For centuries, the Viennese had controlled the European branch of the Silk Road. The Viennese monopoly ended with the establishment of the sea-route. At first, the European powers in Asia were solely interested in trade, but over time, the acquisition of territory grew in importance. Among them was Britain. -
Hindu renaissance movement
During this period several great saints and religious leaders were responsible for revival of Hinduism in different parts of India. Ramkrishna Paramhansa (1836-1886), Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891) led the Hinduism renaissance in Bengal that later spread to other parts of India. Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824-1883) formed Arya Samaj, which became a major religious movement in north India. -
The British Colonization of India
After 1858, India became officially a British colony as British crown took control of India from East India Company. The British crown put a Secretary of State for India in change of India. The Indian Council who had only advisory powers aided him. India was then divided into three administrative zones (Bengal, Madras and Bombay). A number of administrative and legal changes were introduced. -
The councils act began
The Indian High Courts Act was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to authorize the Crown to create High Courts in the Indian colony. Queen Victoria created the High Courts in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay by Letters Patent in 1865. These High Courts would become the precursors to the High Courts in the modern day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Act was passed after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and consolidated the parallel legal system of the Crown and the East India Company. -
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Famines
In 1861 started the Famine in North West1866. Then in Bengal and Orissa – 1 million perished. 1869 intense famine in Rajasthan – 1.5 million perished. 1874 the famine in Bihar. 1876–78 in Bombay, Madras and Mysore – 5 million perished. During this time, India was forced to produce cash crop, which were to be sold by the British. India was also forced to accept British goods that destroyed cottage industries. Many peasants had to borrow money to pay the extremely high taxes imposed on them. -
New Ambala-Delhi railways
The british continued to work on developing their telegraphic network and extending their railways and in 1868 new Ambala – Delhi railway line was started. -
Hindu/Muslim riots and partition
On August 17, 1946, violent fighting broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Calcutta.The trouble quickly spread across India. Meanwhile, cash-strapped Britain announced its decision to withdraw from India by 1948.Sectarian violence flared again as independence approached. In June of 1947,representatives of the Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs agreed to divide India along sectarian lines. Hindu and Sikh areas stayed in India, while predominantly Muslim areas in the north became the nation of Pakistan.