The East India Company played a major part in the growth of Britain's empire. Its functions went beyond those of a trading concern and merged military force, government and colonization with economic expansion. This six-volume work covers the history of the Company from its origins in 1599-1600. This comprehensive collection contains reprinted first-hand sources, scholarly surveys, and thematically arranged collections of recent journal articles, offering scholarly coverage of the most important phases of the Company's history, and presenting recent interpretations of its development.
'Scholars are provided with a valuable set of articles which will give them a thorough introduction to academic discourse on the character and motivations of the East India Company's involvement in 'Indian affairs'' - Michael Mann, Asienforum 1-2/99
'the compilation of the six volumes is a good approach, offering students a selection of materials on the history of organisation,administration,trade,colonial penetration, warfare abroad and political struggles at home' -- Michael Mann, Asienforum
