Map Showing the Carnatic Wars, 1754

The Carnatic Wars from the 1740s to 1760s would determine the fate of India for the rising Imperial powers. The East India Company would beat off a very strong challenge for political influence in India at this time. The Dutch stayed out of the conflict as it believed that it had the better economic prospects with the Spice Islands. They weren't to realise that the seeds of administration that would fall to the East India Company would turn it from a trading company to a hugely powerful institution in its own right with consistent returns from minimal investment.