India has a long history and was once wealthy due to its natural resources. It was colonized by several European powers beginning in the 16th century. Today, India has a large population with high levels of poverty despite being one of the largest recipients of World Bank loans. Some historical artifacts of India's past wealth included the Peacock Throne and deforestation contributed to the decline. Improving economic conditions will require bringing back black money from abroad, promoting domestic production and exports, and utilizing India's large thorium reserves and workforce.