Trade was one of the most common activities that were done in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Many traders during this time travelled for many miles by the sea to obtain good from distant places for sale in their land. Trade was considered as key to prosperity as merchants used all they had in their powers to ensure that they got the goods and products they wanted to sale in their home countries. Consequently, multiples of trading companies sprout up to get the best from trading. India was one of the leading places that many traders endeavored to enter. It was a place that had many products that were in high demand. In this context, many traders and other superior countries began to take over India.
Spices were beneficial in many ways. Spices were used as food preservatives. These were known to be efficient in keeping food intact for a long time. These were the primary source of flavor. Spices obtained from the East were used to flavor spoiled meat. Others spices such as cloves and cinnamon were the primary items that were used to freshen the atmosphere. People used them for ventilation and enhancing cleanliness. For instance, these were put on the floor to stop foot odor in the houses. Other spices were used primarily to treat illnesses and various diseases (Marshall, 2011).
India had been known well for its trade in spices. India was a place that many people travelled from across the globe to collect some of these spices, which were of great demand. Consequently, as time went by spice trade increased. It was one of the trades, which were profitable as spices were rare to find during this time. Most spices were known to come from the East. India was renowned to be the origin of all spices. These included spices such as black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, cassia, and turmeric. The buying and selling of these spices thus led to a clear defined route by both sea and camels as many merchants travelled from one place to another. It is imperative to understand the history of this trade began with the Arabs.
The buying and selling of spices from India became a profitable trade that caused many traders to master the India routes for their own primary benefits. Arab traders took over the trading routes as their own territory and controlled the spice trade (which was known as the treasure, black gold, from the East). The Arab traders used trickery and fake tales to ensure that other traders did not understand the origins of the spices so that they could rule in the trade. Therefore, the Arabs gained mastery in spice trade as they monopolized the spice trade. However, it was only a short while before that Arabs lost grip of their trade in India.
The Portuguese realized the importance of spices in food preservations amongst other uses. The Portuguese got hold of the sources of black pepper, which were not well known by the Arabs. Once the Arabs ran out of supplies, the Portuguese took over the spice trade and controlled it. This only lasted for a short while before that Dutch hijacked their way in to the renowned trade. By the 1590, the Dutch were in full control as opposed to the Portuguese through illegal trade, hijackings, and caravan attacks (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2008).
The Dutch controlled the spice trade for a log while until the 1658. Nonetheless, they used cunning means to operate the spice trade. England later rose up to fight for the spice trade under the leadership of Queen Elizabeth I (Duiker & Spielvogel, 2008). under the British India Company, Queen Elizabeth I gradually began gaining the spice trace control bit by bit. These changes in the control of the spice trade including the trade routes led to remarkable conflicts between different traders. At this time, the England together with Holland joined forces to fight against the Dutch. This war weakened the Dutch rule in the spice trade significantly. As a result, the spice trade was taken over by the British. In 1800’s the British took control of all the spice trades and routes in the East.
The British trade in India
The eighteenth century is marked as the time when the British people took over spice trade in India. This time can be divided in to two significant phase. The first phase was in the early 18th century while the second phase was in the late century. While in the early 18th century, the British were yet to gain a lot of access in to the trade. Hence, they only controlled a number of trading points in the East (Marshall, 2011). However, they continually waged war and progressively gained more authority over the trading points in India. As a result, the British put up their military dominance that subdued. Consequently, the authorities in India slowly gave in to become subordinates to the British.
Majority of the trades in India were slowly directed to England due to the new influence of the British who were reigning over the trade in India. Most of the clothes weaved in India were exported cheaply to England. On the other hand, the British kept on putting up industries as they established their business groupings in India. Similarly, the Indian trading points developed in to industrial bases. Many factories were put up to manufacture various products. In the same way, settlement patterns changed because of the new changes by the British. Indian merchants were thus forced to join hands with the new business dominants, the British in order to flourish (Marshall, 2011).
