Bengal's Famine of 1770: The Great Hunger That Broke an Empire

In 1770, Bengal—the richest province of British India—was devastated by a famine that killed an estimated ten million people, roughly one-third of its population. This episode explores the origins, scale, and aftermath of the Great Bengal Famine, focusing on the role of British East India Company policies that prioritized revenue over relief. Lucas and Luna discuss the confluence of drought, British tax demands, and the hoarding of grain by Company officials and Indian merchants. They examine the impact on agriculture, the collapse of Bengal's textile industry, and the famine's contribution to the deindustrialization of the region. The episode also touches on the response—or lack thereof—by officials like Warren Hastings and the lasting consequences for British rule in India. Specific figures such as John Company's revenue demands, the role of zamindars, and the eventual parliamentary inquiries are covered. The conversation ends with a reflection on how the famine reshaped Bengal's economy and society, setting the stage for future tensions. #GreatBengalFamine1770 #WarrenHastings #EastIndiaCompany #BengalFamine #BritishRaj #RevenueCollection #Zamindar #Murshidabad #Drought #Deindustrialization #CompanyRaj #HistoricalFamines #ColonialPolicy #IndianHistory #SouthAsia #FexingoHistory #History #EconomicHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo