Mumbai is a multi-cultural city located in India that was originally comprised of seven islands inhabited by fishing communities. Over many centuries, the islands were ruled by various Hindu dynasties and later the Muslim Gujarat Sultanate, before coming under Portuguese control in the 16th century. In 1668, the islands of Mumbai were gifted to the British East India Company, which transformed the area into a major trading port. Mumbai played a key role in India's independence movement and became the capital of Maharashtra state after its formation in 1960. Today, Mumbai is a global financial center and the heart of India's entertainment industry.