Advent of British

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Advent of British

  • Next Europeans who came to India were English. This had a lengthy stay in India and of late ruled India.
  • 31/12/1600 a group of merchants started a private company called ' English East India Company ' (nicknamed as John Company) to trade with India and eastern countries.

  • Queen Elizabeth, I passed a charter on the same day stating that complete monopoly rights were given to East India Company over eastern trade for a period of 15 years. However, it was modified in 1609 by 'James I' successor of 'Elizabeth I' stating that monopoly period was extended indefinitely and this remains till further Royal orders. This monopoly remained till 1813.
  • Initial English setups in India
- Surat in 1608 was the first settlement.

- Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 1611 was first settlement in Eastern Coast and many other settlements later.
  • Unlike the earlier Europeans British came with a different strategy. As part of this, they established a headquarter each at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. Each headquarter has its own governor and own territorial jurisdiction.
  • Initially, governors were independent of each other. Everyone has his own trade and headache. But after some time this caused a chaos so Kolkata governor was made as Governor General and other two governors were brought under his administration. Governor General Office was first made in 1773 and 'Warren Hastings' was first governor general.
  • Construction of Cities
- Madras :— In the year, 1639 site of Madras was procured by a British officer 'Francis De' from Venkatadri Naidu, a local officer in this territory. This city was named as Chennapatnam (after Venkatadri Naidu's father Chennappa) and eventually changed to Madras and now to Chennai again. British built a fort called 'St. George Fort'.

- Bombay :— In the year 1668 site of Bombay ay was given to 'Gerald Aungier' by British King 'John II' (In 1661 there was a marriage ceremony of Portuguese Princess 'Catherine Briganza' and British King 'Charles II' and as part of marriage dowry Bombay was given to King 'Charles II'. King 'John II' was successor so he inherited Bombay).

- Calcutta : — In the year 1690 a British officer 'Jab Chornock' purchases 3 villages in Bengal from Mughal Sultan 'Aurangzeb'. These 3 villages were merged into one to develop a city called Calcutta. Here they built a fort called 'Fort William' Seat of Calcutta governor is in this fort so it is called 'Governor of Fort William'. The villages merged were Govindpur, Kalikata and Satnauti.




Chandela Dynasty

   

Chandela Dynasty

  • Ruled over Bundelkhand (Bundelkhand has also known jaijak bhukti or Jejaka bhukti). The region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lying in the latter.
  • Nannuk, the founder of the Chandela dynasty.
  •  According to inscriptions, he was the chief of his clan in the first quarter of the ninth century. Epigraphic records show that Khajuraho then called Khajuravatika - Bearer of Dates or Khajuravatica - Garden of Dates, was the stronghold of Nannuk and his people. Later on, his descendants linked their lineage with the Moon or with Chandratreya of the legend, in order to attribute some divine links to the origin of their dynasty.
  • Capitals of this dynasty

                  - Khajuraho, MP (In fact this is their cultural capital)
                  - Mahoba, UP Mahotsava Nagar

  • Best Niagara style temples were built by them. In fact, the most beautiful temples of India at Khajuraho were built by them.
  • Almost 80 temples were built by them in and around Khajuraho. Last only 25 are surviving today. Few of them are
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                 - Vishwantaha Temple 
                 - Kandariya mahadeva temple
                 - Chaturbhuia temple
                 - Lakshmana temple
                 - Devi Jagadamba
                 - Adinatha Temple (1st Tirthankara)
                 - Parsvanatha Temple.

These temples are beautifully decorated with many sculptures and mostly erotic sculptures of Mithunas (A mythological romantic couple).
  • The first inscriptions of Hindi were issued by these kings in 10th C. AD. These were the first kings to issue in Hindi.
  • One of the kings of this dynasty called Ganda; he fought with Ghazini and was defeated. 



