- 1. The British East India Company was a powerful trading corporation established in 1600, initially created to exploit trade opportunities in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Over the course of its existence, the company evolved from a commercial trading entity into a significant political and military force, effectively functioning as a sovereign power in the regions it governed. The company played a crucial role in the establishment of British colonial rule in India, especially after the Battle of Plassey in 1757, which marked the beginning of its control over Bengal and, subsequently, large parts of India. Investors in the company sought to profit from lucrative trade in spices, silk, cotton, tea, and opium, and its operations were bolstered by both the British Crown and a powerful military presence. The East India Company's policies, characterized by profit-driven exploitation and an increasing grip on local administrations, often led to widespread socio-economic disruptions and resistance amongst local populations. Its actions laid the groundwork for the later formal colonization of India by the British Empire and contributed to notable historical events such as the Great Revolt of 1857. Ultimately, in response to mounting pressures and the growing unpopularity of its rule, the British government dissolved the company in 1874, transferring its administrative powers directly to the Crown, marking a significant shift in the governance of India and the end of an era of corporate dominance in colonial affairs.
What year was the British East India Company founded?
A) 1800
B) 1600
C) 1700
D) 1500
- 2. What was the main purpose of the British East India Company?
A) Religious missions
B) Trade
C) Diplomatic relations
D) Military conquest
- 3. Where was the headquarters of the British East India Company located?
A) Calcutta
B) London
C) Bombay
D) Delhi
- 4. Which commodity was a significant part of the British East India Company's trade?
A) Cotton
B) Coffee
C) Silk
D) Tea
- 5. Who was the first Governor-General of India?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Warren Hastings
C) Robert Clive
D) Charles Cornwallis
- 6. In what year did the British East India Company lose control of India?
A) 1776
B) 1858
C) 1781
D) 1947
- 7. Which battle is considered a significant victory for the British East India Company?
A) Battle of Bunker Hill
B) Battle of Plassey
C) Battle of Hastings
D) Battle of Waterloo
- 8. What was one outcome of the Regulating Act of 1773?
A) Loss of all territories
B) Increase in taxes
C) Establishment of a Governor-General in India
D) End of trade
- 9. Which event caused significant tensions leading up to the Sepoy Mutiny?
A) Introduction of the Enfield rifle
B) Mutiny of 1817
C) First War of Independence
D) First Anglo-Afghan War
- 10. In which year did the British East India Company dissolve?
A) 1858
B) 1900
C) 1947
D) 1874
- 11. Which British figure is known for his role in expanding the company’s influence in India?
A) Lord Mountbatten
B) Winston Churchill
C) Robert Clive
D) Jawaharlal Nehru
- 12. What was one major consequence of the British East India Company's rule in India?
A) Environmental preservation
B) Cultural enrichment
C) Political stability
D) Economic exploitation
- 13. How did the British East India Company’s rule in India officially end?
A) World War II
B) Transfer of power to the Crown
C) Independence movement
D) International pressure
- 14. Which city served as the headquarters of the British East India Company in India?
A) Delhi
B) Bombay
C) Madras
D) Calcutta
- 15. What major event in 1857 was partly caused by discontent with the East India Company's rule?
A) Salt March
B) Indian National Congress formation
C) Sepoy Mutiny
D) Partition of Bengal
- 16. The British East India Company initially traded in which commodity?
A) Spices
B) Cotton
C) Tea
D) Silk
- 17. Which Indian city was the main trading post of the British East India Company in southern India?
A) Calcutta
B) Madras
C) Delhi
D) Bombay
- 18. What was the name of the first British fort in India?
A) Fort Bombay
B) Fort William
C) Fort Tigra
D) Fort St. George
- 19. The British East India Company faced strong competition from which country?
A) France
B) Spain
C) Portugal
D) Netherlands
- 20. Who founded the British East India Company?
A) Political Leaders
B) Royal Family
C) Merchants
D) Religious Leaders
- 21. Which former Mughal province did the British East India Company acquire after the Battle of Buxar?
A) Rajputana
B) Gujarat
C) Punjab
D) Bengal
- 22. In which year did the Sepoy Mutiny take place?
A) 1857
B) 1856
C) 1858
D) 1859
- 23. Who was the last Governor-General of India under the British East India Company?
A) Lord Canning
B) Lord Ripon
C) Lord Curzon
D) Warren Hastings
- 24. In which year was the Regulating Act passed, which aimed at reforming the management of the Company?
A) 1793
B) 1773
C) 1765
D) 1784
- 25. In which year did the British East India Company lose its monopoly on trade with India?
A) 1889
B) 1857
C) 1765
D) 1813
- 26. What led to the British East India Company gaining influence in India?
A) Scientific discoveries
B) Religious conversion
C) Cultural exchanges
D) Military and political alliances
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