HIST-UA 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Free Trade, Great Trek, Black Economic Empowerment
Document Summary
Interior of country controlled by indians: corporate imperialism (1650-1857, the british east india company. French eliminated after seven years war (1758-65: company demands more control over trade, taxes. When indian rulers resist, company created an armed force of indians (mercenaries for monetary compensation) Gradual control of territory, although indian princes are left as. Official rulers: british policies, growing importance of british crown due to opium trade, gradual destruction of indian economy->(b) british sold opium to china. Prevented exploit of manufactured goods to england (18th century) Forced indians to buy only british goods-mercantilism (19th century) Handed over land to big landlords for cash crops and tax revenue. From a prosperous semi-industrial economy to a peasant/plantation one: sepoy mutiny (1857, an early anti-imperialist rebellion, dissatisfied groups: Former indian rulers and aristocrats (british were taking power away) Peasantry /soldiers (opium plantations=suffer for peasants: diverse leaders with egalitarian claims but local in scale; no national unity, british use sikhs to defeat hindus and muslims.
