... the Portuguese and they extended their rights for trading spices, cotton, silk, sugar and opium. (2) In the 17th century, the French rulers, also, tried to establish trading companies in India and gradually expanded their commercial activities. Other countries like France, Netherlands and Portugal were also wanted to start trade with India. (3) In late 18th and early 19th centuries, English East India Company slowly started taking control of different parts of India. (4) As a result, the British were given revenue collecting rights and an indirect control over these states. Later, the British on one pretext or the other annexed a number of these states. One of the states annexed was that of Awadh. The Rani of Jhansi was the ruler of the state. Gradually and eventually, the British rule strengthened and in the early 19th century the Christian influence began to grow and Christian missionaries were brought in. ...

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