The Indians were ignorant of the authority that the British company had in their land. Hence, they gave the new businesses chances to grow. Indian merchants worked together by giving the British their resources, expertise, and skills, which they used for their benefits. Other service included the rich banking service, weaving, and winding or raw silk, agriculture, export of sugar, amongst others. Although the native Indians did not see the British taking control, this happed slowly as they took charge of their critical systems such as a control of the industrial set up and trade. Some of the natives were alarmed, as they did not agree to the use of military forces in doing business. However, the British took over all other proceeding in India as they took over Indian political aspects (Marshall, 2011).
The expansion of the Company
In the beginning, the British had come to India with a primary purpose to ensure that they trade with the spices. However, once they notice the potential in controlling the spice trade in India. In this regard, the British plot for an effective means of conquering the current leaders in the trade. In their conquest to become top in the spice trade, the British went in to battle (Battle of Plassey) with the Indian Emperor. Once they won in battle, the British came up to take over India from the leadership of the Emperor. Therefore, the company began expanding its reign because they have obtained authority in India South.
Other coalitions were formed later, which contributed to the expansion of the British rule in India. While other areas were forcefully taken over, a majority of the local rulers agreed to form alliances with the British government. Other alliances were done through the military whereby the formed them by direct seizure. In the end, the East India Company became the government ruling in a major part of India.
British Political Rule
It was only a matter of time before the British business empire turned in to a serious political rule. The British transformed from traders and industrialist in to rulers that dominated the Indian Territory. The British became wealthy at the expense of the Indians. British trades took advantage and grabbed the wealth of the Indians and depriving them of their rights in their own countries while imposing the rules of the great Queen.
After a serious contention with the Indian Emperor, the British won the battle. The East India Company had been extending its authority in to the people revenues and incomes. The British authorities collected tax and other revenues from the people through their military forces. This was done instead of the Mughal Emperor (Marshall, 2011). This was justified as the Indians required to get civilized and modernized to shake off their old cultural traditions to give way to the development in India. As a result, the British introduced new systems and monarchies, which became the primary means of administration in India as opposed to the Mughal Emperor. For instance, the British government in India proposed the use of a new educational system. This was meant to increase the knowledge of the Indian people. Additionally, they brought in a new system that developed order in the trade industry.
The Mughal Empire began to divide as their territories were divided according to the new laws by the British. Under the new British system, India was partitioned in to two significant parts; the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. There were other major provinces that were under the rule of the British India Company. The company was led by the British rulers continued to expand their borders as they conquered the rules in other nearby areas. Hence, the British rulers had a wide territory by which they established their rule. On the other hand, the British rule brought in divide amongst the Indians and other inhabitants in the East such as the Muslims. This was a result of the introduction of the new cultural features such as religion and language, which were not well appreciated by the Indians. Therefore, a strong negative attitude arose amongst the Indian inhabitants. Similarly, there came the rebellion of Indians against the British.
As the British gained ground in India, they introduced new policies, rules, and terms, which were not accepted by the Indians. Some Indians later arose amongst themselves to protest against the British rulers. This became the greatest threat that could lead to the fall of the British in India. The Protestants in India gradually increased as they continued to threaten the ruling of the Queen in their land as they refused to submit under the Queens leadership. The Indians thus planned of their first rebellion, which did not succeed as their leader was taken to trial and convicted on the same accusations. Many other movements were formed by the Indian leaders to eliminate and overthrow the British system. However, these were quickly demolished by the British military. As a result, the East India Company was abolished. In its place, the British came up with another system that made India its Crown Colony.
The Crown colony was thus given a new and different leadership by the British under the Queen. This was means to be governed by rulers from the British parliament. Hence, the Crown Colony was directed only from the British parliament. This means that all the responsibilities that entailed the leadership of India were directed from London. Responsibilities that concern all Indian affairs were deliberated straight from the British Cabinet. On the same note, other duties concerning the welfare of India (Crown Colony) were take care of by the Secretary of State. On the other hand, In India was place a person in charge of the helm of affairs who was also the Governor- General. This was the ambassador of the monarch chosen to become the Viceroy of India. These changes contributed to other significant implementations that would later affect all economic and social activities in India. Although there were many challenges, by the nineteenth century the British had dominated considerable part of India.
