When Vasco Da Gama landed the first time in India in 1498 he marked the beginning of the Portuguese monopoly in shipping to and from Asia which persisted during the entire 16th century.1 During this century the other European nations showed an increased interest in orientating at this area, but the motives were quite complex. One considered reason is simply a nationalistic one, namely that the nations wanted to outdo the Portuguese.2 Others wished to land in India for religious reasons to spread the Christianity and surround the Islamic powers of that region.3 Other factors behind the wish to go to the eastern seas were plunder and piracy. Furthermore there was an enormous interest and thirst for knowledge and adventure in that unknown area which led to some voyages.4
Due to the first travels there was a growing demand in the English society for the Indian goods like ceramics, silk, spices and precious stones, especially in the elite class. Beside that, these products symbolized a way to quick riches for the business men and intermediaries who handled with that merchandise.5 Therefore, after 1600 a growing number of countries, represented by chartered companies, tried to take part in the commercial venture of Indian trade.6 One of these trading companies was the British East India Company (BEIC), which was founded and provided with a royal charter that guaranteed the exclusive rights on trades with the East Indies to the company in 1600.7 During its history the BEIC passed through a significant change from a mere trading company to a territorial power.[...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The BEIC as a mere trading company
- Changed conditions for the BEIC
- Determining years
- Post-war time
- Final years
- Summary
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to examine the transition of the British East India Company (BEIC) from a trading company to a territorial power. It will explore the factors that led to this change and its impact on the company's subsequent development.
- The BEIC's early years as a trading company
- The changing circumstances that led to the BEIC's rise as a colonial power
- The BEIC's expansion and its interactions with other European powers
- The impact of the BEIC's colonial activities on India
- The eventual decline and eventual dissolution of the BEIC
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the historical context surrounding the BEIC's rise, highlighting the Portuguese monopoly in trade with Asia and the motivations of other European nations in seeking a presence in the region.
- The BEIC as a mere trading company: This chapter delves into the early years of the BEIC, its founding as a joint-stock company, and its initial voyages led by James Lancaster.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this work include the British East India Company, colonial expansion, trading company, territorial power, India, European powers, trade, and the rise of colonial empires.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Hammer (Author), 2010, 1748-1763: The British East India Company in transition - from a trading company to a colonial power, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/183535
