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6th century CE186 events by century — click a bar to jump there18th century CE

6th century CE · 2

c. 550 CE Colossal Buddhas carved at Bamiyan Cultural / religious Bamiyan
c. 550 CE Fall of the imperial Guptas Decline / collapse
North India fragmented among the Maukharis, Later Guptas and others.
Magadha Gupta Empire

7th century CE · 9

606 CE Harsha becomes king Founding / accession Thanesar Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty
c. 612 CE Harsha makes Kannauj his capital Political
Kannauj became the imperial city of north India.
Kannauj Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty
c. 618 CE Pulakeshin II defeats Harsha on the Narmada Battle
The Narmada became the southern limit of Harsha's empire.
Narmada river Chalukyas of Badami
634 CE Aihole inscription of Ravikirti Cultural / religious Aihole Chalukyas of Badami
c. 636 CE Xuanzang studies at Nalanda Cultural / religious
Chinese pilgrim travelled in India c. 630-645.
Nalanda Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty
642 CE Narasimhavarman I captures Vatapi Battle
Pulakeshin II was killed and Narasimhavarman took the title Vatapikonda.
Badami Pallava Dynasty
643 CE Harsha's assemblies at Kannauj and Prayag Cultural / religious Kannauj Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty
647 CE Death of Harsha Decline / collapse Kannauj Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty
c. 700 CE Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram Cultural / religious Mahabalipuram Pallava Dynasty

8th century CE · 8

712 CE Muhammad ibn Qasim conquers Sindh Conquest / annexation
Raja Dahir killed; Sindh joins the Umayyad Caliphate.
Raja Dahir was killed and Sindh became an Umayyad province.
Debal / Aror Umayyad Caliphate — Sindh province
c. 738 CE Arab advance checked in Rajasthan Battle
Nagabhata I and the Chalukyas of Gujarat halt Arab expansion.
Arab expansion east of Sindh was halted for centuries.
Rajasthan Gurjara-Pratihara Empire
c. 740 CE Lalitaditya's Martand Sun Temple Cultural / religious Martand Karkota Dynasty of Kashmir
c. 750 CE Gopala elected king in Bengal Founding / accession
Foundation of the Pala dynasty.
Bengal Pala Empire
c. 753 CE Dantidurga founds Rashtrakuta power Founding / accession Ellora region Rashtrakuta Empire
c. 757 CE Kailasa temple, Ellora begun Cultural / religious Ellora Rashtrakuta Empire
c. 788 CE Adi Shankaracharya born (traditional) Cultural / religious Kalady
c. 800 CE Vikramashila university founded Cultural / religious Vikramashila Pala Empire

9th century CE · 3

c. 816 CE Nagabhata II captures Kannauj Conquest / annexation
Kannauj becomes the Pratihara capital; climax of the tripartite struggle.
Kannauj became the Pratihara capital.
Kannauj Gurjara-Pratihara Empire
c. 850 CE Amoghavarsha's Kavirajamarga Cultural / religious
Earliest extant Kannada literary work.
Manyakheta Rashtrakuta Empire
879 CE Nepal Samvat era begins Political Kathmandu Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal

10th century CE · 6

c. 916 CE Indra III sacks Kannauj Battle
The Pratiharas were temporarily driven out of Kannauj.
Kannauj Rashtrakuta Empire
949 CE Battle of Takkolam Battle
Krishna III defeats the Cholas.
The Rashtrakutas defeated the Cholas and occupied Tondaimandalam.
Takkolam Rashtrakuta Empire
973 CE Tailapa II overthrows the Rashtrakutas Founding / accession
The Western Chalukya dynasty of Kalyani was founded.
Manyakheta Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
985 CE Rajaraja I becomes Chola king Founding / accession Thanjavur Chola Empire
c. 993 CE Chola invasion of Sri Lanka Conquest / annexation
Anuradhapura was sacked and the Sinhalese capital abandoned.
Anuradhapura Chola Empire
1000 Mahmud of Ghazni begins his raids on India Conquest / annexation
About seventeen raids followed over 25 years.
Northwest frontier Ghaznavid Empire

