... this day. Against this turbulent background, the British were free to ply their trade as they wished, selling silver and devices like clocks and firearms in return for cotton, spices, silk, indigo, jewels and opium. Before long the East India Company was one of the largest employers in London. In India, its major settlements developed into self-sufficient communities, with forts ... still shone with an air of gilded gentility. Silken canopies graced the private boxes at Calcutta theaters, while palanquins with golden bells and embroidered curtains were carried down St. Thomas Road. One ...

• Word Count: 5127
• Approx Pages: 21
• Grade Level: Undergraduate