Rather than the British ruling whole of India, what if Germany or predecessor German state have managed to conquer and rule India instead? However, was it really plausible and can be done?
No. Germany was too divided and did not have any good acces to the sea.However, was it really plausible and can be done?
Rather than the British ruling whole of India, what if Germany or predecessor German state have managed to conquer and rule India instead? However, was it really plausible and can be done?
This could work, especially if they were able to better incorporate the Netherlands into their holdings. They would have to beat out the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and slowly establish trading posts and small holdings in India. They may also need to do their best to keep the Netherlands from going Protestant, which would be pretty difficult but not fully impossible.If the Habsburgs manage to keep the Netherlands (maybe not inheriting Spain), that's a whole lot of coastline and economic base to at least start them off.
If the Habsburgs manage to keep the Netherlands (maybe not inheriting Spain), that's a whole lot of coastline and economic base to at least start them off.
... and another large region of Continental concerns and animosity/rivalry from other European powers to suck up their resources and attention. A Habsburg Empire of that size would have everybody in Europe trying to snatch off fringe peices andprices and undermine that stiffling hegemony. Geography is against anything in the center of Europe from being free enough from other problems and the eyes of competition to take on giant colonial ventures