11th century CE · 13

1001 Mahmud defeats Jayapala at Peshawar Battle
Jayapala was captured and later abdicated.
Peshawar Ghaznavid Empire
1008 Battle of Chach Battle
Anandapala defeated.
Anandapala's coalition was defeated, opening Punjab to Mahmud.
Chach plain, Attock Ghaznavid Empire
1010 Brihadisvara Temple completed Cultural / religious
Rajaraja I's great temple.
Thanjavur Chola Empire
1014 Rajendra I becomes Chola king Founding / accession Thanjavur Chola Empire
1017 Chola conquest of Sri Lanka completed Conquest / annexation
Northern Sri Lanka became the Chola province of Mummudi-chola-mandalam.
Anuradhapura / Polonnaruwa Chola Empire
1018 Mahmud sacks Mathura and Kannauj Battle
The Pratihara capital was plundered.
Mathura Ghaznavid Empire
c. 1023 Rajendra's Ganga expedition; Gangaikonda Cholapuram founded Conquest / annexation
Chola armies reached the Ganga and a new capital commemorated the victory.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Chola Empire
1025 Chola naval expedition to Srivijaya Conquest / annexation
Rajendra I raids Kadaram and the Srivijaya ports.
Srivijaya's ports were raided, securing Chola trade routes to China.
Nagapattinam Chola Empire
1026 Mahmud of Ghazni raids Somnath Battle
The Somnath temple was plundered and Mahmud carried vast treasure to Ghazni.
Somnath Ghaznavid Empire
1030 Al-Biruni writes the Kitab al-Hind Cultural / religious Ghazni Ghaznavid Empire
c. 1055 Death of Raja Bhoja Decline / collapse
Paramara power declined under attack from the Chaulukyas and Kalachuris.
Dhar Paramara Dynasty
1070 Vijayabahu I expels the Cholas from Sri Lanka Conquest / annexation
Sinhalese rule was restored with its capital at Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa Kingdom
1076 Chalukya-Vikrama era of Vikramaditya VI Political Kalyani Western Chalukyas of Kalyani

12th century CE · 13

c. 1135 Jagannath temple at Puri begun Cultural / religious Puri Eastern Ganga Dynasty
1148 Kalhana begins the Rajatarangini Cultural / religious Kashmir Lohara Dynasty of Kashmir
1153 The Maldives converts to Islam Cultural / religious Malé Sultanate of the Maldives
1153 Parakramabahu I rules Sri Lanka Founding / accession Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa Kingdom
c. 1161 End of the Pala dynasty Decline / collapse
The Senas became the leading power in Bengal.
Bengal Pala Empire
1175 Muhammad of Ghor takes Multan Conquest / annexation Multan Ghurid Empire
1178 Battle of Kasahrada: Ghurids defeated Battle
Muhammad of Ghor was repulsed from Gujarat.
Mount Abu Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
1186 Ghurids take Lahore, ending the Ghaznavids Conquest / annexation
The last Ghaznavid ruler, Khusrau Malik, was captured.
Lahore Ghurid Empire
c. 1190 Minaret of Jam built Cultural / religious Jam Ghurid Empire
1191 First Battle of Tarain Battle
Prithviraj Chauhan defeats Muhammad of Ghor.
Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad of Ghor, who retreated wounded.
Tarain Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari
1192 Second Battle of Tarain Battle
Muhammad of Ghor defeats Prithviraj; Turkish rule in north India begins.
Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated and killed, opening north India to the Ghurids.
Tarain Ghurid Empire
1194 Battle of Chandawar Battle
Jayachandra of the Gahadavalas killed.
Jayachandra was killed and the Ghurids took Kannauj and Varanasi.
Chandawar Ghurid Empire
c. 1200 Destruction of Nalanda Decline / collapse
Attributed to Bakhtiyar Khalji's campaigns (c. 1193-1200).
Nalanda

