==Lack of a National Consciousness==
Nationalism is a modern phenomenon. In the eighteenth century, there was no real national identity in India. The many people in the Indian sub-continent did not regard themselves as Indians. It was only in the twentieth century that the people of the sub-continent had a sense of belonging to a nation. The majority of people identified with their tribe, clan ethnic group or religion. This meant that the peoples of the sub-continent were very divided among themselves. This allowed the British to use some of the natives to help them in running and governing the Empire. This is best seen in the British policies on the Indian army. The British East India Company regularly used native Indian troops in order to defend and expand their territory in the sub-continent. Without these Indian troops, it is highly unlikely that the British would ever have been able to establish their ascendency in the sub-continent. It was also a factor in the conquest of large areas of Asia and Africa by Europeans at this time and later <ref> Smith, Simon. ''British Imperialism 1750–1970 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1994), p 145</ref> . Furthermore, because there was a lack of unity among the Indians, they were more than willing to work with the British and to betray each other. The victory of the British at the Battle of Plassey was due to the treachery of one of the Nawab of Bengal's ally.(Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1998), p 78.</ref>. At one time or another, the various local rulers were allied with the British as they pursued their own political interests. The lack of national unity meant that the British were able to adopt a classic divine and rule policy. This all greatly facilitated the British piece-meal take-over of the lands of India until they had assumed a pre-eminence in the sub-continent<ref> Smith, p. 134</ref>.
[[File:400px-Warren Hastings by Tilly Kettle.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Warren Hastings]]
Nationalism is a modern phenomenon. In the eighteenth century, there was no real national identity in India. The many people in the Indian sub-continent did not regard themselves as Indians. It was only in the twentieth century that the people of the sub-continent had a sense of belonging to a nation. The majority of people identified with their tribe, clan ethnic group or religion. This meant that the peoples of the sub-continent were very divided among themselves. This allowed the British to use some of the natives to help them in running and governing the Empire. This is best seen in the British policies on the Indian army. The British East India Company regularly used native Indian troops in order to defend and expand their territory in the sub-continent. Without these Indian troops, it is highly unlikely that the British would ever have been able to establish their ascendency in the sub-continent. It was also a factor in the conquest of large areas of Asia and Africa by Europeans at this time and later <ref>Smith, Simon. ''British Imperialism 1750–1970'' (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1994), p 145.</ref> Furthermore, because there was a lack of unity among the Indians, they were more than willing to work with the British and to betray each other. The victory of the British at the Battle of Plassey was due to the treachery of one of the Nawab of Bengal's ally.<ref>Smith, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1998), p 78.</ref>. At one time or another, the various local rulers were allied with the British as they pursued their own political interests. The lack of national unity meant that the British were able to adopt a classic divine and rule policy. This all greatly facilitated the British piece-meal take-over of the lands of India until they had assumed a pre-eminence in the sub-continent.<ref>Smith, p. 134.</ref>
'''==Lack of Colonial Rivals'''==By the 1740s, the British were not the only Europeans in India. The Danes, Dutch, Portuguese and the French all had a presence in the region. These nations all have trading posts in the region and some such as the Portuguese had possession of some territories. The French had a particularly strong presence in the South of India and had a network of alliances with local rulers. However, none of their rivals was able to seriously challenge the British. They East Indian Company was able to defeat all of its rivals and become the sole and dominant power in India. They were able to do this for several reasons . <ref> Faught, p. 111.</ref>. Firstly, the British were able to draw on the some remarkable administrators, such as Warren Hastings and soldiers like Clive of India. The British were also able to draw on more resources that their competitors in India. They could draw on more ships and sailors and this allowed them to isolate their rivals in India and cut them off from their home countries and without supplies and reinforcements they were easily picked off or defeated by the British, this in particular was the main factor in their defeat of the French. The East India Company was also able to draw on the support of the Royal Navy the largest maritime force in the world, in the period. The British also had a lot more financial resources and they could assemble larger armies, often composed of native soldiers and this gave them a decisive military advantage . <ref>Bandyopadhyay, p. 78</ref>.These factors all meant that by at least the 1760's that the British were not to have any serious European rival for two centuries.
==Conclusion==
