From the sixteenth century onwards, European trading companies became powerful commercial empires in their own right. Backed by national governments, they established trading networks, colonies and military forces that reshaped Asia, the Pacific and eventually Australia. This course explores the rise of the British, Dutch, Portuguese, French and other East India companies, examining their influence on global trade, colonisation, slavery and cultural exchange. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how these corporations helped shape the modern world and Australia's own colonial origins. Suitable for anyone interested in world history, empire and exploration.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Asian colonisation of Pacific societies
• European discovery of the Pacific
• 1600 British East India Company
• 1602 Dutch East India Company
• 1628 Portuguese East India Company
• 1664 French East India Company
• 1731 Swedish East India Company
• End of the companies
• End of the colonies

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Outline of the history of Pacific cultures and colonies
• Describe the methods used by the East Indies companies to seize and use power in the Pacific
• Identify the transformative events and significant personalities in the various companies
• Discuss the consequences for the nations of those companies, and for the nations they colonised.