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Queen Elizabeth I started the East India Company in 1600 to develop trade between Britain and India.
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The slave trade began in the 17th century and one part of the slave trade was called The Triangle Trade. Ships would load up with guns and manufactured goods in Britain, then sail for four months to West Africa. In West Africa the manufactured goods were exchanged for African slaves.
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The First Fleet' was a fleet of 11 ships, which held about 780 English people. These were not free people. Many of them were criminals who were 'transported for life'. This meant that they had committed a crime in England and as a punishment they were sent to live in Australia and were not allowed to return to England.