What country dominated the subcontinent of South Asia?

The British Empire dominated the subcontinent of South Asia from the mid-18th century until the mid-20th century. The British East India Company, a private trading company, began to establish a presence in South Asia in the early 17th century. By the mid-18th century, the company had become the dominant political and military power in the region. In 1858, the British government took direct control of India from the East India Company. British rule in India lasted until 1947, when the country gained independence.