![]() ![]() The reason was the terrible physical effects on users of opium, who quickly became addicts and then thieves to fund their cravings. Unfortunately for the EIC, the Chinese authorities at Canton (Guangzhou), the company's main presence in China, prohibited the import of opium in December 1799. Another route of human traffic was indentured labourers and convicts from India, who were shipped to the EIC's possessions in Malaysia, particularly Singapore. Another major market for Indian textiles was West Africa where it was traded for slaves, who were shipped to Britain's plantations in the West Indies. By the 18th century, cotton cloth was being used not just for clothing but for sheets, curtains, and bed covers. Over the 17th century, the number of cotton pieces the EIC traded rocketed from around 5,000 in 1613 to 1.4 million in 1694. Another type of cotton cloth, muslin from Bengal, was especially popular. At first, lower classes wore calico, especially chintzes (printed cotton cloth), but the light and easily washed clothing soon caught on with everyone. Most textiles were calico, a type of cheap cotton cloth which came in many different varieties. Textiles made up around 70% of the EIC's total exports by 1850. Sometimes artisans were brought from England to modernise production. In the 18th century, the company shifted to finished textiles, again using established manufacturing centres and taking over and expanding their production. The good times for the EIC lasted until 1858 when the British Crown took full possession of its territories in India and so began what is popularly termed the British Raj (rule).īy the 1830s, the EIC was importing to Britain 30 million pounds of tea each year. The EIC enjoyed a trade monopoly with India until 1813 and with China until 1833. Opium was exchanged for tea, which was sent to Britain and its colonies in North America, but many other goods besides these were transported around the world in the EIC's ships, known as East Indiamen. The EIC then expanded its interests to China where the export of Indian opium was in great demand (although prohibited by the Chinese authorities). The spices (especially pepper since this was grown in both Indonesia and India) were then shipped to London where they commanded prices high enough to make a profit on the original metals investment. This was the exchanging of precious metals ( gold or silver) for products made in India (notably textiles) and then selling these on in the East Indies in exchange for spices. The network of centres allowed the EIC to become involved in what became known as the 'triangular trade'. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |