India’s economy was a vibrant and complex mix of an advanced commercial system, thriving artisanal industries, strong inland trade routes, and lively maritime connections from the Arabian Sea to Southeast Asia. Beginning in the 1498 to 1765 AD time period, India was systematically removed from its economic prosperity due to European involvement in trading within the region. The research aims to explore how this European involvement affected the economic and political fate of India. Qualitative and Historical Research Methodologies and qualitative research are used to interpret the stages of change that took place over time within India’s economic, political, and institutional structure from 1498 to 1765 due to European participation in the Indian trade market. The qualitative research approach was chosen as well in recognition of the historical context of this research. Europe established a new form of Business and Governmental partnership. The combination of the European Military Organisation and the financial resources of European nations gave rise to the potential to reconfigure the political landscape of India. In 1765, the East India Company created the first business and political structure that continues today. Conclusion – The time frame of 1498 to 1765 represented an evolution in Indian society and the institutions of that society as a result of various European Trading Companies. The Trading Companies endeavoured to monopolize the trading of goods while also dominating the political structure and military operations on the ocean, coupled with coercive collection of revenues through forced exaction, and a systematic and permanent reorganization of Indian society and institutions, enabling the Trading Companies to systematically extract immense amounts of wealth from India.
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Volume 3 | Issue 1 | Year 2026 | Article Id: DSM-V3I1P103 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59232/DSM-V3I1P103
Theft of India (1498–1765 Ce) and Damage the Indian Economy: An Analytical Study
Ram Krishna Mandal
| Received | Revised | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 2025 | 30 Dec 2025 | 01 Feb 2026 | 26 Feb 2026 |
Citation
Ram Krishna Mandal. “Theft of India (1498–1765 Ce) and Damage the Indian Economy: An Analytical Study.” DS Journal of Multidisciplinary, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 25-38, 2026.
Abstract
Keywords
Commercial System, Merchants, Maritime Connections, Artisanal Industries, Political Manipulation.
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