Discuss the reasons for the expansion of the British East India Company in the Indian subcontinent up to the end of the Anglo-Maratha Wars.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for the expansion of the British East India Company in the Indian subcontinent up to the end of the Anglo-Maratha Wars. Reasons, such as European rivalries, may predate the timeframe, but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the Battle of Plassey, the Anglo-Mysore Wars and the Anglo-Maratha Wars, and the end result of the East India Company gaining control of most of India. They may identify that factors such as strategic interests; the Industrial Revolution in Britain; and demands for tea, cotton, silk, indigo, saltpetre and opium all created the desire for a monopoly of trade and markets. Other relevant factors may be addressed, for example, the activities of individuals such as Robert Clive and Warren Hastings may be considered, but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.