All of Burma comes under British rule with the fall of Mandalay, being annexed on January 1, 1886.

British rule brings social, economic, cultural and administrative changes.

Throughout the colonial era, many Indians will arrive as soldiers, civil servants, construction workers and traders and, along with the Anglo-Burmese community, will dominate commercial and civil life in Burma.

Rangoon becomes the capital of British Burma and an important port between Calcutta and Singapore.

The eighteenth century had seen Burmese rulers, whose country had not previously been of particular interest to European traders, seek to maintain their traditional influence in the western areas of Assam, Manipur and Arakan.

Pressing them, however, had been the British East India Company, which was expanding its interests eastwards over the same territory.

Over the next sixty years, diplomacy, raids, treaties and compromises had continued until, after three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824–1885), Britain proclaims control over most of Burma.