The Corporation as Empire

The British East India Company was one of the most powerful empires in history. Chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, and granted a monopoly on all English trade east of the Cape of Good Hope, it operated for over 250 years. Around 1670, King Charles II empowered it to mint money, raise armies and navies, take land, and govern the acquired areas. The company was eventually given total control over India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar, and created Hong Kong and Singapore. The company wrote laws that are still in place in India. It developed it's own class of behemoth cargo-warships, clashed with other European traders, and was responsible for inciting the Boston Tea Party and several wars.