The Colonial Era in India

Flashcards testing key historical facts, dates, figures, and concepts from the study notes on 'The Colonial Era in India'.

What is the primary definition of colonialism presented in the lecture notes?

Colonialism is the practice where one country takes control of another region, establishing settlements there, and imposing its political, economic, and cultural systems.

According to historical estimates by economist Angus Maddison, what was India's contribution to global GDP prior to the 16th century CE?

India contributed at least one-fourth ($25\%$) of the world GDP during this period, making it one of the two largest economies globally alongside China.

When and where did Vasco da Gama arrive in India, paving the way for European colonisation?

He arrived at Kappad (near Kozhikode in Kerala) in May 1498.

What was the cartaz system established by the Portuguese in the Arabian Sea?

It was a system requiring all ships navigating the Arabian Sea to purchase Portuguese permits (passes), without which the vessels were seized.

What was the Goa Inquisition established by the Portuguese in 1560?

It was a tribunal set up by the Roman Catholic Church that severely persecuted Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Christian converts suspected of practising their original faith until its abolition in 1812.

How did Rani Abbakka I and Rani Abbakka II resist Portuguese rule in Ullal?

Rani Abbakka I formed strategic alliances with neighbouring kingdoms to thwart Portuguese takeovers, while Rani Abbakka II created fireballs out of coconut shells to set Portuguese navy ships on fire.

What historical event is depicted in this painting from Padmanabhapuram Palace?

The surrender of Dutch forces to King Marthanda Varma of Travancore after the Battle of Colachel in 1741 CE.

What colonial strategies were pioneered in India by French Governor-General Dupleix?

He trained Indian soldiers in European military techniques to form sepoys and developed a system of indirect rule through puppet Indian rulers installed during succession disputes.

How did Robert Clive secure a British victory at the Battle of Plassey in 1757?

He hatched a conspiracy with Mir Jafar, the military commander of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah of Bengal, promising to install him as Nawab in exchange for standing aside during the battle.

What was the British policy known as the Doctrine of Lapse?

A policy stating that any princely state would be annexed by the East India Company if its ruler died without a natural male heir, disregarding the traditional Hindu custom of adoption.

How did the British 'subsidiary alliance' system function?

A British 'Resident' was installed in an Indian ruler's court to manage foreign relations, while the state maintained British troops at its own expense in exchange for protection.

Which ruler was among the first to enter a subsidiary alliance with the British in 1798?

The ruler of Hyderabad.

What were the consequences of the harsh revenue collection targets during the Bengal Famine of 1770–1772?

It caused a catastrophic famine that killed an estimated $10\text{ million}$ people, representing nearly one-third of Bengal's population.

What official stance did Viceroy Lord Lytton take during the Great Famine of 1876–1878?

He issued an order prohibiting government interference with food prices based on 'free market' principles, while continuing to export about $1\text{ million tonnes}$ of rice per year to Britain and hosting a lavish Delhi durbar.

What is the estimated value of wealth extracted from India by Britain between 1765 and 1938 according to economist Utsa Patnaik?

$45\text{ trillion U.S. dollars}$ in present value, or approximately $13\times$ Britain's GDP in 2023.

How does Spiridione Roma's 1778 painting 'The East offering its riches to Britannia' symbolize the colonial hierarchy?

Britannia is seated at a higher elevation accompanied by a lion symbolizing power, while darker-complexioned figures representing India and China are positioned below her in bent, subservient postures offering jewels and commodities.

How did Charles Metcalfe describe traditional Indian village communities in the 1830s?

He described them as self-sufficient "little republics" that lasted across changing dynasties and revolutions to preserve the people of India.

What was the primary goal of Thomas B. Macaulay's 'Minute on Indian Education' (1835)?

To create a class of educated Indians who would be "Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect" to staff the administration.

Which early resistance movement inspired Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Anandamath and the song 'Vande Mātaram'?

The Sannyasi-Fakir Rebellion in Bengal, which began following the famine of 1770.

Who led the Santhal Rebellion of 1855–1856 and why did they rise up?

It was led by brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu against British-supported moneylenders and landlords who were seizing Santhal ancestral lands.

What was the cause of the Indigo Revolt of 1859–1862 in Bengal?

European planters forced Bengali peasants to grow indigo instead of food crops, trapping them in debt slavery and subjecting non-compliant farmers to torture and imprisonment.

What was the immediate trigger for the Great Rebellion of 1857?

Rumours that new rifle cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat, which violated the religious sensibilities of both Hindu and Muslim sepoys.

What were the military achievements and fate of Rani Lakshmibai during the 1857 Rebellion?

She led the defense of Jhansi, escaped the siege to capture the Gwalior fort alongside Tatia Tope, and was killed on the battlefield on 18 June 1858.

How did Begum Hazrat Mahal respond to Queen Victoria's Proclamation of November 1858?

She issued a counter-proclamation warning Indians not to trust English promises, stating that "it is the unvarying custom of the English never to forgive a fault be it great or small."

Which historical publication from 1785 is shown on this title page?

'The Bhagavad Gītā or Dialogues of Kṛiṣhṇa and Arjuna', translated into English by Charles Wilkins, which was the first English translation of a Sanskrit text.