Adventurers : the improbable rise of the East India Company, 1550-1650

The unlikely beginnings of the East India Company—from Tudor origins and rivalry with the superior Dutch—to laying the groundwork for future British expansion The East India Company was the largest commercial enterprise in British history, yet its roots in Tudor England are often overlooked. The Tudor revolution in commerce led ambitious merchants to search for new forms of investment, not least in risky overseas enterprises—and for these “adventurers” the most profitable bet of all would be on the Company. Through a host of stories and fascinating details, David Howarth brings to life the Company’s way of doing business—from the leaky ships and petty seafarers of its embattled early days to later sweeping commercial success. While the Company’s efforts met with disappointment in Japan, they sowed the seeds of success in India, setting the outline for what would later become the Raj. Drawing on an abundance of sources, Howarth shows how competition from European powers was vital to success—and considers whether the Company was truly “English” at all, or rather part of a Europe-wide movement. The East India Company was the largest commercial enterprise in British history, yet its roots in Tudor England are often overlooked. The Tudor revolution in commerce led ambitious merchants to search for new forms of investment, not least in risky overseas enterprises-and for these "adventurers" the most profitable bet of all would be on the Company.0Through a host of stories and fascinating details, David Howarth brings to life the Company's way of doing business-from the leaky ships and petty seafarers of its embattled early days to later sweeping commercial success. While the Company's efforts met with disappointment in Japan, they sowed the seeds of success in India, setting the outline for what would later become the Raj. Drawing on an abundance of sources, Howarth shows how competition from European powers was vital to success-and considers whether the Company was truly "English" at all, or rather part of a Europe-wide movement The East India Company was the most powerful commercial enterprise in British history. Yet its speculative, highly risky origins are now all but forgotten. A revolution in commerce during the Tudor period led to a bold search for new forms of investment and above all for overseas enterprises - the most profitable of which would be the Company. David Howarth investigates the birth of the East India Company and explores why, having survived its first decades, it would last for another two hundred. Through a host of stories and fascinating details, Howarth examines the Company's evolving way of doing business. While its efforts met with failure in Japan, they consolidated in India, thanks largely to Sir Thomas Roe. Howarth shows how Europe was central to the Company; as he offers the first ever comparison of the Company and its Dutch rival the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie. Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Dedication CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Maps INTRODUCTION 1 THE SMOKY AYER OF SPANISH GREATNES 2 NORTH SEA NATIONS 3 MERCHANTS OF LIGHT 4 ENLARGING THE BOUNDS OF HUMAN EMPIRE 5 RAISING THE MONEY 6 RUNNING THE OFFICE 7 A VOYAGE EXCEEDINGLY TROUBLESOME 8 OCEANS OF WEALTH 9 THE FLYING DUTCHMEN 10 A THING OF SO MUCH DIFFICULTIE 11 JOSEPH AT THE COURT OF PHARAOH 12 THIS HOPEFULLEST TRADE 13 SEVEN MERCHANTS OF JAPAN 14 GOODNIGHT AMSTERDAM 15 DEADLOCK 16 DELIVERANCE CONCLUSION TIMELINE NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX