The Anarchy ~ The Relentless Rise of The East India Company by William Dalrymple

[Xerxes]

I bought this book several years ago prior to Covid era, all these years meant to read it, finally now that I have been to India I thought it would be a great occasion to make 2025 my “about India” year. 
 

It is on the topic of a for-profit company, its relentless rise and its subjugation of the subcontinent.
 

Its charter : wage war in the name of profit. 
 

The author is also the host of the Empire podcast. Currently resides in Delhi. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1 by Xerxes

[Xerxes]

[Xerxes]

India has been plundered over and over again by its neighbours over the centuries, and carpet-wielding Persians were no exception.

 

Here is excerpt on the fall of Mughal capital to Nader Shah. 

 

 

 

The haul from the fall of Delhi is said to be about 10 billion pounds in today value. Effectively the “trade surplus” that the Mughal treasury had built over 200 years, went to the imperial treasury in Isfahan. Much went to wage wars against Russia and the Turks. 
 

The famous name of Koh-i-noor was given during this episode. 

 

 

[Xerxes]

The European trading companies get their appetite wet, when Delhi falls to Nader Shah, and begin to imagine what was the unthinkable: feasting on the carcasses of the Mughal empire.
 

 

[formthirteen]

Interesting history book. Thank you.