COLONIALISM
SOURCES
- spice trade between India and Europe
> main catalyst for the period of european exploration
- search for wealth and prosperity of India
- trading rivalries brought other European powers to India (Dutch,British,French,Danish)
- > all established trading posts (early 17th century)
- worksheets (Q1)
- http://www.gatewayforindia.com/history/british_history3.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India
- https://nataliepeart.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/caste_system-oo4t9n.jpg
British India (1612-1947)
- GB and France struggled for dominance
> rapid expansion of British power (early
19th century)
- British gained control over almost all of India
- British India became known as "the jewel in the British Crown"
STRUCTURE
THE POST-COLONIAL EXPERIENCE IN INDIA
- colonialism
- independence/partition
- castes
- sources
CASTE SYSTEM
INDEPENDENCE/PARTITION
- system splits the society into groups
- people have a different function and status
- since 1949 the Constitution of India has granted all its citizens equal rights
- it has become possible for people to improve their status through professional and financial success
Why did India have to be divided?
- conflicts between Hindus and Muslims
- Muslims felt oppressed by the Hindus
- The Congress Party, a Hindu party, was not seen to represent the Muslims too
- Britain was weakened by WWII - politically and financially
- Britain gradually lost control over India
- For Britain to exit quickly, the division along religious borders was the easiest way out
THE MISTAKES THE BRITISH HAVE MADE
- Radcliffe only had 40 days to divide India
- no understanding of the situation in the villages
> religious traditions & cultures were
ignored to speed up the progress
- no preparation (mentally + practically) for the panic-mass movement of the population