The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a transformative uprising that shook British rule in South Asia. Sparked in May 1857 by mutinous sepoys ((from Persian sepāhī, for soldier)) of the East India Company in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, the revolt quickly escalated into a widespread insurrection fueled by grievances over religion, land policy, and economic exploitation. While northern India erupted in violence,with Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow as major centers of resistance, the presidencies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras remained largely unaffected, reflecting regional divisions within the subcontinent.
The rebellion lasted until 1858, leaving tens of thousands dead on both sides and brutally suppressed by British and loyalist forces. Though it failed militarily, its consequences were profound: the East India Company was abolished, India came under direct Crown rule, and British authorities tightened control while cautiously reforming aspects of governance to prevent recurrence. For many Indian nationalists, however, 1857 marked the “First War of Independence,” a foundational moment in the long struggle against colonial domination.
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Map of the British Conquest in India c. 1857
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APA Style
Netchev, S. (2022, October 07). Map of the Indian Rebellion (Sepoy Mutiny) of 1857. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16491/map-of-the-indian-rebellion-sepoy-mutiny-of-1857/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Indian Rebellion (Sepoy Mutiny) of 1857." World History Encyclopedia, October 07, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16491/map-of-the-indian-rebellion-sepoy-mutiny-of-1857/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Indian Rebellion (Sepoy Mutiny) of 1857." World History Encyclopedia, 07 Oct 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16491/map-of-the-indian-rebellion-sepoy-mutiny-of-1857/.
