British economic interest in India began in the 1600s when Britain established trading posts in Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta. In 1707, the Mughal Empire was collapsing. Several small states broke away from Mughal control. In 1757, Robert Clive led East Indian troops to victory over Indian forces at the Battle of Plassey. From this time until 1858, the East India Company was the leading power in India. Over time, the area controlled by the East India Company grew. Eventually, the East India Company ruled modern Bangladesh, most of southern India, and nearly all of the territory along the Ganges River. After the Industrial Revolution, Britain was known as the “workshop of the world” and India was the main supplier of its raw materials. Britain had a firm hold on India; their policies required India to produce raw materials for British industry and purchase British goods. Any Indian competition with British products was prohibited. Imperialism between Britain and India had a positive economic outcome for the English during the 1600s, as well as some negative impacts on the Indian people; leaving government power in the hands of Great Britain. Britain had a lot of political and economic power over India. As Dadabhai Naoroji stated, “1Europeans [the British] occupy almost all the highest posts in every department of the 2government… All they [Europeans] do is live off India while they are here. 4When they leave, they take with them everything they have earned.” (Doc 3). Naoroji, who was a political leader, was left without power when the British took over the government. Naoroji and many other Indian political leaders of this time remained helpless. Naoroji was also a cotton merchant. He was angry at the British for using India for the goods they produced. The British... in the center of the paper... The quote from the Indian intellectual Dadabhai Naoroji describes the situation best when he says: “1To sum it all up, British rule was – morally, a great blessing; politically peace 2 and order on the one hand... on the other, materially, impoverishment..." (Doc 2). British rule created an overall better way of life for the mental well-being of the Indian people, but materialistically, when it came to producing goods, imperialism also created chaos. Imperialism across India can be seen as a mixed blessing. British imperialism in India brought many changes in India; both positive and negative. However, as a whole, it was a major turning point in the history of India. Imperialism had its positive economic results for the English during the 1600s, but it also had negative effects on the Indian people; leaving government power in the hands of Great Britain.