During the 16th and 17th centuries, other colonial powers such as Portugal, England, Denmark , Holland and France were fighting over trade and control of resources in India. Of the 5, Denmark and Holland were never serious competitors to the British, Portugal focused mainly on the western coast, which left plenty of other territory for the British. The French were the most serious threat to the British, but the British army and navy were superior to the French, allowing England to gain the most control over India. These countries fought fiercely over India for certain reasons, they wanted influence in India for India's supply of raw materials and their consumer base of over 300 million.
India was also the jewel in Britain's crown, it was worth its weight in gold as a trading partner. British exports to India counted for 20% of their total exports in the late 1800s, and by the early 1900s, they were sending around 150 million pounds of goods to India.
Indian labour was also extremely useful to the British, and not just in India. Indian laborers were "exported" to other British colonies, such as the Caribbean, South Africa and East Africa and in many ways, further built the British empire in other parts of the world. Indian soldiers and sailors also fought with the British in many of their wars (WWI, WWII, Boer War), and Indian regiments often distinguished themselves as well.
India's importance to the British is demonstrated in this quote by Lord Curzon:
"As long as we rule India, we are the greatest power in the world. If we lose it we shall straightway drop to a third rate power"
India was also the jewel in Britain's crown, it was worth its weight in gold as a trading partner. British exports to India counted for 20% of their total exports in the late 1800s, and by the early 1900s, they were sending around 150 million pounds of goods to India.
Indian labour was also extremely useful to the British, and not just in India. Indian laborers were "exported" to other British colonies, such as the Caribbean, South Africa and East Africa and in many ways, further built the British empire in other parts of the world. Indian soldiers and sailors also fought with the British in many of their wars (WWI, WWII, Boer War), and Indian regiments often distinguished themselves as well.
India's importance to the British is demonstrated in this quote by Lord Curzon:
"As long as we rule India, we are the greatest power in the world. If we lose it we shall straightway drop to a third rate power"