the East India Company
/ði ˌiːst ˈɪndiə kʌmpəni/
/ði ˌiːst ˈɪndiə kʌmpəni/
- an English company started in 1600 to develop trade in the East Indies (= the islands off the south-east coast of Asia, including Java and Borneo). By the 18th century it had its own army and political service, and was responsible for the administration of parts of India. In the early 19th century the company founded (= established) the modern Singapore, which became a British colony in 1826. The East India Company continued to increase its power in India, but after the Indian Mutiny in 1858 the British government took over its work there, and the company disappeared.
东印度公司：一家成立于1600年的英国公司，致力于发展东印度群岛（即亚洲东南沿海的岛屿，包括爪哇和婆罗洲）的贸易。到18世纪，它拥有自己的军队和政治服务，并负责管理印度部分地区。在19世纪初期，该公司成立了现代新加坡，并于1826年成为英国殖民地。东印度公司继续提高其在印度的实力，但在1858年印度兵变之后，英国政府接管了其工作在那里，公司消失了。