Class 8th History Chapter 2
📘 From Trade to Territory – The Company Establishes Power
🔹 1. Important 1–2 Line Notes (Very Important for Exams)
Aurangzeb died in 1707, after which the Mughal Empire weakened.
The East India Company got a royal charter in 1600 from Queen Elizabeth I.
Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India in 1498.
First English factory in Bengal was set up in 1651 on the Hugli River.
Battle of Plassey (1757) made the Company powerful in Bengal.
Battle of Buxar (1764) made the Company real political power.
Diwani rights were granted in 1765.
Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie.
Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley.
By 1857, the Company controlled most of India.
🔹 2. Important Dates (Chronology Table)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1498 | Vasco da Gama reached India |
| 1600 | East India Company formed |
| 1707 | Death of Aurangzeb |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar |
| 1765 | Diwani Rights |
| 1799 | Death of Tipu Sultan |
| 1818 | End of Maratha power |
| 1848–56 | Dalhousie Governor-General |
| 1856 | Annexation of Awadh |
| 1857 | Revolt of 1857 |
🔹 3. Important Personalities
Aurangzeb - Last powerful Mughal ruler.
Sirajuddaulah - Defeated in Battle of Plassey (1757).
Robert Clive - Led Company in Battle of Plassey.
Tipu Sultan - Called “Tiger of Mysore”; died in 1799.
Rani Channamma - Resisted British annexation. Chennamma of Kittur was the Queen of the princely state of Kittur in present-day Karnataka.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Strong Sikh ruler of Punjab.
Warren Hastings - First Governor-General (1773).
🔹 4. Important Definitions
Mercantile – Trade for profit (buy cheap, sell costly).
Farman – Royal order.
Diwani – Right to collect land revenue.
Subsidiary Alliance – Indian rulers kept British army and paid for it. (भारतीय शासकों ने ब्रिटिश सेना को अपने पास रखा और उसके लिए भुगतान किया।)
Doctrine of Lapse – If ruler had no male heir (वारिस), state annexed (पर कब्जा कर लेना).
Paramountcy – British authority supreme over Indian states.
Resident – British political agent in Indian courts.
Sepoy – Indian soldier in Company army.
🔹 5. Important Battles (Repeatedly Asked)
⚔ Battle of Plassey (1757)
Between: Sirajuddaulah & East India Company
Result: British victory
Reason: Betrayal by Mir Jafar
⚔ Battle of Buxar (1764)
Between: Company vs Mir Qasim, Nawab of Awadh, Mughal Emperor
Result: British victory
Importance: Company got Diwani rights.
⚔ Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–1799)
Ended with death of Tipu Sultan.
⚔ Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775–1818)
Ended Maratha power.
🔹 6. Important Formulas / Rules (Concept Rules)
Power = Revenue + Army Control
Diwani → Revenue Control → Political Control
Subsidiary Alliance Rule:
No independent army
British protection
Pay for British troops
Lose territory if unpaid
Doctrine of Lapse Rule:
No natural male heir = State annexed
🔹 7. Important Keywords (Must Write in Answers)
Mercantile, Farman, Diwani, Nabob, Resident, Paramountcy, Annexation, Confederacy, Presidency, Collectorate, Sepoy Army.
🔹 8. Maps & Locations (Very Important for Exams)
📍 Bengal – First major British control area
📍 Plassey – West Bengal
📍 Buxar – Bihar
📍 Mysore – Karnataka
📍 Shrirangapatnam – Capital of Tipu Sultan
📍 Punjab – Annexed in 1849
📍 Awadh – Annexed in 1856
📍 Delhi – Mughal capital
Map Practice:
Mark Bengal (1757)
Mark Mysore (1799)
Mark Maratha territory (1818)
Mark Punjab (1849)
Mark Awadh (1856)
🔹 9. Repeated Board Questions with Answers
Q1. Why was Battle of Plassey important?
Answer: It was the first major victory of the Company and gave it political control over Bengal.
Q2. How did Diwani benefit the Company?
Answer: It gave the Company the right to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, solving financial problems.
Q3. What was Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer: A system where Indian rulers accepted British troops and paid for their maintenance.
Q4. What was Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer: Policy by Lord Dalhousie to annex states without a male heir.
Q5. Why did Tipu Sultan oppose the British?
Answer: He stopped trade privileges and allied with the French.
🔹 10. One Line Facts (Very Scoring)
Mir Jafar betrayed Sirajuddaulah.
Robert Clive became very rich after Plassey.
Company officials were called “Nabobs”.
Punjab was annexed after death of Ranjit Singh.
By 1857, Company ruled 63% of territory.
🔹 11. Conclusion (2-Line Summary for 5 Mark Answer)
The East India Company came to India for trade but gradually became a political power through wars, diplomacy, and policies like Diwani, Subsidiary Alliance, and Doctrine of Lapse. By 1857, it had established almost complete control over India.
If you want, Vikrant 💪
I can now give you:
🔥 25 MCQs from this chapter
📄 10 Long Answer Questions (5–8 marks)
🗺 Map practice worksheet
🧠 Mind Map for quick revision
📊 Comparison chart (Mughal vs Company rule)
Tell me what you need next.
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