India’s Economy Under the Rule of the East India Company and the British Crown

Abstract

This chapter considers the Western invasion and occupation of India. First, invasions by the French and the Portuguese are considered, but because the British were the overwhelmingly most significant colonial power in India the chapter is primarily confined to an analysis of the economic effects of British colonial rule. As part of this, a brief account of the expansion of British rule in India is given. Some impacts of colonial rule are discussed, in particular the phenomenon of deindustrialization. Some estimates and an analysis of the economic drain from India during British rule are provided. This is followed by an examination of land tenure systems and, finally, of famines.