What does this map of British India in 1860 show? provinces ruled by East India Company and trading states provinces ruled by East India Company and manufacturing states provinces ruled by the British raj and states controlled by Indian monarchs provinces ruled by sepoys and states controlled by Mughal empire
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The map of British India in 1860 likely illustrates the political landscape of India during the period of British control. To clarify the choices:
1. Provinces ruled by the East India Company and trading states:
By 1860, the East India Company had effectively controlled large parts of India, including provinces like Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. These were directly governed by the Company, which operated as a de facto government. The map might show regions under the Company’s administration and also commercial centers (trading states) such as Calcutta (Kolkata) or Bombay (Mumbai), which played major roles in the British imperial economy.
2. Provinces ruled by the East India Company and manufacturing states:
While the East India Company controlled many provinces, the term “manufacturing states” isn’t typically used in historical references. If this refers to regions with heavy industrial output, such as parts of Bengal and Bombay, it might be more focused on economic production rather than political control by the Company. However, manufacturing wasn’t a major focus of British India in the 1860s, as the British were more interested in raw material extraction.
3. Provinces ruled by the British Raj and states controlled by Indian monarchs:
The British Raj officially began in 1858 after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, when the British government took over direct control from the East India Company. The map may show areas directly under British rule, known as the British Raj, and regions still governed by Indian rulers, like princely states (e.g., Hyderabad, Mysore, and Jaipur). These states were nominally independent but were heavily influenced by British policies, and some had alliances or treaties with the British.
4. Provinces ruled by sepoys and states controlled by the Mughal Empire:
This option would be incorrect for the map of 1860. By this time, the Mughal Empire had largely collapsed, and sepoys (Indian soldiers) no longer played a dominant role in governance. The 1857 rebellion marked the fall of the Mughal Empire, and the British had established direct control.
Thus, the correct answer would likely be provinces ruled by the British Raj and states controlled by Indian monarchs, since by 1860, British sovereignty was firmly in place across India, but many regions were still under local rulers under British suzerainty.