How would the failure to assume control over India have affected Great Britain and the British Empire?
In the 1750's to 1800 timeframe, India was largely looted of its specie, bringing a great deal of liquidity to Britain, no doubt assisting their industrialization.
Afterword, favorable trade relations further expanded British industry.
If Britain had failed to conquer/absorb India, what might have been the result?
Would the American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary/Napoleonic Wars, etc have gone differently?
How about the Industrial Revolution and Britain's economic might of the 19th/20th centuries?
Certainly Colonialism, for all of Europe would have gone differently. India was a rare profitable colony. I've long held the philosophy that much of 19th century colonialism was a fad (keeping up with the Jones, as the saying goes) rather than a concrete economic requirement.
Feel free to expand, I'm trying to get a grasp on potential tails.
In the 1750's to 1800 timeframe, India was largely looted of its specie, bringing a great deal of liquidity to Britain, no doubt assisting their industrialization.
Afterword, favorable trade relations further expanded British industry.
If Britain had failed to conquer/absorb India, what might have been the result?
Would the American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary/Napoleonic Wars, etc have gone differently?
How about the Industrial Revolution and Britain's economic might of the 19th/20th centuries?
Certainly Colonialism, for all of Europe would have gone differently. India was a rare profitable colony. I've long held the philosophy that much of 19th century colonialism was a fad (keeping up with the Jones, as the saying goes) rather than a concrete economic requirement.
Feel free to expand, I'm trying to get a grasp on potential tails.