The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600 [Hardcover]

Antony Wild (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Here is a historical chronicle of the most powerful corporation in world history, beautifully illustrated with full-color paintings, photographs, and maps. Established by Royal Charter in 1600, the East India Company was, and remains to this day, the largest and most powerful multinational business the world has ever seen. It controlled over half the world's trade and a quarter of its population. It singlehandedly ruled India, raised its own army and navy, minted its own currency, and traded with every corner of the globe. It also trafficked in opium, greed, and brutal oppression, sowing the seeds that would lead to its downfall-and absorption by the British Crown.

The East India Company describes how "the Honourable Company" created its extraordinary trading empire by introducing an exotic cache of tea, silks, porcelain, cashmere, and spices to a luxury-starved England. It also explains how the company conducted its day-to-day business at home and in the East, through colorful figures such as Captain James Skinner and John Nicholson; how the opulent daily life of East India Company rulers amongst the ruled led to "the Mutiny"; and why India's first war of independence spelled an end not only to the company itself, but, eventually, to an entire empire.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his four previous books Wild, director and historian of the resurgent East India Company, concentrated on products from the company's glory days--coffee, tea, chocolate, and spices. This book goes one step further and serves as a reminder of the company's complex history. Chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, it rose to dominate world trade by the mid-18th century, then fell from grace and power following the India Mutiny of 1857. This book tells its story with an unvarnished honesty. Of special note is the author's description of the opulent lifestyles that company employees led in India, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, and the Middle East. Of equal import are his observations on the impact of the Treaty of Tordesillas, Drake's defeat of the Spanish Armada, the search for the Northwest and Northeast passages, the Black Hole of Calcutta, the Boston Tea Party, and the British reliance on piracy. Richly illustrated with over 160 maps, pictures, and photographs, this is recommended for both larger public and academic libraries.
-Norman B. Hutcherson, Kern Cty. Lib., Bakersfield, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In his third book about the East India Company, Wild, one of its present directors, chooses facts and period illustrations to support his tales about the British Empire's weapon of expansion: trade. No truths are spared; he writes matter of factly about the arrogance of nabobs (Englishmen returning home with vast fortunes) and the alcohol-and-opium-infused environment under company commanders, or rajs. At the same time, we get a real sense of the flow and ebb of the empire, without an overly heavy dose of English history or of the company's contributions to its parent and to the world. After all, who could argue with these legacies: pajamas, Worcestershire sauce, Lloyds of London, and the establishment of English as the world's most widely spoken language? An eye-opening account. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 194 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585740594
• ISBN-13: 978-1585740598
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,186,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History that is Informative and Relevant, August 8, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600 (Hardcover)

This book is deserving than more than just 5 stars.

As a historian myself, the biggest problem in expressing yourself is making "old" topics informative and interesting to modern generations. Antony Wild has succeeded beyond any scale of recognition in his book The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600.

This book, which details the English East India Company's history will appeal to anyone with an interest in British, Indian, Asian, American, military, nautical, or commerical history-- it is that wide-ranging. This book is also a must-read for anyone interested or concerned over the so-called modern phenomenon of "globalization." After reading Wild's account, one can see that globalization has been around for nearly four hundred years, if not longer.

The English East India Company, acting under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, sought entry into the Spice Trade in Asia. Soon, however, it found itself involved with Indian piece trade and trade from the Middle East and Arabia. Its trade interests in India eventually led to de facto conquest and colonization on that subcontinent-- all with the tacit support of the crown. The company reached into China and even North America-- it was East India Company tea that got dumped into Boston Harbor during the Tea Party.

The company exported and imported goods, laid the foundations for three important Indian cities, fought land wars and naval battles with other European merchant powers or local natives, and brought a host of new products and new words into the consciousness of the English-speaking world.

India proved to be the company's lasting legacy, and not always a positive one. However Wild provides a well-balanced account that does not paint the company as either completely ethical traders or imperialistic devils. No matter one's opinion, India proved to the company's (and Britain's) largest asset and also the cause for the company's eventual dissolution.

The book is well-illustrated and is an easy but very informative read. I would rank this amongst the top 10 books I have read in the last 5 years.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good all round book on The Company, January 25, 2012

By 

737 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: East India Company (Paperback)

A very readable combination of text and images. Not a scholarly text, but both specific and broad in scope, it hits the right note.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, March 15, 2011

By 

John B. Goode "JBG" (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: East India Company (Paperback)

If there was ever a coffee table book for EIC historians, this would be it!

I already have several EIC history books but most of them are dry hardbacks. This one is a large sized full color book chock full of pictures and photos on every page. This book would be a very good introduction for newbies to the EIC or even younger readers.

So, in summary, an excellent starter book with lots of illustrations.