Positive Effects of the British Colonization of India

1363 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: British Imperialism in India

Many positive things happened during, and as a result of, the British colonization of India. When the East India Company took control of India in 1612, they began modernizing, westernizing, and industrializing India. This westernization included giving women more rights, an attempt to eliminate the caste system and the loss of many of the more backward Hindu religious beliefs such as the domination of women by men and denying an entire class of people any rights. British occupation also did things long term for India. The modern technology and western customs allowed India to become a burgeoning regional superpower. The colonization of India was helpful for India because it went a long way to modernize India, westernized India in government and equality, and allowed India to be a successful country it is today.

When the East India Company colonized India, it was very much technologically backward. The introduction of British technology and customs changed all that. When the British East India Company took control of India they brought with them modern technology. They began setting up infrastructure. They build roads, and railroads to carry goods and people all around India. They also brought with them modern farming techniques which made Indian farmers more efficient and productive. These were undoubtedly positive developments for India.

Along with modern industry came western education, at the time it was the best in the world. The investment in the education of the Indians by both the British and the Indians gave India a leg up on other developing nations of the time. When the British settled in India, almost immediately English schools began popping up, at first British schools were only for the children of the British. ...

... middle of paper ...

...power/east_india_01.shtml>.

"Our Heritage." The East India Company Ltd ? Reborn and Renewed. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .

Ross, Kelley L. "The Caste System in Hinduism." The Proceedings of the Friesian School. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .

Schama, Simon. A History of Britain. the Fate of Empire, 1776-2000. 1st ed. Vol. 3. New York: Hyperion, 2002. Print. A History of Britain.

Sowell, Thomas. Conquests and Cultures: an International History. New York: Basic, 1998. Print.

"Untouchables of India." Pezarkar's Info Site. Adaniel's Info Site. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .

V, Jayaram. "The Status of Women in Hinduism." Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Other Resources. Jayaram V. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .

Show More
Related

  • The Events and Impact of the Seven Years War

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    Graham, Gerald S. "William Pitt and the Seven Years War." A Concise History of the British Empire. New York: Viking Press, 1970.

    Read More

  • British Imperialism in India and China

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    One country that had imperialism was India. By the mid-1880s, the British East India Company controlled three fifths of India. The cause of British domination was that the land was very diverse and the people could not unite and that the British either paid local princes or used weapons to get control. Positive effects of imperialistic rule in India were that the British set up a stronger economy and more powerful industries. They built roads and railroads. British rule brought peace and order to the countryside. They revised the legal system to promote justice for the Indians regardless of class. Indian landowners and princes, who still owned territory grew rich from exporting cash crops such as cotton and jute. The British introduced the telegraph and the postal system as a means of communication. These improvements and benefits from British rule eventually lead to Indian nationalism. The exposure to European ideas caused an Indian nationalist movement, the people dreamed of ending Imperial ...

    Read More

  • Indian Caste System Dbq

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thousands of years ago, Indian society developed into a complex system based on different classes. This system is known as the Caste System. It separated Indians into different castes based on what class they were born into. As thousands of years went by, this system grew larger and became further complex (Wadley 189). This system caused frustration for the Indian citizens because they were receiving inequality.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Sepoy Revolution on India's Movement

    1597 Words  | 4 Pages

    James, Lawrence. Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India. New York: St. Martin's, 1998. Print.

    Read More

  • Rise Of Great Britain Essay

    1852 Words  | 4 Pages

    By colonizing North America, England could further explore Canada. Colonization also helped establish the slave trade. Colonizing in India benefited England because it diversified their produce supply. There was great benefit in India. England could acquire resources that they could not have come across otherwise.

    Read More

  • Motives for British Imperialism in Africa

    5625 Words  | 12 Pages

    India was where the riches of the world came from, the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. The British needed to dispel the threat of other Europeans in Africa to maintain control of India, and they did so efficiently. They quickly gained control of both the major sea routes to India and then turned their eyes to the rest of the continent. Whether the British were trying to foster public support or prevent another nation from becoming a threat, all British actions in Africa were directly or indirectly linked to India. The British were motivated by their desire to become powerful, and they skillfully combined enterprise and conquest to create a globe spanning empire centered around the wealth of India.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Epic Of Sunjata

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gender roles have been a predominant factor in our world since the early emergence of human societies whether they are positive or negative. They are based on expectations that societies have over the people in them. The Epic of Sunjata, shows us how men and women are treated almost equally in different forms. Women are praised for their ability to birth leaders, which is similar to the early Greek Society. In most societies, women are treated less equal than men. This was prevalent in the early Indian society. No matter the gender role, it has been shown that any society cannot survive without both men and women.

