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Trading Places: The East India Company and Asia
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* East India Company Timeline illustrative detail
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  - Sir Thomas Smythe, first governor of the East India Company   1600 The East India Company is founded.

To begin with it is called the Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies. It is founded by a Royal Charter, signed by Queen Elizabeth I, on 31 December 1600. Sir Thomas Smythe is the Company's first Governor.

         
  - Cover of "Dialogues in the English and Malaiane Languages"   1601 The Voyages begin.

English ships set out for the tiny Banda Islands to trade woollen cloth and silver for spices. The English traders meet Arab, Turkish, Gujarati, Bengali, Malay and Chinese merchants at the market. They all trade with goods from their own countries.

         
  - A Portuguese Carrack   1623 Massacre at Amboina.

The Dutch do not want to share their trade with the spice islands. The East India Company challenges this and on the clove island of Amboina the Dutch torture and execute English and Japanese traders.

         
  - A cloth merchant seated in his shop   1640 The Company builds a trading centre at Madras.

After the massacre at Amboina the Company concentrates on trade with India. From its base in Madras Indian cottons are shipped to the East Indies to buy spices.

         
  - Ships outside Bombay   1662 The Company takes over Bombay.

The Company grows in power. 5 new charters allow it to acquire land and to form armies to protect its trading centres. Its ships are armed against possible attacks from pirates.

         
  - Fort William, Calcutta   1690 The Company builds trading centres in Calcutta

There is a great demand for all kinds of gorgeous Indian textiles in England. Company servants grow rich on the profits of trade.

         
  - The old East India House, Leadenhall Street, London   1697 London weavers attack East India House

People in England protest that imports of Indian cloth are a threat to their own industries. This results in many Indian goods coming to London and being re-exported.

         
  - Scene in a tea warehouse at the Canton factories   1699 Trade with China

The Company begins to trade with Canton and imports silk, tea and porcelain. In England the demand for tea booms and by the late 1700s tea accounts for more than 60% of the Company's total trade.

         
  - Robert Clive receiving the diwani of Bengal   1757 Battle of Plassey

The strength of the wealthy Mughal Empire weakens and wars break out between different districts of India. Robert Clive, a Company member, recaptures Calcutta from Siraj-ud-Daulah, Nawab of Begal at the Battle of Plassey. The Company becomes responsible for India's richest province.

         
  - Admission ticket for the trial of Warren Hastings in Westminster Hall   1773 Warren Hastings becomes the first British governor-general in India

The British government is concerned about the way the Company is governing its Indian territories and decides to curb its power. It appoints Warren Hastings as the first governor-general. He is charged with mismanagement in 1785.

         
  - 'A Transfer of East India Stock', political caricature by James Sayer   1813 The monopoly of all trade with India ends

The Company's sole trade with India is stopped but it continues to trade with China.

         
  - A view of the East India Docks, by William Daniell, 1808   1833 The end of the East India Company's trading days

During the East India Company's life about 4,600 ships voyages were made from London. The company is finally abolished in 1858 after a rebellion by its Bengali Army.

   

 

 

   
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