THE ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY

Presented by:

Abhiijit

Beginning

• Company was granted English Royal Charter under the name ‘Governor and Company of Merchants of London’ by Elizabeth-1 on 16th December 1600AD

• Main aim was to find a market for English cotton and compete with the Dutch and Spanish Armada over Spices.

Arrival in India

• 1612 AD established factories in Surat with the permission of Emperor Jahangir.

• They continued their trading activity for a few years from here and later on expanded their area to Chennai, Mumbai and Calcutta.

Expansion

• First Expansion was in 1639 at Chennai.

• Sir Francis Day along with the company established a Trading Post and St.George fort

Expansion….

• In 1668 The Islands of Mumbai was leased to the British as dowry by the Portuguese.

• Coastal area provided strategic importance to the Company’s trade.

Expansion….

• In 1690 Job Charnock, an agent of the British East India Company, established a trading fort nearby named Fort William

• The British called the settlement Kalikata (Calcutta), an Anglicized version.

Three Trading Posts.

Commercial.

• The East India Company wasn’t concerned about the local needs.

• It’s main aim was to make profits.

• A large chunk of the profits went to the Queen.

• Thus it’s commercial motive made it a successful business enterprise.

Events

• Battle of Plassey

• Battle of Buxar

• Revolt of 1857

• Anglo-Maratha wars.

Battle of Plassey

• 23rd June 1757.

• Against the Nawab of Bengal and it’s French allies.

• British emerged victorious

Robert Clive

• The EIC’s force of armed guards was growing into an army; Clive joined them as an officer and that a great influence.

• In 1751 Clive led 500 men against 10,000 French & Indian soldiers and won.

• Clive led the EIC’s army to victory many more times, forcing the French out and making the East India Company very powerful – it wasn’t the British government taking over India – it was a British business!

Battle of Buxar

• 2nd October 1764

• Between forces under British East India Company and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam-2

Anglo-Maratha wars

• Series of three wars starting from 1775 – 1819.

• The third war was fought between 1817–1819.

• It gave the British almost the entire control of India.

Downfall

• Shattering Revolt of the Bengal Army in 1857.

• This laid the base for the end of 231 year trade of the East India Company in India.

• In 1858 the British Crown assumed the mantle of British Raj.

Effect on Administration

• Civil Service

• Army

• Judicial Framework

• Social

• Land Revenue policy.

Judicial

• Warren Hastings.

• Establishment of Judicial courts.

1. Diwani Adalat

2. Nizamat Adalat

3. Sardar Diwani

4. Sardar Nizamat

• Rule of Law.

Social

• William Bentinck played a vital role in abolishing cruel practices under the name of religion.

• Assisted by Raja Rammohan Roy

Summary

• Arrival and Expansion

• Impact on the common man.

• The Industry culture.

• Execution and commercial success.

• Change in the system.

Remarkable Enterprise

Present Owner:

Sanjiv Mehta.

References

• History Textbook of SYJC• www.theeastindiacompany.com• www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/British/EAco.html

• www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/.../East-India-Company

• www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/eic.html

• www.fathom.com/course/21701760/session4.html