<P> Because of its location, with trade routes between China and India passing straight through the country, Burma was kept wealthy through constant trade, although self - sufficient agriculture was still the basis of the economy . With the Indian merchants travelling along the coasts and along rivers (especially the Irrawaddy River) through the country, where the majority of Burmese lived, Indian cultural influences filtered into the country and still exist there today . It was also one of the first Southeast Asian countries to receive Buddhism, which went on to become the officially patronised religion . </P> <P> Before the British conquest and colonisation, the ruling Konbaung Dynasty practised a tightly centralised form of government . The king was the chief executive, with the final say on all matters, but he could not make new laws and could only issue administrative edicts . The country had two codes of law, the Rajathat and Dammathat, and the Hluttaw, the centre of government, was divided into three branches--fiscal, executive, and judicial . In theory the king was in charge of all of the Hluttaw but none of his orders got put into place until the Hluttaw approved them, thus checking his power . Further dividing the country, provinces were ruled by governors who were all appointed by the Hluttaw, and villages were ruled by hereditary headmen who were approved by the king . Burma was in a colony in over 50 years . </P> <P> Conflict began between Myanmar and the British when the Konbaung Dynasty decided to expand into Arakan in the state of Assam, close to the British possessions in India . This close contact led to the first Anglo - Burmese War (1824--26), which the British won with the aid of the Siamese . Myanmar was forced to cede Assam and other northern provinces . In 1852, the Second Anglo - Burmese War was provoked by the British who sought the teak forests in Lower Burma as well as a port between Calcutta and Singapore . The British were victorious in this war, and as a result desired access to the teak, oil and rubies of northern Myanmar . This prompted the Third Anglo - Burmese War in 1885 . The British government justified their actions by claiming that the last independent king of Myanmar, Thibaw Min, was a tyrant and that he was conspiring to give France more influence in the country . Thus, in 1885, after three wars gaining various parts of the country, the British finally occupied all the area of present - day Myanmar, making the territory a Province of British India . </P> <Table> Colonial India <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Imperial entities of India </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Dutch India </Th> <Td> 1605--1825 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Danish India </Th> <Td> 1620--1869 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> French India </Th> <Td> 1668--1954 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Portuguese India (1505--1961) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Casa da Índia </Th> <Td> 1434--1833 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Portuguese East India Company </Th> <Td> 1628--1633 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> British India (1612--1947) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> East India Company </Th> <Td> 1612--1757 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Company rule in India </Th> <Td> 1757--1858 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> British Raj </Th> <Td> 1858--1947 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> British rule in Burma </Th> <Td> 1824--1948 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Princely states </Th> <Td> 1721--1949 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Partition of India </Th> <Td> 1947 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Why did great britain want to colonize singapore and burma