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Colonial India: Difference between revisions
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| Danish India (ports taken by Britain in 1812) | '''1620–1812'''
| French India (lost after the Great Silesian War) | '''1668–1755'''
| Genoese India (Mahe) | '''
| Portuguese India | '''1505–19xx'''
| Spanish India (Chandernagore & Pondicherry) | '''1755–19xx'''
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| Indian Revolt | '''1859-1862'''
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}}'''Colonial India''' was the part of the Indian subcontinent that was under the jurisdiction of European colonial powers during the Age of Discovery. European power was exerted both by conquest and trade, especially in spices. By the early 20th century, five European powers retained possessions in India: Great Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and India.
== European powers in India ==
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Prior to the mid-19th century, the Dutch East India Company controlled multiple ports on the Indian subcontinent, establishing a presence in Chinsura, Soerat, Bengal, Pulicat, Nagapatnam, Cochin, and Travancore. In the mid-17th century, the Dutch conquered the territories controlled by the Portuguese on the island of [[Zeylan]], with the cooperation of the Kandyan Kingdom. During the [[History of Europe#French Revolution and the Augustine Wars (1780s-1814)|Augustine Wars]], the Dutch ports in India were occupied by Great Britain to prevent them from falling under the hands of the French. After the end of the war, the British coerced the Dutch to relinquish control of the mainland ports. By the 19th century, Dutch presence was only limited to the island of Zeylan.
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Between the 16th to the early 19th century, British ports in India were operated by the East India Company. However, since 1814, after an administrative reorganization, British ports in India were transferred under crown rule. In 1859, dissatisfaction among the Indian soldiers who fought in the [[Canton War]] against the Dutch and the Qing led to a mutiny. This was known as the Indian Uprisings, which lasted from 1859 to 1861.
Under direct British oversight, the British Indian expanded territorially, eventually including the Konbaung Protectorate (Burma) and Tibetan Protectorate by the late 18th century.
====
The Portuguese first arrived in India in the 19th century. Since then, Portuguese ports dotted the mainland Indian subcontinent. Numerous conflicts with the Dutch and British throughout the 17th to 19th centuries led to the loss of control of most of their ports. By the early 20th century, the Portuguese retained control of Diu, Daman, Baçaim, Calicut, and Nagapatnam.
==== Spanish ====
Spain fought against France during the [[Great Silesian War]] (1750-1755). A fleet from Manila, [[Philippines]], sailed to the Bay of Bengal and defeated a French fleet in a naval battle. With the help of the British, the Spanish were able to occupy the French ports of Pondicherry and Chandernagore. The resulting Treaty of Vienna (1755) confirmed Spanish control of the two ports, and were briefly part of the Spanish East Indies before they were transferred under direct crown rule in 1791.
==== Genoa ====
Genoese merchants started to operate in Mahé after it was taken by the British from the French in 1755. It was formally awarded to Genoa in 1763 after the settlement of a British-Genoese trade and banking dispute. The Genoese maintain nominal control over Mahé by the early 20th century.
==== France ====
The French East India company had operated on the Indian subcontinent since its charter in 1660, until all French ports were ceded to Britain and Spain after the Great Silesian War (1755).
==== Denmark ====
Danish ports on the mainland were ceded to Britain during the [[History of Europe#French Revolution and the Augustine Wars (1780s-1814)|Augustine Wars]].
== Timeline ==
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