Prehistoric Cultures - Chalcolithic Age

   


Prehistoric Cultures - Chalcolithic Age (3000 - 700BC)

  • Last stage of prehistoric age. In India, this age is seen between 3000 BC - 700 BC. Though some areas in India are still in neolithic age some areas have surpassed it and entered into chalcolithic age. First metal used by human beings was Copper (3000 BC) then Bronze (2500 BC) and later Iron (1000 BC).
  • Chalcolithic cultures were classified based on transition from use of stone tools to metal tools as 
  1. Pre-Harappan
  2. Contemporary to Harappan
  3. Post-Harappan
  • In India, many chalcolithic-Cultures were found in different parts. Like In Rajasthan - A Sothi culture was developed circa 3000 BC - Pre-Harappan. Some sites of this culture were found t Aahar (2100 - 1500 BC), Gulind, and Tambavathi. At Gulind houses were built with burnt bricks.
  • In Malwa region around 1700 BC - 1200 BC - Contemporary to Harappan. Some sites of this culture were found at Kayatam, Navadatoli, and Eran, Maheshwar, Nagda. Copper Bangles, Necklaces of precious stones and food grains are found here.
  • In Indo-Gangatic basin - OCP(Ochre colored pottery) culture was developed around 2000 BC -1500 BC Contemporary to Harappan. Some sites of this culture were found at Hastinapur, Nasirpur(UP), Gungeria (MP). At Gangeria 424 copper tools and 102 Thin Silver Sheets were found.
  • In Maharastra - Jorwe culture was developed around 1400 - 700 BC - Post-Harappan. More than 200 sites were found of this culture. Some sites of Jorwe Culture were found at - Nevasa, Chandoli, Inamgaon, Dainiabad(Biggest site). All sites are in Ahmednagar(Dist).
  • No chalcolithic site was found in South India.
  • Both Agrarian and pastoral practices were taken and it is a mixed economy. Large scale domestication and rearing of animals were carried out. Unfortunately though large herds of cattle were there but the dairy technology was absent.
  • Milk wasn't used in day to day life. This led to high rate of infant deaths. This phenomenon of infant mortality was evident from a large heap of infant skeletons found a Daimabad.
  • Shifting cultivation was practiced entirely. Wheat, rice,bajra, pulses and moreover fruits and vegetables were also cultivated.
  • Both sophisticated stone tools and copper tools were used. Village settlements have grown large in size. At Daimabad, it was estimated that 4000 people lived there. Writing skills weren't developed though some contemporary civilizations (with which these had good commercial contacts) have scripted. It can be said that most chalcolithic cultures were post-Harappan in chronology but pre-Harappan in technology.
  • Sophisticated pottery was in use. Painting of pottery was started at this age. At various chalcolithic sites, large numbers of grave goods were found indicating these people continued the beliefs of their ancestors in life after death. Moreover, fire altars were found indicating the performance of rituals. Ling worship was noticed at various places. Skeletons exhumed at Daimabad have no foot. they have been chopped before burying this indicates people fear of died turning into scripts(phasmophobia).


Dutch advent in India

   

Dutch advent in India 

  • Duchesse (Holland/Netherland) were second to follow of course only after a century of Portuguese advent.
  • In 1602, a new Dutch company 'Dutch United East India Company' was founded by few merchants to trade in India and other Asian countries. This was a private company.
  • Dutch has set up the trading station in India for carrying on business. Few important stations were
1.Machilipatnam in 1605 (first), Bimilipatnam, Nizampatnam,Pulicat in Andhra Pradesh.
2.Devanampatnam, Nagapatnam in Tamil Nadu.
3.Balasore in Orissa.
4.Chinsura in Bengal.
5.Surat in Gujarat.

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  • However, Dutch were much interested in Indonesia rather than India. So they didn't appoint any governor for India but Governor of Indonesia itself administered India.
  • 1690 headquarters have been shifted from Pulicat to Nagapatnam.
  • These Dutch have built Forts at their settlements. Few of them were
              - Fort Gustavus at Chinsura
              - Fort Geldria at Pulicat
              - Fort David at Devanampatnam.
  • In 1759 in Battle of Badera (Bengal) Dutch were expelled from India by British completely. This was, in fact, a vengeance act where earlier British were expelled from Indonesia.