Indian Society And The Making Of The British Em... -

Bayly argues that the British success depended on their ability to manipulate Indian knowledge. By selectively incorporating indigenous agents, the British built an "empire of information" that allowed them to navigate a subcontinent they initially understood very little about. Social Transformation and "Civilizing Missions"

Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire: A Synthesis of Transformation Indian Society and the Making of the British Em...

The Collaboration of Capital: Indian Merchants and the Company Bayly argues that the British success depended on

The 19th century saw a deliberate attempt to Europeanize Indian society through legal and social reforms. : European trade injected silver bullion from the

: European trade injected silver bullion from the New World into the Indian economy, which was essential for the Mughal hegemony to function , as revenues and rents were paid in cash. The "Empire of Information"

: Indian mercantile capitalists often allied with British revenue entrepreneurs, providing the international linkages and financing that fueled the East India Company's early growth.

One of the most radical shifts in understanding this period is the role of Indian capital. Far from being passive victims initially, Indian bankers and traders were critical drivers of the internal political economy.