The impact of enslavement and empire
The East India Company
The East India Company was set up by a group of English merchants who began trading in Asia after 1600, with the support of the English Crown. They set up trading posts called âfactoriesâ on the coast of India which grew to become armed settlements. These settlements needed administrators and officers and so many English men travelled out to work there.
By the mid-18th century Britain dominated trade in Asia and the East India Company took control of India. Several of the English people who went as employees of the Company hired Indian children as servants and women as nannies and wet nurses for their children. Many Company employees became extremely rich and were known as ânabobsâ. When they returned home they sometimes brought the child servants and nannies (ayahs) with them. They wanted to continue in England the opulent lifestyle they had enjoyed in India. These women and children were taken away from their families and communities, and from people who spoke their languages, to live in a very different environment.
The Royal African Company
In 1660, the A country ruled by a king or queen. under King Charles II set up the Company of Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa (which later became the Royal African Company). It had a A royal licence which gave individuals the sole right to manufacture or sell a product. over trade with West Africa, protected by the Royal Navy. English involvement in the trade in enslaved Africans grew rapidly. The small number of free Africans in England were joined by others who arrived as a result of enslavement.
How most came to Britain is unknown. Some came directly from the West African coast, while others came from the Caribbean and North America as servants.
Revision tip
Find and print out an outline map of the world. On the map, mark the places A person who arrives from another country. came from and draw arrows from those places to Britain. Along the arrows, write the reasons for migrating to Britain.
More guides on this topic
- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010 overview - OCR A
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- Immigration in the Modern era 1900 - present overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Modern Era 1900 - present - OCR A
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- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010 - exam preparation - OCR A