East India Company, 1600-1709

Historical Context Essay

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Originally chartered in 1600, from 1707 to 1857 the East India Company was to play a crucial role in the political and economic life of Britain, and indeed of the world. It provided a spectacular example of the productivity of trade in general and the colonial trade in particular; a rich source of funds for the state and individuals, a driving force in the creation of new maritime technologies and military, financial and technical instruments. Globally it was the East India Company which prepared the way for the British Empire and Commonwealth. Locally it contributed to the growth of Calcutta and Bombay, and the development and enrichment of London and its trading institutions to a position of world dominance.

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Citation: Clark, Robert. "East India Company, 1600-1709". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 January 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=303, accessed 19 March 2024.]

303 East India Company, 1600-1709 2 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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