
The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
by William Dalrymple
What's it about?
The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company, offering a detailed historical narrative of the East India Company's expansion and influence in India from its early trading ventures to its establishment as a dominant power. The text chronicles key events, figures, and turning points, including the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Company's military and political maneuvering against Indian rulers and European rivals like the French, and its eventual transformation into a territorial empire. It also explores the Company's internal dynamics, corruption, and the consequences of its actions, such as the Bengal famine, culminating in increasing British parliamentary intervention and the impeachment of Warren Hastings. Through vivid accounts and character portrayals, the excerpt illuminates the complex and often ruthless processes by which a commercial enterprise came to control a vast subcontinent.
About the author
William Dalrymple is a renowned historian specializing in politics history. Their work has influenced generations of scholars and readers.
Chapter 1
The Founding of the East India Company
Chapter 1 of The Anarchy, titled "The Founding of the East India Company", chronicles the establishment of the East India Company (EIC) in 1599 and its tentative first steps toward global influence.