3. Controlled Half of Global Trade
At its zenith, the East India Company didn’t merely dominate trade—it practically owned it. Historians estimate that during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, this single organization was responsible for nearly half of the world’s commerce. With a monopoly over essential commodities such as tea, spices, silk, and cotton, the company amassed extraordinary wealth, rivaling entire nations in economic power. Its vast fleet of ships continually sailed between Europe, Asia, and beyond, making it a global powerhouse. Such staggering dominance ensured the company played a central role in shaping international trade networks for centuries to come.