13th century CE · 17

c. 1203 Destruction of Vikramashila Decline / collapse Vikramashila
c. 1204 Bakhtiyar Khalji takes Nadia Conquest / annexation
Lakshmana Sena fled to east Bengal and Turkish rule began in Bengal.
Nabadwip Ghurid Empire
1206 Delhi Sultanate founded Founding / accession
Qutbuddin Aibak becomes independent after Muhammad of Ghor's death.
Delhi / Lahore Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
1211 Iltutmish becomes sultan Founding / accession Delhi Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
1221 Chinggis Khan pursues Jalal ad-Din to the Indus Battle
Jalal ad-Din escaped across the Indus and Iltutmish refused him asylum.
Indus river
1228 Sukaphaa founds the Ahom kingdom Founding / accession Charaideo Ahom Kingdom
1229 Iltutmish receives caliphal investiture Political Delhi Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
1236 Razia Sultana ascends the throne Political Delhi Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
1240 Razia Sultana deposed and killed Decline / collapse
Power passed to the Turkish nobles known as the 'Forty'.
Kaithal Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
c. 1250 Konark Sun Temple built Cultural / religious Konark Eastern Ganga Dynasty
1266 Balban becomes sultan Founding / accession Delhi Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty
1279 End of the Chola dynasty Decline / collapse
The Pandyas became the dominant Tamil power.
Thanjavur Chola Empire
1290 Khalji revolution Founding / accession Delhi Khalji Dynasty
1292 Marco Polo visits the Pandya coast Cultural / religious Kayal Pandya Empire (Second Empire)
1296 Alauddin Khalji raids Devagiri Battle Devagiri Khalji Dynasty
1296 Alauddin Khalji becomes sultan Founding / accession
He had his uncle Jalaluddin murdered.
Delhi Khalji Dynasty
1299 Mongols defeated at Kili Battle
Alauddin Khalji's army repelled Qutlugh Khwaja's Mongol invasion.
Kili, near Delhi Khalji Dynasty

14th century CE · 18

1301 Alauddin Khalji takes Ranthambore Conquest / annexation
Hammiradeva Chauhan was killed.
Ranthambore Khalji Dynasty
1303 Siege of Chittorgarh Battle
Alauddin Khalji takes Chittor.
Chittor fell to Alauddin Khalji after a long siege.
Chittorgarh Khalji Dynasty
1310 Malik Kafur takes Warangal Conquest / annexation
The Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra became a tributary of Delhi.
Warangal Khalji Dynasty
1311 Malik Kafur's southern campaign reaches Madurai Conquest / annexation
The Pandya capital was plundered and its treasure carried to Delhi.
Madurai Khalji Dynasty
1316 Death of Alauddin Khalji Decline / collapse
Malik Kafur briefly seized power; the Khaljis fell four years later.
Delhi Khalji Dynasty
1320 Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founds the Tughlaq dynasty Founding / accession Delhi Tughlaq Dynasty
1323 Fall of the Kakatiyas Conquest / annexation
Warangal was annexed and the Kakatiya dynasty ended.
Warangal Tughlaq Dynasty
1327 Capital shifted to Daulatabad Political
Muhammad bin Tughlaq's transfer of capital.
The move caused great hardship and was reversed within a few years.
Daulatabad Tughlaq Dynasty
c. 1329 Muhammad bin Tughlaq issues token currency Political
Brass and copper coins were to pass at the value of silver.
Widespread forgery forced the coins to be withdrawn.
Delhi Tughlaq Dynasty
1334 Ibn Battuta arrives in Delhi Cultural / religious Delhi Tughlaq Dynasty
1336 Vijayanagara founded Founding / accession
By Harihara I and Bukka Raya I.
Hampi Sangama Dynasty
1343 Ibn Battuta serves as qadi in the Maldives Cultural / religious Malé Sultanate of the Maldives
1347 Bahmani Sultanate founded Founding / accession Gulbarga Bahmani Sultanate
1351 Firuz Shah Tughlaq becomes sultan Founding / accession Delhi Tughlaq Dynasty
1352 Ilyas Shah unifies Bengal Founding / accession Pandua Bengal Sultanate
1378 Vijayanagara annexes the Madurai Sultanate Conquest / annexation
Kumara Kampana's campaign ended the Madurai Sultanate.
Madurai Sangama Dynasty
1382 Jayasthiti Malla's reforms in Nepal Political Kathmandu Malla Dynasty of Nepal
1398 Timur sacks Delhi Battle
Delhi was devastated and the Tughlaq sultanate never recovered.
Delhi Tughlaq Dynasty

