From Trade to Territory Class 8 PDF Notes

'From Trade to Territory' examines how the British East India Company evolved from a trading organization then evolved into a dominant territory holder in India. Since 1707, the weakening of the Mughal rule began, following the death of Aurangzeb, and the regional kingdoms, as well as European merchants, became open to the world.

Wars, alliances, and cunning policies saw the East India Company succeed in controlling huge territories of India step by step. This is a very clear chapter of NCERT class 8, which gives a vivid explanation of the causes, the crucial battles such as Plassey and Buxar, changes in administration and policies, which led to the introduction of British colonial rule.

The Decline of Mughal Power

With the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire began to lose strength. The provincial governors and zamindars started claiming their independence, forming their own regions like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad. This emergence of regional forces resulted in political disintegration that was subsequently used to their advantage by the European merchants and especially the British.

Rise of European Traders

The interest of the Europeans in the Indian trade started in 1498 when Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut. Later, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and the British created trading posts on the Indian coast. In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted the East India Company a royal charter that gave it an edge in dealing in the East Indies as a monopoly. The company dealt with such commodities as spices, silk, and cotton, but it soon wanted to be influential in politics.

Battles and British Expansion

The European powers were engaged in rivalries, more so the British and the French, which resulted in a number of wars. The British East India Company won major battles, the first one being the Battle of Plassey in 1757, when Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah because Mir Jafar betrayed him.

In 1764, British control was further reinforced by the next battle of Buxar. The victory made the company have the Diwani powers to collect revenue and administer Bengal, and the new era of British territorial rule began.