Investigating the East India Company KS3 Enquiry

Essential Information

Location	National Maritime Museum
Key Stage	Key Stage 3
School Subject	History
Resource Type	Classroom activity

These resources can be used as follow up materials to the East India Company and Empire Enquiry Day at the National Maritime Museum or as a stand alone enquiry.

The aim of these resources is to allow you to assess a key question:

How did the East India Company change people’s lives in Britain and Asia?

To do this you will be investigating a range of evidence and then putting this together to write a final answer.

Section one – Background

Read through the background information in this document. At the end there are 5 knowledge-based questions to answer based on what you have just read. The answers are all in the document so you just have to find them.

EIC in India introduction

pdf, 16.66 MB

Section two – Investigation

How did the East India Company change people’s lives in Britain and Asia?

You will be investigating different aspects of the East India Company and the impacts that it had around the world. This is a highly controversial company with histories of involvement in slavery and exploitation, who controlled a country and changed the world forever.

How did the East India Company change people’s lives in Britain and Asia?

You can use this document to collect evidence

How did the East India Company change people's lives in Britain and Asia Evidence Sheet

pdf, 113.1 KB

For each area there is an evidence sheet and in some cases expert videos. Use these to note down any impacts on Britain or Asia and what your evidence is from the sheet or video.

East India Company Ships at Deptford

The company’s activities had significant effects in their base on the river Thames. Use these videos and the evidence sheet to consider what these might have included.

East India Company Ships at Deptford

The company’s activities had significant effects in their base on the river Thames.

East India Company Ships at Deptford

The company’s activities had significant effects in their base on the river Thames. Use these videos and the evidence sheet to consider what these might have included.

Download East India Company Ships at Deptford.pdf

pdf, 5.54 MB

The EIC as a regional Power

In Asia the Companies power grew over time until it was able to start using its army to seize political power. This had severe consequences.

Download The EIC as a regional power.pdf

pdf, 2.09 MB

The Money Brothers

This painting tells you about the people who were making vast sums of money from the East India Company, sometimes controversially.

The Money Brothers

This painting tells you about the people who were making vast sums of money from the East India Company, sometimes controversially.

The Money Brothers

This painting tells you about the people who were making vast sums of money from the East India Company, sometimes controversially.

Download The Money Brothers.pdf

pdf, 3.92 MB

Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia

The East India company relied on people in Asia, most of their soldiers were from India and skilled craftspeople were also essential to the companies success. One of these people was Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia.

Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia

Download Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia.pdf

pdf, 4.46 MB

Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia

Tipu and resisting the EIC

As the power of the company grew in India some worked with them while others resisted and fought. One of the most famous Indian rulers who opposed the EIC was Tipu Sultan.

Tipu and resisting the EIC

As the power of the company grew in India some worked with them while others resisted and fought. One of the most famous Indian rulers who opposed the EIC was Tipu Sultan.

Tipu and resisting the EIC

As the power of the company grew in India some worked with them while others resisted and fought. One of the most famous Indian rulers who opposed the EIC was Tipu Sultan.

Download Tipu and resisting the EIC.pdf

pdf, 23.92 MB

China, Porcelain and Opium

Over time the East India Company became increasingly involved in trade with China, although its methods were not always legal, eventually leading to war at sea.

China, Porcelain and Opium

Over time the East India Company became increasingly involved in trade with China, although its methods were not always legal, eventually leading to war at sea.

China, Porcelain and Opium

Over time the East India Company became increasingly involved in trade with China, although its methods were not always legal, eventually leading to war at sea.

Download China - Porcelain, Tea and Opium.pdf

pdf, 4.53 MB

The End of EIC power

In 1857 a huge rebellion against the power of the East India Company with incidents of exceptional violence and cruelty committed by both sides. When the British retook settlements in some cases thousands were killed and savage reprisals took place. The British army regained control and the British government took direct control of India. Queen Victoria was declared Empress.

Final Task

Write a newspaper article on how the East India Company changed lives in Britain and Asia. Imagine you are writing for people who have not studied this so you will need to explain clearly and include your evidence.

You can use Point Evidence Explain to structure your answer

What point do you want to make
What evidence do you have to support this
Explain what this evidence proves

You can then repeat this for each point you would like to make.