HISTORY FOR SSC EXAMS 2025 | ADVENT OF EUROPEANS | FRB 2.0 BY PARMAR SSC

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

• Course plan for SSC 2025 (FRB 2.0 by Parmar SSC)

  • Start History (Modern History first) and do not mix other subjects until history is finished.
  • Finish the overall target work by 30th July.
  • Provide additional support through:
    • A series for NTPC answer-key “new/tough questions” only.
    • Short revision videos for important articles/amendments/cases (with PDFs and sometimes quizzes).

• Arrival and expansion of Europeans in India (focus of today’s lecture)

  • Portuguese first, then Dutch, then British, and later French.
  • Europeans first gain trading footholds (factories, concessions, charters), then expand into political/military control.
  • After consolidating European rivals, the British establish supremacy over the Indian subcontinent.

• Key concept: European conflicts expanded into India

  • European wars like Anglo–Carnatic/Anglo–French conflicts spilled into India, especially the Carnatic/Coromandel coast.
  • This affected control of places such as Pondicherry.

• British expansion after European rivalries: Battles in Bengal

  • British dominance is linked to:
    • Privileges granted by the Mughal “Golden Farman” (1717) allowing duty-free/tax-free trade for the British.
    • Later British refusal to comply with updated tax expectations under Siraj-ud-Daula.
  • This leads to Battle of Plassey and later Battle of Buxar, culminating in British supremacy and dual government in Bengal.

• British control over regional powers

  • Mysore: wars against the British; then subsidiary alliance replaces direct resistance.
  • Marathas: successive Anglo–Maratha wars end Maratha independence.
  • Sikhs (Punjab): Anglo–Sikh wars end Sikh sovereignty.
  • Afghans: Anglo–Afghan wars tied to British fears of Russian influence.
  • Burmese (Myanmar): Anglo–Burmese wars end with treaties like Yandaboo.

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Study strategy / revision methodology (as presented)

• Watch the NTPC answer-key series for:
  • Only new questions (not all questions).
  • Emphasis on tough questions that appear less often.
• For “important” topics (articles/amendments/cases):
  • Request short videos for the specific topic you want.
  • Videos include:
    • PDF in a good format
    • Sometimes a small quiz to test understanding immediately
• For this lecture’s content:
  • Even if it feels “complex,” the expectation is:
    • Memorize what matters
    • Revise repeatedly
• After lectures:
  • Practice Level 1 and Level 2 questions (mentioned: “from Little Boy”).
  • Share scores in comments.
• A mind map is available on the Parmar SSC Telegram channel (link in description).

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European arrival: key chronology (Portuguese → Dutch → British → French)

Portuguese

• Vasco da Gama arrives 1498.
• Portuguese are associated with sea-route exploration; Columbus is contrasted as seeking a sea route to India (not “discovering India”).
• Portuguese contact includes Zamorin welcoming Vasco da Gama (context referenced).
• 1505: Francisco de Almeida introduces Blue Water Policy / Cartez System.
• 1509: Alfonso de Albuquerque abolishes sati and captures Goa (as stated).
• Portuguese are eventually sidelined by the British (not immediately removed).

Dutch

• Dutch are defined as people from the Netherlands.
• 1605: first Dutch factory established at Masulipatnam / Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

British (English East India Company)

• East India Company established in 1599.
• 1600: receives a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I, granting monopoly to trade in India.
• 1608: Captain William Hawkins visits Jahangir’s court (unsuccessful in securing concessions).
• 1611: first temporary factory at Masulipatnam.
• 1613: first permanent factory at Surat.
• 1612: British fight Portuguese; major battle named Battle of Swilly; Portuguese are subdued.
• 1615:
  • Thomas Roe visits Jahangir’s court and obtains a trade concession successfully.

French

• French initially face major resistance (as described).
• French wars culminate with British capturing/controlling Pondicherry after Anglo–Carnatic conflicts.
• Treaty of Paris: British dominate India; French restricted elsewhere.