15th century CE · 15

1407 Gujarat Sultanate becomes independent Founding / accession Patan Gujarat Sultanate
1411 Ahmedabad founded Founding / accession Ahmedabad Gujarat Sultanate
1412 Parakramabahu VI unifies Sri Lanka from Kotte Founding / accession Kotte Kingdom of Kotte
1414 Khizr Khan founds the Sayyid dynasty Founding / accession Delhi Sayyid Dynasty
1420 Nicolò de' Conti visits Vijayanagara Cultural / religious Hampi Sangama Dynasty
1443 Abdur Razzaq's embassy to Vijayanagara Cultural / religious Hampi Sangama Dynasty
c. 1450 Kabir's poetry in Varanasi Cultural / religious Varanasi
c. 1450 Sixty Dome Mosque at Bagerhat Cultural / religious Bagerhat Bengal Sultanate
1451 Bahlul Lodi founds the Lodi dynasty Founding / accession
The first Afghan dynasty of Delhi.
Delhi Lodi Dynasty
1459 Rao Jodha founds Jodhpur Founding / accession
Mehrangarh fort became the Rathore capital.
Jodhpur Marwar (Rathore)
1469 Birth of Guru Nanak Cultural / religious
Founder of Sikhism.
Nankana Sahib
c. 1469 Kingdom of Kandy emerges Founding / accession Kandy Kingdom of Kandy
1482 Nepal valley divides into three Malla kingdoms Political Kathmandu valley Malla Dynasty of Nepal
1490 Bijapur and Ahmadnagar break from the Bahmanis Founding / accession Bijapur Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
1498 Vasco da Gama reaches Calicut Political
Opening of the sea route from Europe to India.
The direct sea route from Europe to India was opened.
Kozhikode Zamorins of Calicut

