The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
A comprehensive history of the East India Company that was the forerunner of foreign companies positioning themselves as quasi governments as the start of the British Empire in India. Well written and very readable. The context of how India was divided between various warring groups is well covered and therefore how such a small group of foreigners could take over a vast empire(s). Similar to the Spanish in Latin America. The other context is the European powers fighting for trade, colonies and indeed the wars in Europe itself. The story has been repeated time and again especially the times when the EIC needed bailing out by the British government aka us taxpayers... whilst the people who ran the company continue to receive massive payments and profits. Of course some investors lost fortunes but those were ones who could afford to or who were greedy, as today. Another aspect is the description of wars in India and the sacking of cities which were particularly brutal with torture, rape, looting and massacres. What's interesting is how the EIC became such a substantial part of the British economy and to stop the boom and bust, excesses and corruption at the EIC the government increased regulation until eventually taking over the EIC (effectively nationalising it) and thereby creating the British Raj which would continue for another century.
