Test: From Trade to Territory (The Company Establishes Power)- 1 - UPSC MCQ

In 1600, the East India Company acquired a charter from the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I, granting it the sole right to trade with the East, without competition from other British traders. But that royal charter could not stop other European powers such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and French.

European trading companies fought in the Indian Ocean to protect their trading posts. They built forts to keep their goods safe from rivals. It was like a big game of protecting their treasure from others who also wanted it.

The East India Company got a special permission from Queen Elizabeth I to trade with the East. They were the only ones allowed to trade with countries in the East, like India and China.

Aurangzeb (4 November 1618 – 3 March 1707) was the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire. He ruled over most of the Indian subcontinent. His reign lasted for 49 years from 1658 until his death in 1707. 

• Kolkata is not a presidency.it was during the colonial period 1757-1858 that the British East India Company made three major presidencies.
• The three major presidencies were - Bengal, Madras and Bombay. presidencies or provinces were the larger part of India that was under the control of The East India Company.

The first English factory in India was set up on the banks of the river Hugli in the year 1651.

The Company thought trade could grow by making its settlements bigger. This means they wanted to increase the size of the places where they lived and did business.

The East India Company did indeed persuade Mughal officials to grant them zamindari rights over three villages.
This was a crucial step in consolidating their power and influence in India. One of these villages was Kalikata, which later developed into the city of Kolkata.

• The conflicts between the Company and Sirajuddaulah led to the Battle of Plassey because both sides wanted different things.
• The Company wanted to expand trade and gain trade concessions, while Sirajuddaulah was worried about his power and did not want the Company to interfere in his dominion.
• This disagreement and clash of interests eventually led to a big battle called the Battle of Plassey.

• British: The British East India Company had established itself as a dominant force in India by the late 18th century. The key factors in this emergence of power included:

  • Military Strength: The British East India Company built a powerful army and navy, which helped it to gain control over large parts of India.
  • Political Maneuvering: The British leveraged various political alliances and conflicts among Indian states to expand their influence.
  • Economic Control: The British established a monopoly on trade, which significantly boosted their economic power and allowed them to influence political and social structures in India.

• Chinese: By the 18th century, China was not a significant power in India. China was more focused on its internal affairs and its interactions with East Asia rather than South Asia.

• Japanese: Japan had minimal involvement in India during the 18th century. The Japanese began to emerge as a global power later in the 19th and 20th centuries.

• Dutch: While the Dutch East India Company was active in the Indian Ocean region and had trading posts in parts of India, their influence had waned compared to the British by the late 18th century. The British had gradually overshadowed the Dutch in terms of political and military power in India.

The statement "Aurangzeb was the first Mughal ruler" is False. Here's why:
- The first Mughal ruler was Babur, who established the Mughal Empire in India in 1526 after defeating Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat.
- Aurangzeb, whose full name was Alamgir Aurangzeb Bahadur, was the sixth Mughal emperor, ruling from 1658 to 1707.
- Aurangzeb was known for his strict policies and expanding the Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent but faced challenges due to his religious intolerance and excessive military campaigns.
Therefore, Aurangzeb was not the first Mughal ruler, but rather the sixth.

• After Aurangzeb passed away in 1707, regional governors and big zamindars started asserting their authority and forming regional kingdoms. This means that leaders from various parts of India began to take control of their own territories.
• So, the rulers who followed Aurangzeb were not from a single central authority but were leaders from different regions who established their own kingdoms.

• The East India Company got a special paper from the Queen of England that said only they could trade with the East.
• This meant no other trading groups from England could do this.
• So, the statement is true because only the East India Company had this special permission from the Queen.

After his death in 1707, several Mughal governors (Subadars) and big Zamindars began asserting their authority and setting up regional kingdoms.

• The East India Company acquired a charter granting it the sole right to trade with the East in 1600.
• This was granted to it by the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I.