The British first landed in India in Surat for the purpose of trade. Here’s how and why a simple trading company, the British East India Company, became one of the biggest challenges the subcontinent had ever dealt with. The British landed in India in Surat on August 24, 1608.
In which city was East India Company established?
The company established its first Indian factory in 1611 at Masulipatnam on the Andhra Coast of the Bay of Bengal; and a second at Surat in 1612. The high profits reported by the company after landing in India initially prompted James I to grant subsidiary licences to other trading companies in England.
Who first came to India?
Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama becomes the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean when he arrives at Calicut on the Malabar Coast. Da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, in July 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and anchored at Malindi on the east coast of Africa.
What is the richest company in history?
Top 10 Most Valuable Companies of All Time
- Dutch East India Company: $8.28 trillion.
- Mississippi Company: $6.8 trillion.
- South Sea Company: $4.5 trillion.
- Saudi Aramco: $1.89 trillion.
- Apple: $1.3 trillion.
- PetroChina: $1.24 trillion.
- Microsoft: $1.2 trillion.
- Standard Oil: more than $1 trillion.
Who Ruled India most?
List of largest empires in India
| Empire | Approximate maximum extent (Area in km²) | Approximate date of maximum extent |
|---|---|---|
| British Raj | 4,574,000 | 1911 |
| Mughal Empire | 4,000,000 | 1690 |
| Maurya Empire | 3,400,000–5,000,000 | 261 BC or 250 BC |
| Republic of India (for comparison) | 3,287,263 | – |
Was India rich before British rule?
In 1900-02, India’s per capita income was Rs 196.1, while it was just Rs 201.9 in 1945-46, a year before India got its independence. During this period, the per capita income rose to maximum Rs 223.8 in 1930-32.