British imperialism in India and South Asia forever changed the course of history, having both positive and negative effects on these nations and ultimately resulting in an imperialized system that limited freedom of citizens in India and India. brought enormous wealth to Britain. Imperialism is the policy of extending the rule of one country over other countries or colonies. In this sense, Britain took control of India and South Asia because it saw an opportunity for commercial superiority and was attracted by the potential these regions had. From the mid-18th to the 20th century, India was ruled by two different variants of British imperialism. Firstly through the British East India Company, perhaps the most powerful private trading entity the world has ever seen, and secondly through the direct control of the British government. The British East India Company came to dominate and control India for nearly two centuries, exploiting the nation's resources and rendering them economically and socially backward. These centuries of imperialism have resulted in many problems in India, including economic instability, social inequality, crime and political corruption. These factors dramatically altered their culture, forever changing India's potential future, mostly for the worse. Although the British made many changes that initially seemed to help the Indian population, such changes were irreparably harmful and left the nation defenseless and underdeveloped. By the late 16th century the British East India Company had established trading posts in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, dominating large areas of India and Southeast Asia. Although traders saw the potential of cheap labor and raw materials India possessed, they were... middle of paper... India was rendered incapable of progressing economically and socially due to their forced dependence on Britain which made the nation unstable. Today, Britain remains an advanced country with a stable economy and a strong government, while India is riddled with corruption, poverty and crime. British involvement in India forever changed the course of history and ultimately determined the world we know today. While the British managed to thrive in this imperialized society, the most basic rights to freedom and equality were stripped from Indian citizens for centuries. British imperialism in India allowed Europeans and even the peoples of the Americas to prosper with valuable goods from India, while the Indian peoples were rendered helpless at the greedy hands of stronger nations who believed they were superior and had the upper hand. right to take whatever they wanted. Indian citizens.