- 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) Delhi
C) London
D) Calcutta
- 3. Which British naval officer led the first company voyage to the East Indies in 1601?
A) Horatio Nelson
B) Walter Raleigh
C) James Lancaster
D) Francis Drake
- 4. The British East India Company played a significant role in the establishment of which major city in India?
A) Chennai
B) Calcutta
C) Delhi
D) Mumbai
- 5. What was the British East India Company's primary objective in India?
A) Religious conversion
B) Military conquest
C) Cultural assimilation
D) Trade
- 6. Who was the first Governor-General of India appointed by the British East India Company?
A) Warren Hastings
B) William Bentinck
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Robert Clive
- 7. In which year did the British East India Company obtain the diwani rights of Bengal?
A) 1801
B) 1765
C) 1789
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) Gujarat
C) Bengal
D) Kerala
- 9. In which city did the British East India Company establish its first factory in India in 1612?
A) Surat
B) Mumbai
C) Kolkata
D) Chennai
- 10. The British East India Company played a major role in the establishment of the city of Madras, now known as ________.
A) Chennai
B) Kolkata
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) Secretary of State
B) Viceroy
C) General Manager
D) Governor-General
- 12. What was the British East India Company's main motivation for establishing settlements in India?
A) Profit
B) Cultural exchange
C) Religious conversion
D) Humanitarian aid
- 13. Who granted a Royal Charter to the British East India Company for trade in the East Indies?
A) Queen Victoria
B) King James II
C) Queen Elizabeth I
D) King Charles I
- 14. Who was the first Governor of the British East India Company?
A) John Company
B) James Lancaster
C) William Hawkins
D) Thomas Smythe
- 15. Which war led to the British East India Company gaining control of Bengal?
A) Battle of Panipat
B) Battle of Plassey
C) Battle of Mysore
D) Battle of Buxar
- 16. What was the main reason for the dissolution of the British East India Company in 1858?
A) Economic downturn in Europe
B) Invasion by French forces
C) Indian Rebellion of 1857
D) Loss of trade with China
- 17. Which British monarch issued the Royal Proclamation transferring the powers of the British East India Company to the British Crown?
A) Queen Victoria
B) King George III
C) King Charles II
D) Queen Anne
- 18. Which Act of Parliament in 1813 allowed Christian missionaries to enter India under the authority of the British East India Company?
A) Charter Act 1813
B) Pitt's India Act 1784
C) Regulating Act 1773
D) East India Company Act 1806
- 19. What was the currency used by the British East India Company in its earliest trading ventures in India?
A) Pound
B) Dollar
C) Rupee
D) Taka
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