Quick Revision Notes & Formula Sheet

Class: 8th
Subject: Social Science (History)
Chapter: From Trade to Territory: The Company Establishes Power

Aurangzeb: The last of the powerful Mughal rulers. He died in 1707, after which regional governors and big zamindars began asserting authority and establishing regional kingdoms.
East India Company (EIC): Formed in 1600 when Queen Elizabeth I granted it a charter, giving it the sole right to trade with the East.

Merchant (व्यापारी): A person who engages in trade, buying and selling goods for profit.
Factor: The name given to trading posts established by the East India Company.
Charter (राजकीय अधिकार-पत्र): An official order or certificate issued by a governing body (like a Queen or King) giving special rights.
Mercantilism (वाणिज्यवादी नीति): A trading system/economic policy backed by the government where countries tried to increase their wealth through exports and restricting imports (buying cheap, selling dear).
Farman (फरमान): A royal order or imperial decree.
Subah / Subadar: A province in the Mughal empire / The governor of a province.
Puppet (कठपुतली): Literally, a toy that can be moved by strings. In politics, it refers to a ruler who does not have independent power and is controlled by someone else.
Diwani (दीवानी): The right to collect revenues (taxes) granted to the East India Company by the Mughal emperor in 1765.
Paramountcy (सर्वोच्चता): The supreme and unquestionable authority claimed by the British, stating that their power was greater than that of Indian states.
Resident: Political or commercial agents stationed by the British in native states to interfere in internal administration.
Gadfly: A term used for persistent critics (e.g., Tipu Sultan's view of the British).

1600: East India Company acquired a charter from Queen Elizabeth I.
1651: First English factory set up on the banks of river Hugli.
1707: Death of Aurangzeb.
1717: Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar issued a farman granting the Company duty-free trade rights in Bengal.
1757: Battle of Plassey (Siraj ud-Daulah vs Robert Clive). EIC victory marks the beginning of British rule.
1764: Battle of Buxar (Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah, Shah Alam II vs British).
1765: Mughal Emperor appoints the Company as the Diwan of Bengal provinces. Robert Clive accepts Diwani.
1767: Death of Mir Jafar; Company decides to "become the masters" themselves.
1799: Battle of Srirangapatna – Tipu Sultan killed defending his capital; British defeat Mysore.
1817–1819: Third Anglo-Maratha War; Maratha power crushed.
1849: Annexation of Punjab.
1856: Annexation of Awadh on grounds of maladministration.

Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757):
- Combatants: Siraj ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal) vs Robert Clive (EIC).
- Cause: Refusal of the Nawab to grant concessions, misuse of trade privileges, and fortification of Calcutta without permission.
- Result: Mir Jafar (commander of Nawab's army) was promised the throne by Clive if he betrayed the Nawab. Siraj ud-Daulah was defeated and assassinated.
- Significance: First major major military victory for the Company in India.
Battle of Buxar (1764):
- Combatants: Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor) vs British.
- Result: British victory.
- Significance: Led to the Grant of Diwani (1765), giving the Company control over Bengal's revenues.

1. Subsidiary Alliance (सहायक संधि):
- Introduced by Lord Wellesley.
- Conditions:
  - Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces.
  - They had to be protected by the British, for which they had to pay a "subsidiary force".
  - If they failed to make the payment, a part of their territory was taken away as penalty (e.g., Awadh).
2. Doctrine of Lapse (व्यapगत का सिद्धांत / हड़प नीति):
- Introduced by Lord Dalhousie.
- Condition: If an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would "lapse", that is, become part of Company territory.
- Victims: Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1850), Udaipur (1852), Nagpur (1853), and Jhansi (1854).

Warren Hastings (Governor-General from 1773 to 1785): Played a significant role in the expansion of Company power. Introduced new systems of justice.
Judicial System (1772):
- Two courts were established in each district: Faujdari Adalat (criminal court) and Diwani Adalat (civil court).
- European district collectors presided over civil courts, while kazis and muftis presided over criminal courts under European supervision.
The Police & Army:
- Regular police forces introduced (replacing zamindari thanas).
- Infantry and cavalry regiments combined into a professional standing army (Sepoy army) trained in European warfare using muskets and matchlocks.

From Trade to Territory