ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

British Raj

The British Raj was a period of time when Britain ruled over India from 1858 to 1947. It all started with the East India Company, which was a trading company that was given permission by the Mughal Emperor to set up trade in India. The company slowly took over more and more of India until they ruled over the whole country.

The British government took over control from the East India Company after the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and India was officially declared a part of the British Empire. This meant that the British were in charge of India's laws, trade, and economy. India was divided into provinces, each with a British governor in charge.

During the Raj, Britain made many changes to India. They built roads, railways and factories, which made it easier for them to trade with the country. They also introduced Western education to India, and many Indians started going to British schools and universities. This eventually led to the growth of an educated Indian middle class.

However, the Raj wasn't all positive for Indians. The British treated Indians unfairly, and Indians weren't allowed to govern themselves. They were forced to work in poor conditions in factories, and they were often mistreated by their British employers. Indians also weren't allowed to participate in politics and weren't given the same rights as British citizens.

Many Indians protested against British rule, and one of the most famous was Mahatma Gandhi. He led a non-violent movement for India's freedom from the British Empire. The movement won support from people around the world, and eventually, Britain was forced to give up control of India in 1947.

Today, India is an independent nation and one of the largest democracies. Although the British Raj brought many positive changes, it was ultimately a period of colonialism and exploitation.