In the sixteenth century the English started trade with the east. The
English had to pay high prices for goods bought from the east. Lured by the
Portuguese profits the English too wished to have their share of wealth and
profits. Attaining power in this area would result in getting goods at
prices they decide. Besides this the defeat of the Spanish Armada had made
England the mistress of the seas. In 1500 a group of merchants under the
Chairman ship of Lord Mayor formed an association in London to trade with India.
In 1600 Queen Elizabeth granted a charter to the governor at a company of
merchants to trade freely with the countries of the east. Voyages were made to
South East Asia to trade in spices. Attention towards India was diverted due to
the Dutch influence in the Spice islands and getting raw materials for the
English. The vast Indian mainland could be a market for the finished goods. The
voyage to India was led by Captain Hawkins. He landed
at the west coast of Surat and succeeded to get some trade concession for the
company from Emperor Jahangir. He also secured permission to set up a factory at
Surat. The Portuguese influence in the Mughal Court proved a obstacle to the
English trade. In 1612 Captain Best defeated the Portuguese fleet near Surat
thus reducing their influence. He secured permission for building of a factory
at Surat. In 1615 King James I of England sent Sir Thomas Roe as his
ambassador to the court of Jahangir, and secured permission for the company to
set up factories. Thus factories were set up at Ahmedabad, Broach and Agra.
In 1661 the
company obtained Bombay from Charles II and converted it to a flourishing centre
of trade. By 1687, its was the most well established settlement of the Company
on the west coast of India. In 1611 factories were set up on the east coast at
Masaulipatam. In 1540 Fancis Day built a fortified factory called Fort St.
George beside which the town of Madras flourished. English settlements rose in
Orissa and Bengal. In 1633, in the Mahanadi delta of Hariharpur at Balasore in
Orissa, factories were set up. In 1650 Gabriel Boughton an employee of the
Company obtained a license for trade in Bengal. An English factory was set up in
1651 at Hugli. Various factors besides the lack of a political authority in
India encouraged the company to unleash a vigorous policy of trade. The
disintegrating Mughal empire had excited the English. At a petty pretext during
the rule of Aurangazeb, the British brought a fleet from England and attacked
Hugli. Aurangazeb attacked the English settlements and, captured their
settlements at Patna, Cassim Bazar, Masaulipatam and Vizagapatanam. The superior
English navy avoided the progress of the Mughals and found it wise to conclude
peace on the conditions imposed by Aurangazeb. In 1690 Job Charnock established
a factory. In 1698 the factory was fortified and called Fort William. The
villages of Sutanati, Kalikata and Gobindpore were developed into a single area
called Calcutta. In 1717 Emperor Farukhiyar permitted duty free trade. In
Gujarat and Madras too they secured concessions. The company at Bombay
minted rupees to be circulated in India.
Owing to the economic factors at England and the discredited
submission to the terms of Aurangazeb, a rival trading company was established
called General Society. A compromise between the two companies on common trade
saved the East India Company in 1702.
at the west coast of Surat and succeeded to get some trade concession for the
company from Emperor Jahangir. He also secured permission to set up a factory at
Surat. The Portuguese influence in the Mughal Court proved a obstacle to the
English trade. In 1612 Captain Best defeated the Portuguese fleet near Surat
thus reducing their influence. He secured permission for building of a factory
at Surat. In 1615 King James I of England sent Sir Thomas Roe as his
ambassador to the court of Jahangir, and secured permission for the company to
set up factories. Thus factories were set up at Ahmedabad, Broach and Agra.
he
company obtained Bombay from Charles II and converted it to a flourishing centre
of trade. By 1687, its was the most well established settlement of the Company
on the west coast of India. In 1611 factories were set up on the east coast at
Masaulipatam. In 1540 Fancis Day built a fortified factory called Fort St.
George beside which the town of Madras flourished. English settlements rose in
Orissa and Bengal. In 1633, in the Mahanadi delta of Hariharpur at Balasore in
Orissa, factories were set up. In 1650 Gabriel Boughton an employee of the
Company obtained a license for trade in Bengal. An English factory was set up in
1651 at Hugli. Various factors besides the lack of a political authority in
India encouraged the company to unleash a vigorous policy of trade. The
disintegrating Mughal empire had excited the English. At a petty pretext during
the rule of Aurangazeb, the British brought a fleet from England and attacked
Hugli. Aurangazeb attacked the English settlements and, captured their
settlements at Patna, Cassim Bazar, Masaulipatam and Vizagapatanam. The superior
English navy avoided the progress of the Mughals and found it wise to conclude
peace on the conditions imposed by Aurangazeb. In 1690 Job Charnock established
a factory. In 1698 the factory was fortified and called Fort William. The
villages of Sutanati, Kalikata and Gobindpore were developed into a single area
called Calcutta. In 1717 Emperor Farukhiyar permitted duty free trade. In
Gujarat and Madras too they secured concessions. The company at Bombay
minted rupees to be circulated in India.