16th century CE · 32

1504 Sikandar Lodi founds Agra Founding / accession
Agra became the Lodi and later Mughal capital.
Agra Lodi Dynasty
1505 Portuguese reach Sri Lanka Political Colombo Kingdom of Kotte
1509 Krishnadevaraya's accession Founding / accession Hampi Tuluva Dynasty
1509 Battle of Diu Battle
Portuguese naval victory over a Gujarati-Mamluk fleet.
Portuguese naval supremacy in the Arabian Sea was established.
Diu Portuguese Estado da Índia
1510 Portuguese capture Goa Conquest / annexation
Afonso de Albuquerque takes Goa from Bijapur.
Goa became the capital of the Portuguese Estado da Índia until 1961.
Goa Portuguese Estado da Índia
1520 Krishnadevaraya takes Raichur Battle
Vijayanagara won the Raichur doab from Bijapur.
Raichur Tuluva Dynasty
1526 First Battle of Panipat Battle
Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi; the Mughal Empire begins.
Ibrahim Lodi was killed and Babur founded the Mughal Empire.
Panipat Mughal Empire
1527 Battle of Khanwa Battle
Babur defeats Rana Sanga.
Babur defeated Rana Sanga's Rajput confederacy, securing Mughal rule in the north.
Khanwa Mughal Empire
1529 Battle of the Ghaghra Battle
Babur defeated the Afghan chiefs of the east.
Ghaghra river Mughal Empire
1530 Death of Babur; Humayun succeeds Political Agra Mughal Empire
1535 Humayun takes Mandu and Champaner Conquest / annexation Champaner Mughal Empire
1539 Battle of Chausa Battle
Sher Shah defeats Humayun.
Humayun was defeated and escaped by swimming the Ganga.
Chausa Sur Empire
1540 Battle of Kannauj Battle
Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun, who goes into exile.
Humayun fled into exile and Sher Shah founded the Sur Empire.
Kannauj Sur Empire
1541 Rohtas Fort begun by Sher Shah Cultural / religious Rohtas Sur Empire
1545 Death of Sher Shah at Kalinjar Decline / collapse Kalinjar Sur Empire
1555 Humayun recovers Delhi (Battle of Sirhind) Battle
Humayun regained his throne from the Surs.
Sirhind Mughal Empire
1556 Second Battle of Panipat Battle
Akbar's forces defeat Hemu.
Hemu was captured and killed, securing Akbar's throne.
Panipat Mughal Empire
1558 Portuguese occupy Malé Conquest / annexation Malé Portuguese Malé
1559 Drabya Shah founds the Gorkha kingdom Founding / accession Gorkha Gorkha Kingdom
1564 Akbar abolishes the jizya Political
Part of Akbar's policy of Sulh-i-kul (peace with all).
Agra Mughal Empire
1565 Battle of Talikota Battle
Deccan Sultanates defeat Vijayanagara; Hampi sacked.
Vijayanagara's army was routed and its capital Hampi was sacked.
Talikota Tuluva Dynasty
1568 Akbar takes Chittorgarh Battle
Chittor fell and Rana Udai Singh moved his capital to Udaipur.
Chittorgarh Mughal Empire
1571 Fatehpur Sikri founded Founding / accession Fatehpur Sikri Mughal Empire
1573 Akbar conquers Gujarat Conquest / annexation Ahmedabad Mughal Empire
1573 Muhammad Thakurufaanu frees the Maldives Political
The Portuguese were expelled after fifteen years.
Malé Sultanate of the Maldives
1576 Battle of Haldighati Battle
Maharana Pratap against Akbar's army under Man Singh.
The Mughals held the field but Maharana Pratap escaped to continue resisting.
Haldighati Mewar (Sisodia)
1576 Battle of Rajmahal: Mughals take Bengal Battle
Daud Khan Karrani was killed and Bengal became a Mughal province.
Rajmahal Mughal Empire
1580 Akbar organises the empire into subahs Political
The empire was divided into twelve provinces with uniform administration.
Fatehpur Sikri Mughal Empire
1582 Akbar's Din-i-Ilahi Cultural / religious Fatehpur Sikri Mughal Empire
1586 Mughals annex Kashmir Conquest / annexation Srinagar Mughal Empire
1591 Charminar built Cultural / religious Hyderabad Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
1600 East India Company chartered Founding / accession
Royal charter granted in London on 31 December 1600.
British East India Company

