Factories of the East India Company

The East India Company, one of the prominent European trading companies during the colonial era, established several factories in India and other parts of Asia. Here are some notable factories established by the East India Company:

Surat Factory:

  • Located in the city of Surat in Gujarat, India.
  • Established in 1612.
  • Served as the first major trading post of the East India Company in India.
  • Played a crucial role in the early years of English trade in India.

Madras (Chennai) Factory:

  • Located in the city of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Established in 1639.
  • Initially, a small fortified trading post, it grew to become the center of British presence and administration in South India.

Bombay (Mumbai) Factory:

  • Located in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) in Maharashtra, India.
  • Acquired by the East India Company from the Portuguese in 1668.
  • Developed into a major port and trading center under British control.

Calicut (Kozhikode) Factory:

  • Located in the city of Calicut (now Kozhikode) in Kerala, India.
  • Established in 1616.
  • The factory played a significant role in the spice trade and had a trading monopoly over pepper for a period.

Hugli (Haldia) Factory:

  • Located in the Hugli district, near the present-day town of Haldia in West Bengal, India.
  • Established in 1651.
  • Served as an important trading post for the East India Company, particularly for the Bengal region.

Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) Factory:

  • Located in the city of Masulipatnam (now Machilipatnam) in Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Established in 1611. This was the first factory set up by EIC.
  • Played a significant role in the textile trade and served as a major center for the English cloth market.

Canton Factory:

  • Located in Guangzhou (Canton), China.
  • Established in the late 17th century.
  • Functioned as a trading post for the East India Company in China, handling tea and other goods.

These factories, along with several others, formed the backbone of the East India Company’s trading network in India and Asia. Over time, many of these trading posts grew into important colonial settlements and laid the foundation for British control and administration in the region.

How the East India Company was formed?

Certainly! Here are some objective questions along with their answers about the factories established by the East India Company:

  1. Which was the first major trading post of the East India Company in India?
    Answer: Surat Factory.
  2. In which year was the Madras (Chennai) Factory established?
    Answer: 1639.
  3. Which city was the Bombay Factory located in?
    Answer: Bombay (Mumbai).
  4. When did the East India Company acquire the Bombay Factory?
    Answer: 1668.
  5. Which city was the Calicut (Kozhikode) Factory located in?
    Answer: Calicut (Kozhikode).
  6. When was the Hugli (Haldia) Factory established?
    Answer: 1651.
  7. Which region did the Hugli Factory serve as a trading post for?
    Answer: Bengal.
  8. Where was the Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) Factory located?
    Answer: Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam).
  9. Which country was the Canton Factory located in?
    Answer: China.
  10. What was the main commodity traded at the Canton Factory?
    Answer: Tea.
  11. In which year was the Surat Factory established?
    Answer: 1612.
  12. Which factory played a significant role in the textile trade in India?
    Answer: Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) Factory.
  13. Which factory was the center of British presence in South India?
    Answer: Madras (Chennai) Factory.
  14. When did the East India Company establish the Calicut Factory?
    Answer: 1616.
  15. Which factory served as an important trading post for the East India Company in China?
    Answer: Canton Factory.

Feel free to use these questions for quizzes, assessments, or further exploration of the topic.