Extract
[...] The British thus maintained a strong colonial power in India until the mid-20th century. The author uses numerous sources for her work but primarily focuses on a quasi-contradictory study between the Marxist influences of the work done in the 1950s-1960s and the studies of Cambridge, particularly by Christopher Bayly. However, Lefevre does not hold herself solely to providing a state of the research but innovates by proposing the idea of a progressive collapse, supported by the English to implant a strong colonial power in India, while the regionalization of the empire seemed to destabilize it strongly. [...]
[...] In fact, it was one of the first Portuguese discoveries, first in 1498 by Vasco de Gama and then in 1510 by Albuquerque. But it was only in the 16th century that the acquisition of Indian territory began to take shape. From 1530, it became the capital of the Estado da India (or Portuguese India). It then experienced a strong radiance, particularly in politics, economics, and religion, and a demographic explosion with a 400% increase in its population between 1580 and 1630. [...]
[...] A gap having developed between the oligarchic dynamics and the peasant reality, tensions considerably caused the decline of the Mughal Empire, without any recovery being able to change the inexorable decline of the empire. On the economic front, English intrusion also played a major role in the collapse in India; by fragmenting Mughal power, they were able to establish significant trade relations, create trading posts, without real imperial resistance. The English presence thus developed and gradually strengthened by offering the British a new zone of colonial influence that was entirely primordial because it was located on the spice route and produced many rare and expensive products. [...]
[...] Since the 15th century and the discovery of new routes to India, particularly by Vasco de Gama, these have been very sought after by European powers. This rush to India has led to a true appropriation of Asian territories by several European powers, particularly Spain, Portugal, France, and England. The city of Goa has known a strong Portuguese enthusiasm since the 1510s with a colonization from the 1530s before experiencing a strong economic, political, and commercial development. If the Portuguese colonization was a true financial vector for Portugal, it has shown social limits and a decline announced in the long term. [...]
[...] In addition, the political and religious power was strong with the presence of a local and administrative organization, where taxes were collected. The organization with vice-kings was organized as in Lisbon, which was then the model of Portuguese colonies. Finally, the religion was concentrated in Goa, where all Catholic actions were concentrated to be developed towards the rest of India. It was the religious center of India. However, a slow decline began in the early 17th century, with many diseases and difficulties in maintaining political and economic control. [...]
