British East India Company
About British East India Company
The British East India Company was originally a trading company that evolved into a de facto colonial government ruling over 200 million people. It controlled India until the 1857 mutiny, after which the British Crown took direct control. The company traded in cotton, silk, tea, and opium. It fought wars, raised taxes, and minted currency. The companys monopoly on tea led to the Boston Tea Party. At its peak, it accounted for half of global trade. The company was dissolved in 1874. It remains the most powerful corporation in history, a warning about the dangers of corporate political power.
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