Why british wanted to do in …

India was the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. As well as spices, jewels and textiles, India had a huge population. Soldiering was an honourable tradition in India and the British capitalised on this. They regimented India’s manpower as the backbone of their military power. Indian troops helped the British control their empire, and they played a key role in fighting for Britain right up to the 20th century.

British saw India as their most prized colony and rightly so. India had:

1)People: More than any other colony. What are they good for? Taxes and cheaper armies and labor. And of course huge markets for finished products (Why? since all indigenous industries were discouraged and undeveloped. People would have to buy British goods in the end which boosted their exports).

2)Raw materials: India was rich in cotton and jute which was exported to England and the machines of industrial age transformed them into profitable finished goods, ready for use.

3)Land and agriculture: Plantation/commercial agriculture could be easily practiced due to fertile lands of the region.This meant more export and profits could be earned through commercial crops and taxes. Plantations needed huge labor, which of course were available cheaply.

4)Opium: Indian lands in places like present day UP and MP could grow opium. This was supplied to China and in return, tea was bought from them and exported to England. Purpose? The trade was not one-sided anymore (i.e. from China to Britain). The British didn’t need to use their currency to import tea from China anymore, keeping a healthy balance of payments. India is indeed is called “jewel of the crown” because of the above mentioned benefits. 

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Spices were one of the important merchandise which the western world wanted from India . The primary reason that the Western world wanted to find a direct route to India was to cut down the Arab middlemen in the spice trade . Pepper was known as black gold , which was highly priced merchandise. And it was important for Britain to expand the colonies , to make itself competitive in this trade among the other European poweres of that time .

Indigo Blue was another important resource which was exploited from India during that times. If you are looking for a list of resources ,this could be some of them but not the only resources .

Pepper Cloves Cardamom Cinnamon Indigo Sandalwood Gold Cotton British forces where the protector of these trade ,and later using Indian man power in their interests which if you are think is another important resource.