1. Geopolitics & History: Monsoon By: Josh Skinner

2. Began with the myth of Prince Henry the Navigator, who had an intense hatred for Islam, and organized attacks against Islamic bases in the early 1500’s. He diverted his attention toward (what he thought was) India, in order to stage more attacks. This inadvertently led to a Portuguese obsession with exploring the Indian Ocean. This strategy would also undermine the Arab middlemen in the spice trade. After Prince Henry died in 1460, Bartolomeu Dias was the first to sail around the African continent, but did not make it all the way to India. Vasco da Gama was the first to sail all the way into the India ocean in 1497. A year later, with the help of Omani navigator Ahmad ibnMajid, he because the first Westerner to successfully sail to India. By mapping out a sea route from Europe to Asia, the Portuguese ushered in a new era of trade possibilities and interest in the Indian Ocean. Portuguese Exploration in the East

3. Major-General in the British military Born Sept. 29, 1725 in Styche, Shropshire. Known as “Clive of India,” he was influential in establishing East India Company military and political dominance in Bengal. He became one of the key figures in the creation of the British Empire in India. Arrived in India in 1743 as a clerk for the Company, but soon chose military service and proved himself to be a brave military leader. In 1751, sieged Arcot with a small battalion and succeeded valiantly, pushing back the French presence in the area. When SirajudDoulah besieged Calcutta and massacred 200 British citizens, Clive attacked the Newab’s army, winning another resounding victory with just a small amount of troops. At this point, Bengal’s treasury came into British possession, further establishing British hegemony in Southern India. Robert Clive& The East Indian Trading Company

4. British statesman and imperialist. Born Jan. 11, 1859, at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire. After leaving Oxford in 1882, Curzon took an interest in traveling. He began a political career in 1885, and continued traveling extensively, focusing on Asia, and using the knowledge he acquired to write books about Russia, Persia, and the Far East. After years of working his way up the political ranks, he finally was chosen to be viceroy of India in 1898. This meant that he was in charge of the entire British administrative presence in the Indian empire. He was particularly firm on matters of domestic policy, and lenient in matters of foreign policy. Became particularly involved in the defense of the empire’s borders from Russian, Persian, Afghan, and Tibetan competition and expansion. George Nathaniel Curzon: Viceroy of India

5. The Strait of Malacca, located between the Indonesian Island of Malacca and Malaysia, is the heart of maritime Asia. Almost all of the shipping lanes between the Red Sea and the Sea of Japan converge here. The spheres of naval influence of India and China meet here, and the Indian Ocean joins the Western Pacific. Subsequently, this straight forms a vital choke point in world commerce. As global energy needs increase (over 50% by 2020), this Strait will become even more important, as it is the premiere shipping lane of oil and natural gas for all of East Asia. The Strait of Malacca