The British government came up with a remarkable addition on transport. They built the railway, which played a key role in developing business links without nearby countries. Additionally, they brought in communication services such as telegraph and other postal services, which simplified communication to the highest degree.
The British Government in India
The British leadership under Queen Elizabeth had put in a lot of effort in obtaining a significant part of India. They had invested in it and ensuring that trade runs as they planned for their benefit. In this regard, it was inevitable that the British leadership had to control the government of India. Similarly, they established a remarkable organization of the government to practice their leadership role like it is in England. There were several leadership positions that were essential to ensure that everything was run as per the British style of leadership.
The British Government put a secretary of State in India who was the highest authority in India (supreme). This was an individual that was appointed but was to be assisted by a council in playing the secretary of State role under the British parliament. The Viceroy was appointed to replace the Governor-General in the Indian leadership. All other leaders were under the supervision of the Secretary of State (Riddick, 2006). These two roles were mainly meant to oversee all the activities taking place in India. However, these two significant people in the British government were pace in London thus India was governed by the people in London. From this perspective, it was evident that the people of India had to follow all the orders that were given from the British parliament.
The parliament later made changes in the system of governing in India. They made sure that they formed a legislative team, which was placed in India. This team includes some people that were Indian to give the impression of Indian governance. This was mean to show the people that they were ruled by people within the country. Nonetheless, the new council was under the directives of the Secretary of State and the Viceroy. In this context, it was clear that the British ruled India in an extreme centralized manner (Riddick, 2006).
English East India Company (trading company led by the British) had organized India in to three sections as Bombay, Madras, and Bengal. These three were led by presidencies that were governed by the Governor-General together with a council. There were provinces under these territories that were led by the Lieutenant governors. This system became essential for the British because of the collection of taxes. Once they had won against the emperor, they made way to establish an efficient system to ensure that all financial aspects were taken care of without failure. Consequently, the provinces were the center of all activities.
The British system that was introduced brought in a new concept of civil servants. These employees worked under the British crown. Although they included Indians to work as civil servants, the primary plan was to have British people only. A majority of the activities that were to be done for official purposes were also done from London. For instance, all people who were learning had to attend their examinations from London only. Additionally, there was a high sense of racism due to the whites that settled in India.
The modern India
Despite the struggles that India went through with its colonialists, they gained their independence in 1947. The British who had full control over their trade and other resources have since ruled India. Today, India is a place where people are free to trade and engage in beneficial relations with neighboring countries abroad. Like other countries with multiples of resources, India is to day leading in it trading of spices and other industrial trades.
There are multiples of organizations, which have come up that play a key role in exporting and importing products in India. In this context, spices are distributed freely to retailers and wholesalers too. Unlike it used to be in the days of the British reign, today the Indian spices can be grown at any place across the globe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, India is one of the best exporters of spices across the globe. It is one of the key places, which produced spices. Many people travelled to and from India to obtain spices and trade. During this time, Indians had their own leadership under the Emperor. However, once colonialist began streaming in the Indian Governance was taken over. Under the control of various colonialists including the British, India lost its control over its resources. The British thus controlled them in the 18th-19th centuries.
The British as the prime leadership took over the governance of India. Despite the fact that the British government being in London, they ensured that they controlled India. Hence, a few chosen people who were under the British parliament controlled India. Many Indians lost their freedom and rights as citizens in their home countries (Riddick, 2006). This system remained the same to the time of independence. After independence, India gained its stability in trade and was restored.
References
Duiker, W. J., & Spielvogel, J. J. (2008). World history: To 1500. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage.
Marshall, P. (2011, February 17). BBC - History - British History in depth: The British Presence in India in the 18th Century. BBC - Homepage. Retrieved November 28, 2012, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/east_india_01.shtml
Riddick, J. F. (2006). The history of British India: A chronology. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group.
