The East India Company Instant

Established in 1600, the East India Company transformed from a trading entity into a sovereign power, ruling vast parts of India through a private army and extensive revenue collection before its dissolution in 1874. The Company’s operations, characterized by aggressive expansion, exploitation, and the opium trade, eventually led to direct British Crown rule following the 1857 uprising. Read a detailed history of the organization on Britannica . East India Company - Britannica