Adventurers: The Improbable Rise of the East India Company: 1550-1650

The unlikely beginnings of the East India Company―from Tudor origins and rivalry with the superior Dutch―to laying the groundwork for future British expansion

The East India Company was the largest commercial enterprise in British history, yet its roots in Tudor England are often overlooked. The Tudor revolution in commerce led ambitious merchants to search for new forms of investment, not least in risky overseas enterprises―and for these “adventurers”, the most profitable bet of all would be on the Company.

Through a host of stories and fascinating details, David Howarth brings to life the Company’s way of doing business, including:

• The leaky ships and petty seafarers of its embattled early days.
• Its later sweeping commercial success, despite initial disappointments in Japan.
• How it sowed the seeds of success in India, setting the outline for what would later become the Raj.

Drawing on an abundance of sources, Howarth explores how competition from European powers was vital to the Company’s success. He also considers whether the Company was truly “English” at all, or rather part of a broader Europe-wide movement.