ABSTRACT
Raleigh. A settlement, which Raleigh named Virginia, is founded on Roanoke Island off the North Carolina coast, but proves shortlived.
1585 The Barbary Company is formed. 1592 The Levant Company is formed from an amalgamation of the
Turkey and Venetian Companies. 1600 East India Company is established. Its first fleet sails in 1601 with
Sir James Lancaster in command to Achin in Sumatra and Bantam in Java.