The second half of this article gives a brief overview of India’s people and society, education and industries before the British arrived, based on first-hand, neutral accounts. It often helps to start with a positive image of the sub-continent so that stereotypes and assumptions can be challenged immediately. The long quotation at the end of the article gives a summary of the thriving India that the British found. Interested students could use it as a starting point for an in-depth study on one of the various Indian empires, for example the Mughal Empire. 

This useful timeline provides an excellent summary of the major events during the British imperial presence in India. Interactive timelines are an excellent way to revise at a later date. 

Crowhurst’s article explains Britain’s motives for being in India. For more, the following video clip shows the importance of Indian soldiers to the British – Indian soldiers played a key role in fighting for Britain, including in the world wars of 1914–18 and 1939–45: ‘Why was India so valuable to the British Empire?’, from the BBC series ‘Empire’, published by BBC Teach in 2020.

This book sets out the relationship between India and Britain and its importance to both countries.

David Olusoga investigates the consequences of India's partition by the British empire.