The EIC's Forgotten Factory: Surat and the Birth of Company Trade

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the East India Company's first permanent settlement in India: the Surat factory, established in 1612. They delve into the diplomatic negotiations with Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the role of Sir Thomas Roe as ambassador, and the delicate balance of trade in textiles, indigo, and saltpeter. The conversation covers the factory's layout, its multicultural workforce of merchants, scribes, and artisans, and the challenges of navigating Mughal bureaucracy. They also examine the factory's decline after the Company shifted focus to Bombay and Madras, and its legacy as the prototype for later colonial outposts. Specific terms like 'kothi', 'farman', and 'parwana' are discussed in context. #EastIndiaCompany #SuratFactory #MughalEmpire #SirThomasRoe #Jahangir #textiletrade #indigo #saltpeter #kothi #farman #parwana #CompanyTrade #colonialhistory #Indianhistory #17thcentury #BritishEmpire #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo