India, Afghanistan and Burma (1750–1919)

Robert Clive's EIC forces defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal after bribing his commander Mir Jafar to betray him. It gave the EIC control of Bengal, turning it from a trading company into a territorial ruler.

Commander of the Nawab of Bengal's army who was bribed by Robert Clive to withhold his troops at Plassey (1757); installed as puppet Nawab afterwards.

Rulers of Mysore who resisted British expansion in the Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–1799); Tipu Sultan modernised his army with French help and died defending Seringapatam in 1799.

The Third Anglo-Maratha War ended Maratha independence, removing the last major Indian military power and leaving the EIC dominant across most of the subcontinent.

Policy fixing land tax rates in Bengal forever and making zamindars permanent landowners; guaranteed British revenue but often harmed peasants in poor harvest years.

Policy (used heavily by Dalhousie) allowing the British to annex any princely state whose ruler died without a natural heir, refusing to recognise adopted heirs.

Bentinck (1828–35): banned sati, promoted English education, cut costs. Dalhousie (1848–56): expanded territory via the Doctrine of Lapse (including Awadh in 1856), built railways and telegraphs. Both are praised as reformers but their policies created resentment that fed into 1857.

The greased cartridges controversy at Meerut (immediate spark), military grievances over pay/promotion/overseas service, political resentment over the Doctrine of Lapse and Awadh's annexation, economic hardship from taxes, and religious/cultural fears about British intentions.

A leader of the Great Revolt of 1857 who fought to protect her adopted son's succession rights after Dalhousie annexed Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse; became one of the revolt's most famous figures.

The East India Company was abolished and India came under direct Crown rule via the Government of India Act 1858; Bahadur Shah II was exiled, ending the Mughal dynasty.

It marks the transition from Company-run territorial control (built through wars, taxation, and annexation since 1757) to formal direct rule by the British Crown, fundamentally changing how India was governed.

The process by which Indian industries (especially textiles) declined after 1813 as cheap British manufactured goods flooded the market, shifting India toward exporting raw materials instead.

Ended East India Company rule; India became a Crown colony ruled through a Viceroy and a Secretary of State for India in London.

1905 — Curzon split Bengal into Hindu-majority west and Muslim-majority east; sparked mass protest (swadeshi) and Congress growth; reversed in 1911.

Founded 1885; educated, moderate reformers who initially sought more Indian representation, not independence.

Founded 1906 in Dhaka; represented Muslim political interests, partly out of fear of Hindu-majority domination.

Indian Councils Act 1909; expanded council membership and introduced separate electorates for Muslims, deepening religious political division.

India's huge troop and financial contribution raised expectations of reward that were not fully met, fuelling later unrest.

The long rivalry between Britain and Russia for influence in Central Asia, centred on control of Afghanistan as a buffer for India.

Amir of Afghanistan (1880–1901) who let Britain control Afghan foreign policy in exchange for subsidies, while keeping full control of internal government — avoided occupation.

Short conflict after which Afghanistan won full control of its own foreign policy — complete independence recognised.

Mindon (1853–1878) pursued cautious modernisation to preserve independence; Thibaw (1878–1885) was Burma's last king, deposed after the Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885).

British interest in teak and resources, fear of French rivalry after Thibaw's trade dealings with France, and frontier disputes.

Became early leaders of resistance and nationalism after the monarchy — the traditional protector of Buddhism — was destroyed by British annexation.