1. British East
India
Company

2. Founded in 1600
Formed initially for pursuing trade
with the East Indies (south,
southeast, and east Asia)
Mainly traded silk, cotton, indigo
dye, saltpetre, tea, and opium

3. Monopoly of Trade
The British East India company
was given a monopoly of trade
east of the Cape of Good Hope
(South Africa) and west of the
Straits of Magellan (Chile)

5. Foothold in India
Arranged a treaty with an Indian
emperor in 1615
Treaty guaranteed that the British
East India Company would not be
interfered with by rivals or locals

6. Letter to King James
“I have commanded all my governors and captains to
give them freedom answerable to their own desires;
to sell, buy, and to transport into their country at
their pleasure. For confirmation of our love and
friendship, I desire your Majesty to command your
merchants to bring in their ships of all sorts of
rarities and rich goods fit for my palace.”
- Mughal Emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir

7. International Conflicts
 Conflict with France (including the Seven
Years War)
 Resistance by local rulers in India
 Opium War with China (the company
smuggled opium into China)
 Boston Tea Party in the U.S. (U.S. merchants
protested the company’s lower prices on tea
due to not having to pay taxes)

9. Downfall
 Increased oversight by the British
government throughout the 1800s
 Various legislative acts were passed by the
British Parliament to maintain control over the
British East India Company
 Eventual nationalization of the company in
1858 occurred after the Indian Rebellion of
1857

10. British East India Company
Classwork
Write one paragraph explaining
which economic concept
(Imperialism? Capitalism?
Communism?) the British used
with regards to the British East
India Company.

11. British East India Company
Classwork (cont.)
Write one paragraph explaining
how you feel the British East India
company impacted India.