- 1. The British East India Company, a powerful trading entity established in 1600, was initially formed to capitalize on the lucrative spice trade in the East Indies, which included the rich markets of India and Southeast Asia. As the company secured its charter from Queen Elizabeth I in December of that year, it marked the beginning of British colonial interests in the region. The Company started with just a handful of ships and a small group of merchants, but over the following decades, it grew exponentially, establishing trading posts and factories in major port cities such as Surat, Madras, and Calcutta. The notability of the British East India Company extended beyond commerce; it became a significant force in the political arena, gradually expanding its influence through military might and strategic alliances. By the mid-18th century, the Company had effectively become a governing power, administering vast territories in India while also navigating complex relationships with local princes and rival European powers. This development catalyzed the eventual establishment of British rule in India, leaving a profound and lasting impact on the subcontinent's social, cultural, and economic fabric. Thus, the foundation of the British East India Company not only reshaped trade in the 17th century but also set the stage for centuries of British colonial rule in India.
When was the British East India Company founded?
A) 1500
B) 1600
C) 1800
D) 1700
- 2. Where was the headquarters of the British East India Company?
A) Mumbai
B) London
C) Calcutta
D) Delhi
- 3. Which British naval officer led the first company voyage to the East Indies in 1601?
A) James Lancaster
B) Horatio Nelson
C) Francis Drake
D) Walter Raleigh
- 4. The British East India Company played a significant role in the establishment of which major city in India?
A) Mumbai
B) Calcutta
C) Delhi
D) Chennai
- 5. What was the British East India Company's primary objective in India?
A) Trade
B) Military conquest
C) Religious conversion
D) Cultural assimilation
- 6. Who was the first Governor-General of India appointed by the British East India Company?
A) Warren Hastings
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) William Bentinck
D) Robert Clive
- 7. In which year did the British East India Company obtain the diwani rights of Bengal?
A) 1789
B) 1801
C) 1765
D) 1776
- 8. Which region of India saw significant opium trade by the British East India Company in the 18th and 19th centuries?
A) Punjab
B) Kerala
C) Gujarat
D) Bengal
- 9. In which city did the British East India Company establish its first factory in India in 1612?
A) Chennai
B) Kolkata
C) Surat
D) Mumbai
- 10. The British East India Company played a major role in the establishment of the city of Madras, now known as ________.
A) Kolkata
B) Chennai
C) Delhi
D) Mumbai
- 11. What was the title of the head of the British East India Company in India during the 18th century?
A) General Manager
B) Viceroy
C) Secretary of State
D) Governor-General
- 12. What was the British East India Company's main motivation for establishing settlements in India?
A) Religious conversion
B) Humanitarian aid
C) Profit
D) Cultural exchange
- 13. Who granted a Royal Charter to the British East India Company for trade in the East Indies?
A) Queen Elizabeth I
B) King James II
C) Queen Victoria
D) King Charles I
- 14. Who was the first Governor of the British East India Company?
A) James Lancaster
B) Thomas Smythe
C) John Company
D) William Hawkins
- 15. Which war led to the British East India Company gaining control of Bengal?
A) Battle of Mysore
B) Battle of Plassey
C) Battle of Panipat
D) Battle of Buxar
- 16. What was the main reason for the dissolution of the British East India Company in 1858?
A) Indian Rebellion of 1857
B) Loss of trade with China
C) Invasion by French forces
D) Economic downturn in Europe
- 17. Which British monarch issued the Royal Proclamation transferring the powers of the British East India Company to the British Crown?
A) King Charles II
B) Queen Anne
C) Queen Victoria
D) King George III
- 18. Which Act of Parliament in 1813 allowed Christian missionaries to enter India under the authority of the British East India Company?
A) East India Company Act 1806
B) Charter Act 1813
C) Regulating Act 1773
D) Pitt's India Act 1784
- 19. What was the currency used by the British East India Company in its earliest trading ventures in India?
A) Rupee
B) Pound
C) Dollar
D) Taka
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