Problem
I. Adapted from the Charter of the English East India Company, c. 1600
Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, pledge our royal assent and license to be granted unto all men listed in an earlier portion of the charter, that they, at their own adventures, costs, and charges, as well for the honor of this our realm of England, as for the increase of our navigation, and advancement of trade of merchandise, within our said realms and the dominions of the same, might adventure and set forth one or more voyages by way of traffic and merchandise to the East Indies [South Asia], in the countries and parts of Asia and Africa, and to as many of the islands, ports and cities, towns and places, as where trade may be possible. The Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies shall establish laws, constitutions, and orders or ordinances, and provide pains, punishments, and penalties by the imprisonment of the body or by fines on offenders.
Assent: permission
i. What powers did Queen Elizabeth give to the British East India Company? She gave them the ability to establish laws, constitutions, orders, punishments for criminals, and penalties by the imprisonment of the body, etc.
ii. Which of these powers might seem unusual for a private company to have? Why do you think the Queen granted such powers to the British East India Company? A lot of money!!, maybe because she didn't wanna have all that power to herself.
II. Adapted from Jean-Baptiste Colbert, "Memorandum to the King on Finances," prepared for King Louis XIV of France, c. 1670
The Dutch, English, and other nations take from the kingdom (France) wine, brandy, vinegars, linen, paper. But they brought us woolen cloth and other goods such as sugar, tobacco, and indigo from the Americas; all the spices, silks, cotton cloths, leather goods, and an infinity of other goods from the East Indies.
By these means the Dutch, English, merchants of Hamburg (Germany), and others bring into the kingdom a quantity of merchandise much greater than they take away and withdraw the surplus in cash, increasing their prosperity and our poverty and, unquestionably, adding to their power and our weakness.
i. How does the author claim that Dutch, English, and German merchants are taking advantage of France?
ii. How would you advise the King of France to solve this problem?
Writing Prompt
Using the sources above, please write one complete paragraph answering the following question:
Do you think the East India Companies were more beneficial or harmful?