Textbook
History of Modern India
The old-NCERT modern India classic, from the decline of the Mughals to independence.
Fort St George, Madras
Colonial settlement
Level 2
1639 – 1858
Madras Presidency's seat.
- Region
- Coastal
- Duration
- 219 years
- Main period
- East India Company Rule
- Part of
- British East India Company
Approximate extent.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1639 | Fort St George founded at Madras | Chennai |
📚 Recommended reading on the Fort St George, Madras
Textbook
A Brief History of Modern India
The most-used exam book for modern India; dense, well organised and revision-friendly.
Reference
From Plassey to Partition and After
A balanced, analytical history of colonial India; excellent for Mains answers.
Popular history
The Anarchy
A gripping account of how a trading company conquered India.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Fort St George, Madras for a significant part of its history.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Nawabs of Bengal ★
East · 1717 – 1765
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Dutch Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1658 – 1796
Dutch Malabar (Cochin)
Coastal · 1663 – 1795
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Hotak Dynasty
Northwest · 1709 – 1738
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949