ACCOUNTING IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY

Abstract

Although the account-books of the East India Company for the period 1600–1657 are lost, an almost complete series of minutes and other documents make the exploration of accounting in this great mercantile company possible. The present study provides a brief historical note on the rise of the English joint-stock company and then proceeds to examine (1) the general state of accounting affairs; (2) the functional organization of the accounting activity; and (3) the order and method of accounting in the East India Company.