The East India Company: The corporation that changed the world
Event Type: Branch
Takes Place: 16th April 2026
Time: 20:00
Venue: Fellowship House, 136a Willifield Way, London NW11 6YD
Description: The East India Company played a crucial role in creating the British Empire in Asia. From its modest origins as a small Elizabethan trading venture, it grew into a global empire which controlled Britain’s trade with Asia for nearly 250 years. It is a story of wealth, power, and the pursuit of fortune. But it is also one of conflict, conquest, and piracy on the high seas; politics, intrigue, and ruthlessness on land. The Company’s activities are an early example of globalization in action. By introducing a whole host of coveted commodities to British consumers, the scale and impact of its operations changed the lives of millions of people around the world. In Britain, it affected what we eat, what we drink, the clothes we wear, and the language we speak. And in India, the Company laid the foundations of the British Empire in the subcontinent.
How to book: Just turn up, or email for Zoom details
Price: £5 for visitors.
Tel: 07818063594
Email: mandycaller@googlemail.com
Organiser: Mandy Caller
Lecturer: Dr John McAleer
Comments: Fellowship House members pay £2 . All branch and national HA members are free. Email address above for 2025/6 branch membership
Region: London
Branch: Hampstead and North West London