17th century CE · 33

1601 Asirgarh falls to Akbar Conquest / annexation Asirgarh Mughal Empire
1602 Dutch East India Company (VOC) founded Founding / accession Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
1604 Adi Granth installed at Harmandir Sahib Cultural / religious Amritsar
1605 Death of Akbar Political Agra Mughal Empire
1606 Execution of Guru Arjan Dev Political
Sikhism began to take on a militant character under Guru Hargobind.
Lahore Mughal Empire
1611 English factory at Masulipatnam Founding / accession
The Company's first factory on the east coast.
Machilipatnam British East India Company
1612 Battle of Swally Battle
English defeat the Portuguese; Surat factory follows.
The English defeated the Portuguese and won trading rights at Surat.
Suvali near Surat British East India Company
1615 Sir Thomas Roe at Jahangir's court Political Ajmer Mughal Empire
1616 Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal arrives in Bhutan Founding / accession Punakha Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
1628 Shah Jahan becomes emperor Founding / accession Agra Mughal Empire
1632 Taj Mahal construction begins Cultural / religious Agra Mughal Empire
1639 Fort St George founded at Madras Founding / accession Chennai Fort St George, Madras
1646 Last Vijayanagara stronghold falls Decline / collapse Chandragiri Aravidu Dynasty
1648 Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) inaugurated Founding / accession Delhi Mughal Empire
1653 Taj Mahal completed Cultural / religious Agra Mughal Empire
1656 Dutch take Colombo from the Portuguese Conquest / annexation
Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka ended by 1658.
Colombo Dutch Ceylon
1658 Aurangzeb becomes emperor Political Delhi Mughal Empire
1659 Shivaji kills Afzal Khan at Pratapgad Battle
Bijapur's army was routed and Shivaji's power grew.
Pratapgad
1661 Bombay passes to England Treaty
Part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry.
Mumbai Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
1664 Shivaji sacks Surat Battle Surat
1665 Treaty of Purandar Treaty
Shivaji ceded 23 forts to the Mughals and agreed to attend Aurangzeb's court.
Purandar
1666 Shivaji escapes from Agra Political Agra
1671 Battle of Saraighat Battle
Lachit Borphukan's Ahom forces defeat the Mughal fleet on the Brahmaputra.
The Ahoms defeated the Mughals, keeping Assam independent.
Saraighat, Guwahati Ahom Kingdom
1674 Shivaji crowned Chhatrapati Founding / accession Raigad Maratha Empire
1675 Execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur Political Delhi Mughal Empire
1679 Aurangzeb reimposes the jizya Political
Alienated many Rajput and other subjects.
Delhi Mughal Empire
1680 Death of Shivaji Decline / collapse
His son Sambhaji succeeded him.
Raigad Maratha Empire
1681 Aurangzeb moves to the Deccan Political Aurangabad Mughal Empire
1686 Mughals annex Bijapur Conquest / annexation
The Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur ended.
Bijapur Mughal Empire
1687 Mughals annex Golconda Conquest / annexation
The Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda ended.
Golconda Mughal Empire
1689 Execution of Sambhaji Political Tulapur Maratha Empire
1690 Job Charnock founds Calcutta Founding / accession
Calcutta grew into the capital of British India.
Sutanuti British East India Company
1699 Guru Gobind Singh founds the Khalsa Cultural / religious Anandpur Sahib

18th century CE · 17

1707 Death of Aurangzeb Political
Beginning of rapid Mughal decline.
Ahmednagar Mughal Empire
1708 Death of Guru Gobind Singh Decline / collapse
He declared the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal Guru.
Nanded
1709 Mirwais Hotak's revolt at Kandahar Founding / accession Kandahar Hotak Dynasty
1713 Balaji Vishwanath becomes Peshwa Political Satara Maratha Empire
1716 Execution of Banda Singh Bahadur Political Delhi Mughal Empire
1717 Farrukhsiyar's farman to the East India Company Treaty Delhi Mughal Empire
1720 Baji Rao I becomes Peshwa Political Pune Maratha Empire
1724 Battle of Shakar Kheda: Hyderabad State founded Battle
Nizam-ul-Mulk defeated the Mughal governor and founded Hyderabad State.
Shakar Kheda Hyderabad State (Nizams)
1737 Baji Rao raids Delhi Battle Delhi Maratha Empire
1739 Nadir Shah sacks Delhi Battle
Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor carried off.
Delhi was plundered and the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor taken to Persia.
Karnal / Delhi Mughal Empire
1741 Battle of Colachel Battle
Travancore defeats the Dutch East India Company.
Travancore defeated the Dutch, ending Dutch ambitions in Kerala.
Colachel Travancore
1742 Maratha (Bargi) raids on Bengal Battle Murshidabad Nawabs of Bengal
1746 French capture Madras (First Carnatic War) Battle Chennai French India
1747 Ahmad Shah Durrani founds the Durrani Empire Founding / accession Kandahar Durrani Empire
1749 Battle of Ambur Battle
Anwaruddin Khan was killed; Chanda Sahib, backed by the French, took Arcot.
Ambur Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
1751 Siege of Arcot Battle
Clive's defence of Arcot turned the Second Carnatic War in Britain's favour.
Arcot Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
1757 Battle of Plassey Battle
Clive defeats Siraj ud-Daulah; Company rule begins in Bengal.
Siraj ud-Daulah was defeated and Mir Jafar became a Company-backed nawab.
Palashi British East India Company