    Read More

  • The Effects of British Imperialism in India

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin with, one can observe that the British colonizers did indeed improve Indian civilization by developing means of communication and transport. They built a great number of bridges, over 40,000 miles of railway and paving an astounding 70,000 miles of road (Doc. 4). They established schools,newspapers and telegraphs for the people of the colonies.All blessings of civilization they could not create for themselves (Doc. 1). Furthermore, the British brought 30 million acres under cultivation with large scale irrigation works, began industrialization, improved sanitation and provided an overall higher standard of living (Doc. 4). With many new establishments and institutions to staff, job opportunities opened up left and right for Indian workers.Their contributions to Indian civilization made famine all but disappear throughout India. Without the British, it’s quite possible India could not achi...

    Read More

  • Was the British Empire a force for good or for evil?

    1430 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first notable positive effect of the empire is industrialization. The British having been ahead in industrial evolution helped spread technology to new places around the world. Particularly, the British Empire was responsible for the development of early industries in their colonies (Balasubramanyam & Wei, 79). They built industries in the colonies such as sugar factories, cotton factories and tobacco industries. Certainly, this was a new development in these colonies that later led to the colonies mechanizing their cottage industri...

    Read More

  • Imperialism in India

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, where the is good there has to be bad. British colonization of India had it's drawbacks. As the great Mohandas Gahndi once said " You English committed one supreme crime against my people. For a hundred years you have done everything for us. You have given us no responsibility for our own government." At first glance this may seem like a positive effect but Ghandi did not intend it to be. Because even though it was a good thing that England setup a government in India they turned it into a burden because they did not let any natives into the important positions. They "mommied" the Indians if you will. Another negative effect England had on India was the breaking up of traditional industries. Prior to Britain colonizing India there were many more divers skilled labors. Such as shipbuilding, metalwork, glassblowing, and paper making. With the break up there was a noticeable rise in the unemployment India.

    Read More

  • Negative Effects Of British Imperialism

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is no doubt that British imperialism had a large impact on India. From positive affects to negative affects, British colonized India. It all started around the 1600’s when the British East India Company entered India only as traders, they entered what was known the Mughal Empire. Around the 1757 Battle of Plassey the Mughal empire fell (Carrick) and it was only a matter of time until the British Raj took their once in a lifetime chance. Economically, Britain imposed very high tariffs even though they provided modern technology and increased the production of goods. Britain created famine in India, although because of Britain education was brought to a higher level. Politically, Britain had most of the control in the Indian government, although they created a much more stronger one than the one that was in use before the British came.

    Read More

  • British Imperialism in India

    1693 Words  | 4 Pages

    There is no doubt that British imperialism had a large impact on India. India, having previously been an group of independent and semi-independent princedoms and territories, underwent great change under British administration. Originally intended to consolidate their hold on India by establishing a population that spoke the same language as their rulers, the British decision in the 1830s to educate Indians in a Western fashion, with English as the language of instruction, was the beginning of a chain of events, including a rise in Indian nationalism, that led to Indian resentment of British imperialism and ultimately to the loss of British control over India.

    Read More

  • Must Every Nation Have Their Own State if They Want One?

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    4 # Stein, Burton (2001), a History of India, New Delhi and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. xiv, 432, p.222

    Read More

  • Positive And Negative Effects Of Colonialism Essay

    423 Words  | 1 Pages

    The effects of colonialism, whether positive or negative, are subjective wherever colonialism was practiced. Colonialism, a practice of one country exploiting another country for economic gain or for population expansion, affects both the colonizers and the colonized. There are times where the colonizers have profited and the colonized have suffered while there are times where neither the colonizers nor the colonized have profited. Because this is so, any benefits or losses occurring because of colonialism negate each other.

    Read More

  • Impact Of British Colonialism on the Indian Caste System

    2707 Words  | 6 Pages

    The current manifestations of the caste system are now far more generalized across the Indian subcontinent than was the case in former times. Caste as we now recognize has been endangered, shaped and perpetuated by comparatively recent political and social developments. This is evident even i...

    Read More

More about Positive Effects of the British Colonization of India

Open Document