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Anglo–French / Carnatic wars (3 conflicts)

First Anglo–Carnatic War (“Carnatic War”)

• Time: 1744–1748
• Connected to the Austrian War of Succession in Europe (parallel European conflicts affecting India).
• Includes Battle of St. Thomas:
  • French forces victorious there.
• Ends with Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

Second Anglo–Carnatic War

• Mentions 1749
• Associated with Battle of Ambur/Amber (noted as part of the second war).
• Ends with Treaty of Pondicherry.

Third Anglo–Carnatic War

• Time: 1756–1763
• Major battle: Battle of Wandiwash / Vandi Wash in 1760
• Outcome described as:
  • French victory on some aspects / “kind of tie,” but ultimately
  • British defeat the French and capture Pondicherry
• Ends with Treaty of Paris
  • British tell French not to occupy India; French may keep influence elsewhere.

Leadership named

• British: Sir Eyre Coote (spelled as “Sir Iron Coote” in the summary)
• French: Count Lally

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Bengal: why Plassey and Buxar happened (political/administrative chain)

After Mughal decline

• Independent kingdoms rise: Bengal, Awadh, Hyderabad.

Mughal authorization & “Golden Farman”

• 1717: Farrukh Siyar issues the Golden Farman
  • British get duty-free/tax-free trade and privileges (including passes/signatures).
  • Misuse/abuse by company workers is implied later.

Siraj-ud-Daula’s conflict

• Ali Vardi Khan → later successor: Siraj-ud-Daula
• Siraj-ud-Daula asks the British to restart paying taxes based on rules, since the Golden Farman issuer is no longer ruling.
• British respond by:
  • Fortifying Fort William
  • Continuing actions inside his kingdom without permission

Black Hole tragedy

• During conflict, surviving prisoners die due to confinement in Fort William (called “black hole tragedy”).

Betrayal and Plassey

• Robert Clive takes help of Mir Jafar.
• Mir Jafar is described as aligned against Siraj-ud-Daula.
• Clive promises Mir Jafar the Nawabship of Bengal if they defeat Siraj-ud-Daula.
• Result: Siraj-ud-Daula defeated, British win.

Buxar sequence

• Mir Jafar fails (speaker says “not proving capable”).
• British make Mir Qasim Nawab of Bengal.
• Mir Qasim joins:
  • Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh)
  • Mughal emperor Shah Alam II
• Battle of Buxar led by Hector Munro
• 1764: battle occurs
• 1765: Treaty of Allahabad
  • Separate arrangements for:
    • Shah Alam II: civil/revenue arrangements; payment amounts mentioned
    • Shuja-ud-Daula: prisoner release + compensation

Dual government in Bengal

• British take “civil rights” and “Nizamat functions,” with a continuing Mughal figure.
• Warren Hastings abolishes dual government in 1772.

Outcome highlighted

• British win both Plassey and Buxar, leading to expansion and supremacy.

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Mysore: wars and subsidiary alliance

• Original rule: Wodeyar dynasty (Hindu royal dynasty).
• Hyder Ali rises and increasingly replaces it through military power.

• Four Anglo–Mysore wars (timeline as stated):

  1. 1767–1769: Mysore wins; ends Treaty of Madras
  2. Hyder Ali dies; Tipu Sultan continues; ends Treaty of Mangalore (tie described)
  3. Mysore defeats British; ends Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792
  4. Tipu Sultan dies; then Mysore is brought under subsidiary alliance

• Subsidiary alliance

  • Introduced in 1798 by Wellesley (Wellesley named in the summary; French idea-origin is referenced via Duplex/Dupleix).
  • Followed by:
    • Hyderabad (1798)
    • Mysore (1799)
    • Tanjore (1799)
    • Awadh (1801)
    • Peshawar (1802)

Meaning of subsidiary alliance (as explained)

• A British officer stays in the ruler’s court; British can interfere in internal affairs.
• The ruler must remove their own army; keep British army instead.
• The ruler cannot enter treaties with others (including European powers) without British permission.
• British guarantees protection if attacked.

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Marathas: causes and three major war phases (with treaties)

Context

• Marathas weakened after Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
• British exploit disintegration and succession rivalries.

