EIC INVOLVEMENT IN INDIA [TOPIC 2}

Question 1

When and why was the British East India Company (EIC) founded, and how did it begin trade with India? (Paragraph 1)

Answer 1

• The British East India Company (EIC) was founded in 1600 with permission to trade with India.
• The first British ship arrived near Surat in 1608, and by 1612, the Mughals officially permitted them to trade.
• The EIC set up headquarters in Bombay in 1674 and Calcutta in 1690, laying the foundation for long-term involvement in the Indian Subcontinent.

Question 2

What were the main economic reasons the EIC became involved in India? (Paragraph 1)

Answer 2

• The East India Company was driven by the enormous wealth of India.
• Trade and profit were their primary goals, as Indian goods like spices, silk, cloth, cotton, and metalwork were in high demand in Europe.
• British factories also needed raw materials like cotton, while Indian markets were ideal for selling British industrial products.
• These profitable trade opportunities encouraged the EIC to keep expanding.

Question 3

How successful was the EIC in trade by the early 1600s, and how did this affect their involvement in India? (Paragraph 1)

Answer 3

• By 1620, the EIC had around 40 ships engaged in trade with India, showing their rapid success.
• The company made huge profits, which encouraged them to expand further.
• Cheaply available Indian soldiers were hired to protect trade operations, making it easier and more profitable to maintain their presence in the subcontinent.

Question 4

What religious and cultural motives contributed to the EIC’s involvement in India, according to historians? (Paragraph 2)

Answer 4

• Historian S.M. Burk noted that spreading Christianity was also a key reason for British involvement.
• Churches and chapels were established, and missionaries arrived to promote Christianity.
• The British also aimed to westernize the Indian population, believing their Western culture was superior and should be spread throughout the world.

Question 5

How did competition with other European powers influence the EIC’s involvement in the Indian Subcontinent? (Paragraph 3)

Answer 5

• The Portuguese and Dutch were already active in the region, but their focus on the East Indies left India more open.
• This motivated the EIC to strengthen its position in the subcontinent, both for trade and to assert regional dominance.
• They also realized the strategic importance of India’s location for global naval supremacy and control of trade routes.

Question 6

What geopolitical concerns led the British to increase their presence in India? (Paragraph 3)

Answer 6

• The British feared Russian expansion and saw India as a key region to counter this threat.
• This concern prompted the EIC to secure not only India but also Afghanistan, ensuring British control of critical areas and limiting the influence of rival powers.