Final answer:
A political map of India from 1857 best illustrates the statement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The photo that best illustrates the statement "before East India gave control to the British Empire, it controlled a major portion of the Indian subcontinent" is a political map of India from 1857 (option d). This is because before the British Empire took control of India, the British East India Company ruled a large portion of the Indian subcontinent. A political map from 1857 would show the extent of the company's control.