Question

How did internal conflict help Europeans to gain control of Ceylon?

a) Formation of a strong central government
b) Support from neighboring empires
c) Exploitation of local divisions
d) Implementation of democratic reforms

Answer 1

European control over Ceylon was bolstered by the exploitation of local divisions within the region, allowing them to gain a foothold and ultimately exert control.

Step-by-step explanation:

The internal conflict within Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka, facilitated European colonization, particularly by the Dutch and the British. The Europeans exploited local divisions and fought against fractured native kingdoms to secure control. Unlike the options suggesting the formation of strong central government or support from neighboring empires, it was the exploitation of local divisions that aided European control over Ceylon, essentially option (c). This pattern of colonization was echoed throughout different parts of Asia, including the British Raj's creation as a result of the British East India Company's inability to prevent unrest and the chaos ensuing from internal conflicts among Indian states.