East India Company (disambiguation)

The East India Companies were in several nations of Europe to existing companies that were privileged ( here especially with the so-called Spice Islands and the Empire of China) for trading with India and East Asia.

They originated in the 17th century, some, as the heyday of the colonial empires of Spain and Portugal was already over even until the 18th century. Unlike their colonial policy, which targeted mainly for gold and real estate, examined the East India Companies to achieve the greatest possible gains from trade. They competed with each other as well as with numerous local dealers (mostly Chinese), whose advantage was the intimate knowledge of local conditions and had many relationships with the local rulers and traders. Also, the administrative burden on companies was typically much higher than for the smaller trading houses.

They continued to enforce its trade policy both a diplomatic and military means. So Siam was forced twice by the Dutch, by a naval blockade of the port of Ayutthaya to relent. The companies had in all major ports and capitals so-called factories ( offices ), which were led by governors and governors-general. Their task was to maintain relations with the rulers and the local merchants and to pay attention to the enforcement of agreed privileges and trade margins.

The East India companies are in the order of their founding:

• The British East India Company - founded 1600
• The Dutch East India Company - founded in 1602
• The Danish East India Company - founded in 1616
• The Swedish East India Company - Founded in 1626, amended in 1731
• The Portuguese East India Company - founded in 1628
• The French East India Company - founded in 1664
• The Imperial East India Company - founded in 1719 and dissolved in 1731 by the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI.
• The Prussian Emden East Asian Trading Company (" Royal Prussian Asian Company in Emden to Canton and China " ) - founded in 1751 and dissolved in 1765 by King Frederick II of Prussia ( the Great), which was the smallest of the listed here.
• The Trieste East India Company or East India Company - Trieste- Antwerpen - founded in 1775, dissolved in 1785

In particular, the first two companies have become world-historical significance in the course of its history.