CLASS 8 GEOGRAPHY · NCERT · CH 2: FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY (NCERT CLASS 8 — OUR PASTS III)
NCERT-aligned Class 8 Geography topic. Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.
When and from whom did the East India Company get its charter?
1600 — from Queen ELIZABETH I of England; granted the Company SOLE right (monopoly) to trade with the East.
What did "mercantile" mean in this context?
Business enterprise that profits primarily through trade — buy cheap, sell dear; profits depended on EXCLUDING competition.
What other European powers were already trading in India?
PORTUGUESE (Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route 1498, base in Goa); DUTCH (Indian Ocean trade); FRENCH (later in 17th century).
EAST INDIA COMPANY 1600 — origin + Charter?
BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY founded 31 December 1600 — Royal Charter granted by QUEEN ELIZABETH I to "Company of Merchants of London Trading to the East Indies." 218 founders subscribed £30,000+ initial capital. PURPOSE: Compete with PORTUGUESE (in India since 1498) + DUTCH EIC (founded 1602) + later FRENCH (1664) for EASTERN trade in spices, silks, textiles, indigo. INITIAL VOYAGES: Capt Lancaster led first voyage 1601 to ACEH (Sumatra). 1608 — first to INDIA at SURAT (denied by Mughal Jahangir initially); 1612 — Sir THOMAS ROE's embassy to Jahangir's court secured trading rights. Company TRANSFORMED from MERCHANT to STATE-LIKE entity over 200+ years.
Where and when was the first English factory in India set up?
On the banks of the river HUGLI in 1651 — a "factory" had a warehouse for export goods + offices for the "factors" (Company traders).
How did Calcutta come into being?
In 1698 the Company bribed Mughal officials to grant zamindari rights over THREE villages — KALIKATA (Calcutta), Sutanati and Govindpur. By 1696 they had built a fort around the settlement.
What concession did Aurangzeb's farman give the Company?
Right to trade DUTY-FREE in Bengal — but Company officials extended this to their private trade too, depriving the Bengal Nawab of revenue.
HUGLI 1651 — first English factory?
JOB CHARNOCK (EIC officer) chose HUGLI on the river BHAGIRATHI (HOOGHLY, Bengal) for trading post. 1651 — Bengal Nawab gave EIC PERMIT to trade. EIC built FACTORY (warehouse + offices). Bengal's exports: COTTON textiles, MUSLIN, INDIGO, SUGAR, OPIUM, SALTPETRE (KEY for gunpowder, made Bengal critical for British military supplies). Hugli factory grew steadily; later moved 24 km downstream to SUTANUTI village (1690) → became CALCUTTA. In late 17th c., HUGLI was the BUSIEST port of Bengal — ships from Holland, France, Denmark all had factories there; PORTUGUESE were nearby at HOOGHLY. The Bengal trade made INDIA the most lucrative EIC region — leading to political ambitions + Plassey 1757.
When was the Battle of Plassey and on what river?
23 June 1757 — at PALASHI (anglicised as Plassey), on the banks of the BHAGIRATHI river in Nadia district, West Bengal. Named after the palash tree (red flowers, source of gulal).
Who fought at Plassey?
Robert CLIVE's East India Company forces vs. Nawab SIRAJUDDAULAH of Bengal.
How did the Company win despite being outnumbered?
MIR JAFAR (the Nawab's commander) was bribed and held back his forces — the Nawab was defeated and killed; Mir Jafar was made puppet Nawab.
Why was Plassey "the first major victory" of the Company?
It established Company supremacy over Bengal — the richest province of India — and started the territorial expansion that turned a trading company into a colonial state.
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 8 History syllabus, drawn from the chapter Ch 2: From Trade to Territory (NCERT Class 8 — Our Pasts III). Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
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