History WH II H Final Study Guide

Imperialism in Africa, India, China, Japan. WW1, Russia and interwar

Indian subcontinent

A peninsula surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, Arabian sea and Indian Ocean.

The Mughals/Mughal Empire

The Islamic Empire that was in power before the British East India Company began controlling colonies, in which they began to decline

“Jewel in the Crown”

What the British considered to be India’s value as it provided them with many raw materials which boosted their economy and a huge market for British

manufactured goods.

Westernization

Process of modernizing and changing public places towards Western beliefs.

British East India Company

The company responsible for managing trade in India. Goal was to trade with Indian merchants

Sepoys

An Indian Soldier who is almost always in a low rank.

Sepoy Rebellion

A rebellion of the indian sepoys caused by the mandation of the Enfield rifle, which cartridges were slathered in pig and cow fat, because the sepoys were muslim and hindu, and muslims considered pigs taboo and cows were considered sacred, causing the sepoys the sepoys to refuse to load their rifles this caused a mutiny of the sepoys.

Long term cause - British trying to impose Western culture on them, which could lead to a loss of culture and tradition.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

He was a Muslim noble and scholar that was one of the member of the Legislative Council(“non-official members”)

Queen Victoria

She was the Empress of India (monarch of Britain as well) when the British East India Company was replaced by the British Government directly and was made a colony of Great Britain.

Ram Mohun Roy

Often called the "Father of Modern India." He was a social reformer who wanted to modernize India (Westernization) while maintaining Indian pride. He campaigned against traditional practices he saw as outdated.

Sati, Polygamy

A practice where a widow sacrificed herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. The British banned this in 1829, which caused resentment among some traditional Hindus.

Dadabhai Naoroji

the first Asian to be a British Member of Parliament

Indian National Congress

(INC - 1885): A political party formed by English-educated

Indians. Initially, they just wanted more say in the government; later, they became the leaders of the independence movement.

Muslim League

(1906): Formed because some Muslims felt the INC would only look out for Hindu interests. They wanted to protect the rights of the Muslim minority in India.

Raj

Direct British Rule