The most important factor in the British conquest of India during the eighteenth century was the
A) superiority of British weapons.
B) willingness of the British government to pay for an invasion.
C) political disunity of India.
D) addiction of millions of Indians to opium.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The political disunity of India, with numerous small kingdoms and no centralized power, made it easier for the British to divide and conquer. They could take advantage of pre-existing tensions and rivalries between Indian rulers and offer support to one group against another. The British did possess advanced weaponry, but this alone would not have been enough to conquer such a vast territory. The British government was not willing to fund an invasion of India, as the East India Company was a private trading company that financed its own operations. Opium addiction also played a role in British influence in India, but it was not the most important factor in the conquest.

The Most Important Factor in the British Conquest of India