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India was the most important territory of the British Empire. In the 18th century, India was an advanced civilisation and the rulers regarded the British with disdain. By the 1750s, this had changed and the balance of power had shifted in favour of the British.

The British presence in India began through trade. Men like Robert Clive, of the British East India Company, combined military prowess with a ruthless ambition, and became fabulously wealthy. With wealth came power, and traders took control of huge swaths of India.
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First broadcast:
20 April 2012

Classroom Ideas

Students could be asked to describe how the British gained control of India in the 18th and 19th and the methods used to maintain that control. This clip could be used to question the presenter's conclusion that it was the greed of men like Robert Clive which won India for Britain. Do you feel this is a fair assessment? Or even a complete assessment?

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