East India company (C.E.1612-1757)
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth of England in the year 1600 C.E., the British established the East India Company. This company belonged to merchants who wanted to increase their wealth by undertaking trade with India.
The first British ship arrived in India at the port of Surat in the year 1608 C.E. Captain W. Hawkins, the captain of the ship, was the first British to set foot in India. He met Jahangir but did not get his permission to trade.
Thereafter, Sir Thomas Roe, arrived in India who acquired the permission to establish a trading centre in Surat. Later, Delhi went in to the hands of Shahjahan. Shahjahan gave permission to the British to carry out trade in Bengal.
