India under Colonial Rule: 1700-1885

Written by a dynamic expert in the area, this introductory book has been written for anyone finding out about Indian history for the first time.

By 1885, India may have become the jewel in the British crown, but already a series of changes had occurred within Indian society that would set the foundations for the modern states of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Providing an introduction to these dramatic changes, this volume introduces the major historical developments and debates.

Between 1700 and 1885 the British became the paramount power on the Indian subcontinent, their authority extending from Sri Lankain the south to the Himalayasin the north. It was a massive empire, inspiring both pride and anxiety amongst the British, and forcing change upon and disrupting the lives of its Indian subjects.

Yet it is not simply a history of conquest and subjugation, or dominance and defeat: interaction and interdependency powerfully shaped the histories of all involved. The end result was a hybrid empire. India may have become by 1885 the jewel in the British crown, but by that same year a series of changes had occurred within Indian society that would set the foundations for the modern states of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This book provides a concise introduction to these dramatic changes.