In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located?
- 1. Broach
- 2. Chicacole
- 3. Trichinopoly
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1 only
1 and 2
3 only
2 and 3
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Answer is Wrong!
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UPSC IAS – 2021
– The English East India Company established its first temporary factory in Masulipatnam on the East Coast in 1611.
– On the West Coast, after initial difficulties, the English gained permission from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir through Sir Thomas Roe to establish factories. The factory at Surat was established around 1613.
– Broach (Bharuch), located north of Surat in Gujarat, was another important trading post. The English established a factory at Broach in 1616. This falls within the first quarter of the 17th century.
– Chicacole (Srikakulam) is in Andhra Pradesh, on the East Coast. While the English were present on the East Coast from 1611 (Masulipatnam), Chicacole became a significant factory much later, towards the end of the 17th century or later.
– Trichinopoly (Tiruchirappalli) is in Tamil Nadu. English presence and factories in this southern region came much later, primarily in the late 17th and 18th centuries, often in relation to their conflicts with other European powers and local rulers.
Therefore, only Broach among the options had an English factory established within the first quarter of the 17th century.
– English EIC established factories at Surat (c. 1613) and Broach (1616) on the West Coast during this period.
– Their presence on the East Coast started with Masulipatnam (1611), but Chicacole and Trichinopoly were established much later.