Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire: A Synthesis of Transformation
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. Indian Society and the Making of the British Em...
The Collaboration of Capital: Indian Merchants and the Company Indian Society and the Making of the British
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" By selectively incorporating indigenous agents
: Indian mercantile capitalists often allied with British revenue entrepreneurs, providing the international linkages and financing that fueled the East India Company's early growth.