📌 Topic 02 of 6 · Chapter 12 · Advent of Europeans & British Expansion
Rise of British Power in India
EIC expansion — Surat factory, Madras, Bombay, Calcutta. Carnatic Wars — British vs French. Dupleix vs Clive.
🏛️ EIC Expansion — Key Milestones
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1600 | EIC Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I | Founded British East India Company |
| 1608 | First British ship arrived at Surat | Captain William Hawkins; Jahangir refused trading rights initially |
| 1613 | Surat factory established | First permanent British factory in India; Thomas Best defeated Portuguese |
| 1639 | Madras (Fort St. George) | First British fort in India; Francis Day obtained land from Nayak of Chandragiri |
| 1668 | Bombay | Received from Portuguese as dowry; Charles II leased to EIC for £10/year |
| 1690 | Calcutta (Fort William) | Job Charnock founded Calcutta; became EIC headquarters in Bengal |
| 1717 | Farrukhsiyar’s Farman | Mughal emperor granted EIC trading rights in Bengal — “Magna Carta of EIC” |
⚔️ Carnatic Wars (1746–1763) — British vs French
Three Carnatic Wars were fought between the British and French for control of South India:
First Carnatic War (1746–1748):
- Part of the War of Austrian Succession in Europe
- French under Dupleix captured Madras
- Ended by Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) — Madras returned to British
Second Carnatic War (1749–1754):
- Dupleix supported Chanda Sahib (Nawab of Carnatic); British supported Muhammad Ali
- Robert Clive captured Arcot (1751) — turned the tide in favour of British
- Dupleix recalled to France (1754) — French influence declined
Third Carnatic War (1756–1763):
- Part of the Seven Years’ War in Europe
- British under Sir Eyre Coote defeated French at Battle of Wandiwash (1760)
- Treaty of Paris (1763) — France retained only Pondicherry and Chandernagore but lost all political influence
- British became the dominant European power in India
⭐ Dupleix vs Clive: French Governor Dupleix was a brilliant strategist who pioneered the idea of using Indian soldiers (sepoys) and intervening in Indian politics to gain influence. Robert Clive adopted the same strategy and defeated Dupleix. Dupleix’s recall to France in 1754 was a turning point — it ended French ambitions in India.
📝 Exam Tip:
• Farrukhsiyar’s Farman (1717) = “Magna Carta of EIC” = trading rights in Bengal
• First Carnatic War = 1746–1748 = Dupleix captured Madras
• Robert Clive = captured Arcot (1751) = turned tide in Second Carnatic War
• Battle of Wandiwash (1760) = British defeated French = Third Carnatic War
• Treaty of Paris (1763) = France lost political influence in India
• Farrukhsiyar’s Farman (1717) = “Magna Carta of EIC” = trading rights in Bengal
• First Carnatic War = 1746–1748 = Dupleix captured Madras
• Robert Clive = captured Arcot (1751) = turned tide in Second Carnatic War
• Battle of Wandiwash (1760) = British defeated French = Third Carnatic War
• Treaty of Paris (1763) = France lost political influence in India