East India Company

EIC beginnings

• founded 31 Dec 1600

• based in London

• trade company

EIC power

• in just over 40 years, masters of almost all the subcontinent with inhabitants 50-60mil

• Larger in size and population of the biggest european countries

• 1803 - captured Mughal capital of Delhi

• 200 000 in military (twice the size of British army)

• 1825 - parliament started opposing EIC due to its dangerous power

EIC & opium

• transported opium to China & fought the opium wars

• Seized a base in Hong Kong to safeguard its monopoly

EIC & Boston

• Shipped chinese tea to Boston which was subsequently poured into the harbour. Fear that EIC would take part of the war by being deployed by UK

EIC & bloodshed

• 10 May 1857 - massive rebellion against employers

• 9 uncertain months, but eventually EIC crushes the revolution

• 10 000s suspected rebels killed along the bazaar towns along the Ganges river

Famines: Bangalore (1876), Jabalpur (1896), Bengal (1943) and MANY more

Caused by policies made by the EIC, particularly:
- focus on cash crops rather than food crops
- revenue policies
- exportation of food
- slow/poor response to famine & continuation of policies after EIC’s rule