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'''The East India Company''' (informally '''John Company''') was a key part of the [[British Empire]] in [[India]]. It was an English company formed for trade with East and [[Southeast Asia]] and [[India]], incorporated by Royal Charter on Dec. 31, 1600, by [[Queen Elizabeth I]].   

'''The East India Company''' (informally '''John Company''') was a key part of the [[British Empire]] in [[India]]. It was an English company formed for trade with East and [[Southeast Asia]] and [[History of India|India]], incorporated by Royal Charter on Dec. 31, 1600, by [[Queen Elizabeth I]].   

 

==History==

==History==

Starting as a trading body, the company became involved in politics and acted as an agent of [[Britain]] in India from the early 18th century to the mid-19th century. In addition, the activities of the company in [[China]] during the 19th century served as a catalyst for the expansion of British influence throughout the world. With the discovery in 1497 of the [[Cape of Good Hope]] route by Portuguese navigator [[Vasco da Gama]] the world's dependence upon dangerous overland routes for the spice trade, and the necessary middlemen came to an end.  The immense profits of the Spice Trade greatly changed the geo-political shape of the World.

Starting as a trading body, the company became involved in politics and acted as an agent of [[Britain]] in India from the early 18th century to the mid-19th century. In addition, the activities of the company in [[China]] during the 19th century served as a catalyst for the expansion of British influence throughout the world. With the discovery in 1497 of the [[Cape of Good Hope]] route by Portuguese navigator [[Vasco da Gama]] the world's dependence upon dangerous overland routes for the spice trade, and the necessary middlemen came to an end.  The immense profits of the Spice Trade greatly changed the geo-political shape of the World.