British East India Company

The British East India Company was a trading company established in 1600 to conduct trade in India and Southeast Asia. It played a crucial role in British colonial expansion and the economy by trading valuable goods like spices, tea, and cotton. Over time, the company gained significant political power, effectively ruling large parts of India by the 19th century. Its activities contributed to British colonization, but also sparked unrest and led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After the rebellion, the British government took control of India, marking the end of the company's rule.