History

• Britain benefited a lot from India. Britain took control over India's government and India had no say in their government.
• In 1885, the Indian National Congress was created. Educated Hindus led it and they were asking for more power in their government.
• During WW1, India helped Britain and they hoped to have more say in their government in return because Britain promised them for it. However, the 2 events which are the Rowlatt Act and the Amritsar Massacre have dashed this hope.
• Rowlatt Act


  During WW1, the rights of citizens such as freedom of speech and the right to hold meetings were temporarily suspended in India. The Indians accepted this in the war but the British continued to keep those rules even after the war.
• The Rowlatt Act was in resistance to the Indians who were standing against Britain. The Rowlatt Act occurred to try to stop the increasing amount of protests in India.
• Dyer set up punishments for the Indians including the 'Crawling order'. This involved Indians wishing to use a particular street, and being forced to crawl on their hands and knees as a mark of respect to the British. He said that the Indians did it as respect.
• The Amritsar Massacre was a turning point for Gandhi. He said that Britain didn't have the right to rule India.
• Gandhi was arrested and charged with sedition because he encouraged others to break the law. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but he was released after 22 months.
• After his release, Gandhi worked hard in the Indian National Congress to get different groups to work together - in particular Hindus and Muslims. He brought them to vote for independence in their country. Gandhi started a campaign of non-violent, yet active, civil disobedience.
• After WW2, Britain let Indians be independent and take control over their government as they lost a lot of money and owed India 1.3 billion. They also lost their economic benefit as India created 86% of their own cloth instead of buying from Britain. They stopped paying taxes which led to Britain's low economic growth.
• The British East African company was granted a charter in 1888, which led to the colonisation of Kenya.
• The British government took over the administration when the company became bankrupt. They intended to use this as a gateway to Uganda because there were no minerals to exploit in Kenya.
• What the British did in Kenya

  • Forcibly took land
  • Introduced forced labour
  • Passed legislation and ensured natives (Kenyans) followed their laws
• As it means consolidating power, the British introduced the Hut Tax in 1902. A certain amount of taxes is to be paid for each hut a family-owned. Then they introduced a Poll tax which was required of every citizen in the country to pay.
• The punishment for not paying taxes was a fine which often when not paid, led to forced labor thereby providing the British settlers with the cheap labour they were searching for.
• Laws that affected Kenyans


  • Black people were not allowed to own land in the fertile White Highlands
  • Africans had to pay taxes, but to get the money to do so, they had to work for the white settlers
  • All Africans had to carry a pass when they left their reserves
• What actions did the Mau Mau take


  • Led attacks on white farms and settlers
  • Arranging the murder of Africans they suspected of being collaborators
  • Cattles (cow) were also maimed (hurt)
  • Those who fought had to take an oath, which further deepened the fears of whites
  • By this oath, the Mau Mau committed themselves to overthrow white rule
• The British responded with violence by declaring a state of emergency.
• British response to Mau Mau


  • Arrested suspects were held in special detention camps
  • Forests were cleared to prevent the Kikuyu from hiding them
  • This led to the death of 20,000 suspects
• Spice Trade


  It was conducted via sea routes and overland. This included countries like Asia, North-East Africa and Europe. They would trade spices such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, turmeric as well as opium.
• Positives of the spice trade


  • These groups were trusted with the huge profits generated, and the funds were used to benefit the local community
  • Religions (Islam and Christianity) spread through the spice routes
  • The spice trade led to a sharing of languages and cultural customs between Europe, Africa and Asia
  • Food and cuisine also travelled along the spice routes
  • By the nineteenth century, Britain had restaurants that offered a range of Indian dishes on the menu
  • As more and more companies became involved in the trade, spices became more common. Their value began to fall and spices were no longer seen as a luxury but an everyday item
• Negatives of the spice trade


  • Both Muslim and Christian traders were important to the trade, and at times competed to spread their religion and practices. Tension and conflicts were caused between them
  • Some countries were drawn into the violent competition to dominate the market
  • The competition between the Spanish and the Portuguese over the cloves trade in the 1500s was a key factor in increasing the expansion of the European empires from 1700's – 1800's
  • The global spice trade led to international conflicts
• Silk trade


  It was a huge network of trading routes that connected China to areas in the west and south of Asia.
• Positives of the silk trade


  • The towns and villages along its route became wealthy, and became centres for cultural exchange
  • The Silk Road had a major impact on the development of the civilizations in Asia and Europe
  • A wide variety of goods were traded on the route, and new technologies, medicine, ideas, philosophies and religions were also shared
  • Silk was used as a common currency and became a religious symbol that influenced the arts of different cultures involved in the trade
  • The Silk Road created many cultural exchanges and promoted a better understanding between people and encouraged cooperation
• Negatives of the silk trade


  • To trade and move goods along the Silk Road was extremely difficult due to the climate and geography (deserts and mountains). Goods were transported on pack animals and there was the constant danger of attack
  • At the start, Buddhism was the religion that dominated the Silk Road and was replaced later by Islam
  • However, the Silk Road also meant diseases spread more easily. Some historians believe that the Silk Road was the route the Black Death followed to infect Europe from Asia in the 1300's
• Goods exchanged on the Silk Road


  • Silk
  • Cotton
  • Wool
  • Glass
  • Tea
• Travellers were not only altered for trade of products but also for cultural exchange.
• The travel conditions were difficult (e.g. Weather or bandits) but it was worth it.
• This led to an evolution in technology around the world. There was severe competition to control the trade and its most valuable commodities (a useful thing).
• Causes of the Opium Wars


  • Long-term: The illegal export of opium from India to China by British traders
  • Short-term: Increased tension between China and Britain due to disagreements about trading regulations
  • Triggers: The destruction of more than 20,000 chests of opium that were warehoused by British merchants
• There was a high demand for Tea in England. China made the selling of opium illegal. It was also illegal in Britain so they needed a new market. The British started importing opium to China to sell.
• Extraterritoriality


  Britains claimed this. It meant that citizens living in China were not subject to Chinese law. The Chinese government refused to recognize this.
• Effects of the Opium Wars


  • Treaty of Nanjing (1842): Forced China to open its ports to British trade, give up Hong Kong to Britain, pay large fines for the destroyed opium (21 million silver dollars)
  • Treaty of Tientsin (1866): 6 more ports to be opened, Opium importation was made legal, Christian Europeans were allowed to travel anywhere in China with no restrictions
• The Opium wars highlighted the power imbalance between China and Western powers.
• Self Strengthening Movement


  The goal was to modernise China's military and economy. The reformer's goal was to help the children who were used as labourers to work in harsh conditions with no care for their welfare or education.
• Reasons for the failure of the Self Strengthening Movement


  • The gap in technology compared to other countries
  • Lacked support from administrative offices
  • Natural disasters would limit and hinder the process
• Boxer rebellion


  It was led by a group of people who were angry at foreigners and wanted to get rid of their influence on China. They wanted to protect their culture and fight against foreign influence. (They viewed this as a threat that weakened China.)
• Slave trade


  The trade triangle occurred during the 16th - 19th century. It involved America, Africa and Europe.
• The trade triangle


  • America - Raw materials (e.g. lumber, wood, and cotton)
  • Europe - Manufactured goods - Shirts, furniture
  • Africa - Slaves - Gold & iron
• Middle passage


  The journey from Africa to the Americans on slave ships.