The East India Company: 1600-1858 (Tony Ashworth)

The East India Company was a British trading organization established in 1600 that grew into a powerful entity controlling large parts of India until 1858. Initially focused on trade, it gradually gained political and military power, influencing local rulers and establishing British dominance. The company's activities included trading spices, textiles, and other goods, but its expanded authority led to the colonization of India. In 1858, after the Indian Rebellion, the British government took direct control, ending the company's rule. The period reflects how commercial interests evolved into political control, shaping India's colonial history.