Timeline
1600 The East India Company is founded
 Sir Thomas Smythe Sir Thomas Smythe | At first the company is known as 'The Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies.' It is founded by a Royal Charter, signed by Queen Elizabeth I, on 31 December 1600. Sir Thomas Smythe is the Company's first Governor. |
1601 The voyages begin
 Early English to Malaiane phrasebook. Early English to Malaiane phrasebook | English ships set out for the Banda Islands to trade woollen cloth and silver for spices. There the English meet Arab, Turkish, Gujarati, Bengali, Malay and Chinese merchants. Traded goods include spices, drugs, silks, porcelain, precious stones, carpets, gourmet foods and perfumes. |
1623 Massacre at Amboina
 A Potuguese Carrack A Potuguese Carrack | The Dutch get to Bantam 6 years ahead of the English who arrived in 1602. Their own United East India Company (VOC) wants to monopolise European trade in fine spices. The VOC tries to prevent the English from trading directly with the Spice Islands of the Bandas and the Moluccas in eastern Indonesia, a source of valuable cloves, nutmegs and mace. In 1623, on the clove island of Amboina, the Dutch torture and execute English and Japanese traders. |
1640 The Company builds a trading centre at Madras
 Cloth merchant Cloth merchant | After the massacre at Amboina the Company concentrates on trade with India. From its base in Madras, the Company ships Indian cottons to other countries in the East Indies. There the fabrics are traded for spices. |
1690 The Company builds trading centres in Calcutta
 Fort William, Calcutta. Fort William, Calcutta. | There is a great demand for all kinds of gorgeous Indian textiles in Europe. Indian craftsmen produce many beautiful textiles for the Company: cottons, silks, muslins and embroidered quilts. While these workers suffer the effects of famine, war and poverty, the Company grows rich on the profits of the textile trade. |
1697 London weavers attack East India House
 The old East India House in London. The old East India House in London. | Weavers, dyers and linen drapers in England protest that imports of Indian cloth are threatening their own industries. Initially, the Company responds by re-exporting Asian textiles to other countries in Europe. But market forces soon overshadow the cries of protesters, and Asian textiles continue to be hugely popular in England throughout the 18th century. |
1699 Trade with China
 Canton tea warehouse Canton tea warehouse | The Company begins to trade with Canton, importing silk, tea and porcelain from China. In England, the demand for tea booms, and by the late 1700s tea accounts for more than 60 per cent of the Company's total trade. Having initially traded tea for silver, the English are concerned that too much silver is leaving their shores. They begin to trade the illegal and highly addictive drug opium, introducing a widespread drug problem in China. Millions of Chinese will die from the drug as a result. |
1717 custom duties were completely waived for the trade for East India Company
1757 Battle of Plassey
 Robert Clive Robert Clive | The strength of the wealthy Mughal Empire weakens, and wars break out between different districts of India. Robert Clive, a Company member, recaptures Calcutta from Siraj-ud-Daulah, Nawab of Bengal at the Battle of Plassey. The Company becomes responsible for the whole of Bengal, India's richest province. Once the Company takes control, land taxes triple and many Indians are left living in terrible poverty. Millions die in a famine, and over the next 2 decades, millions more are dispossessed of their land. |
1773 Warren Hastings becomes the first British governor-general in India
 Trial of Warren Hastings Trial of Warren Hastings | The British government is concerned about the way the Company is governing its Indian territories, and decides to curb its power. Warren Hastings is appointed as the first governor-general of India. He is charged with mismanagement in 1785. |
1813 The monopoly of all trade with India ends
 Political caricature Political caricature | The Company's sole trade with India is stopped but it continues to trade with China. |
1833 The end of the East India Company's trading days
 East India Docks, 1808 East India Docks, 1808 | During the East India Company's life about 4,600 ships voyages are made from London. The company is finally abolished in 1858 after a rebellion by its Bengali Army. |
1839 British East India Company captures Aden
1857 Indian rebellion of 1857: In India, the Mutiny of XI Native Cavalry of the Bengal Army in Meerut, revolt against the British East India Company.
1858 British Empire takes over powers & properties of the British East India Company (see also history of Bangladesh).
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