First Anglo–Maratha War

• Treaty of Surat (1765): Raghunath Rao aligns with British; British promise support (Salsette/Bassein mentioned).
• Marathas initially defeat British in some engagements (speaker notes “Marathas won”).
• Ends with Treaty of Salbai (1782).

Second Anglo–Maratha War

• Begins with Treaty of Bassein (1802).
• Time: 1803–1806
• British led by Arthur Wellesley.
• Ends through multiple treaties; main one mentioned: Treaty of Mandsaur.
• Separate treaties with different chiefs:
  • Holkar: Rajghat treaty (Indore)
  • Bhosale: Devgaon treaty (Nagpur)
  • Scindia: another treaty mentioned

Third Anglo–Maratha War

• Linked to Pindari War
  • Pindaris described as a mixed group (Hindus, Muslims, Afghans, Sikhs, Jats).
  • They raid; British suppress them.
• Bajirao II (Peshwa) disagrees; British tighten control.
• War: 1817–1818
• Ends with Treaty of Mandsaur
• Maratha power effectively ends; Peshwa sent to Bithoor (Kanpur) with pension.

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Punjab / Sikhs

• Ranjit Singh rules Punjab.
  • Mentioned: 12 misls; Ranjit Singh from Shukrachariya Misl.
• Treaty of Amritsar (1809)
  • Sutlej River becomes boundary:
    • British below Sutlej
    • Sikh kingdom above
  • No immediate war due to Ranjit Singh’s strength.
• After Ranjit Singh dies (1839), British attack.

Anglo–Sikh wars

• First Anglo-Sikh War
  • Treaty of Lahore (1845) after war (mentions Treaty of Bhaironwal).
• Second Anglo-Sikh War
  • Beginning associated with Battle of Aliwal (1846)
  • British under Dalhousie take control.

Leadership notes

• Harding mentioned for the first war period.
• Dalhousie for the second.

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Afghans: Anglo–Afghan wars and the Russian factor

Reasons given (as stated)

• British have limited direct interest in Afghanistan.
• Russian influence increasing
  • British fear Russia may reach Afghanistan and then threaten India.

First Anglo–Afghan War (1839–1842)

• British under Auckland (speaker also contrasts with John Lawrence).
• Support/installation of Shah Shuja
• Replacement of Dost Mohammad
• Policy of “Masterly Inactivity” attributed to John Lawrence.

Second Anglo–Afghan War

• Governor-General: Lytton
• Treaty of Gandamak signed
• Speaker notes there is no clear British victory.

Third Anglo–Afghan War (1919)

• Final conflict mentioned; linked to reforms in Britain/India governance.
• References Montague–Chelmsford reforms and “Viceroy Chelmsford” (spelling may vary in the summary).

Additional note: Anglo–Nepal war

• Speaker says “no good Nepalese” in that context (not part of the main series).
• Runs 1814–1816, ends with Treaty of Sugauli.

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Anglo–Burmese wars (Myanmar)

• First Anglo–Burmese War (1824–1826)
  • Ends with Treaty of Yandaboo
  • British leader: Archibald Campbell (spelled “Arkiba Campbell” in summary)
• Second Anglo–Burmese War
  • Starts 1852
  • Governor-General: Dalhousie
• Third war
  • Happening in 1885 (speaker says not as important, but confirms existence)

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Speakers / sources featured (as named)

• Parmar SSC / FRB 2.0
• Vasco da Gama, Zamorin, Christopher Columbus
• Francisco de Almeida, Afonso de Albuquerque
• Queen Elizabeth I, Captain William Hawkins
• Jahangir, Thomas Roe
• Mir Jafar, Siraj-ud-Daula, Robert Clive
• Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, Shah Alam II
• Hector Munro, Warren Hastings
• Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan
• Wellesley (Arthur Wellesley / Duke of Wellington), Dupleix
• Raghunath Rao, Nana Phadnavis, Mahatji Shinde
• Bajirao II, Ranjit Singh
• Harding, Dalhousie
• Auckland, John Lawrence, Lytton
• Count Lally, Sir Eyre Coote
• Archibald Campbell
• Farrukh Siyar
• Dost Mohammad, Shah Shuja
• Montague–Chelmsford / Montague and Chelmsford (reforms referenced)