Early Modern Indians

When did Indians start arriving in Britain?

Indians began arriving after 1600.

What was the primary reason for the arrival of Indians in Britain?

The creation of the East India Company, which facilitated trade between Britain and India.

What significant event occurred in 1608 related to the East India Company?

The East India Company sent its first ships on a voyage to India.

What year marks the first record of an Indian in Britain?

1616.

How did the expansion of the East India Company affect Indian employment?

Indians worked on ships returning to Britain and wealthy families brought back ayahs and other servants.

What challenges exist in understanding the lives of Indians in Britain?

Most worked as servants, and their treatment varied widely depending on the family they served.

How were Indians sometimes depicted in British society?

They were often portrayed as status symbols and objects of curiosity in paintings.

What do newspaper adverts suggest about the treatment of Indians?

Indians were sometimes treated as property and sold.

What was the primary occupation of most Indians during this period?

Most worked as servants.

What role did lascars play in relation to Indian products in Britain?

Lascars supported the trade of Indian products, increasing access to spices and tea in Britain.

What impact did the presence of Indians have on British access to goods?

They increased access to spices and tea that had not been seen in Britain previously.