The close of 15th century, when the Portuguese under the leadership of Vascodagama landed at Calicut (May 17,1498) is a landmark in the history of India’s maritime trade. The arrival of Portuguese was followed by the advent of other European communities and soon India’s coastal and maritime trade was monopolised by the Europeans. The earlier foreign merchants had more commercial motives and had very little or no support from their native governments. But the European merchants who came to India during this period had the political and military support of their respective governments. Moreover, they were not individual merchants but represented their respective governments (nations) and tried to establish and safeguard their maritime trade on the strength of their superior naval power. Military superiority was the backbone of their commercial enterprise.
From the very beginning, the European leading companies began to establish their fortified trading settlements called ‘Factorials’ on the coastal parts of India, immune from the administrative control of the local powers. In course of time, the commercial motive turned into territorial ambitions which pushed India into the jaws of the colonial dragon.
Portuguese
The cape route was discovered by Vascodagama. He reached the port of Calicut on 17th May 1498. The second trip of Vascodagama in 1502 led to the establishment of trading stations at Calicut, Cochin and Cannore. The first Governor of Portuguese in India was Francisco Almeida(1505-1509). The second Governor Alfonso-de-Albuqurque (1509-1515) captured Goa from ruler of Bijapur in 1510. Nino-de-cunha transferred the Portuguese capital in India from Cochin to Goa in 1530 and acquired Diu and Bassien from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
Portuguese lost Hoogli in 1631 during the reign of Shajahan. In 1661, the Portuguese king gave Bombay to Charles-II of England for marrying his sister. The Marathas captured Salsatte and Bassien in 1739. Goa and Daman were freed in 1661. The causes for the decline of Portuguese were their religious intolerance, piracy and clandestine practices in trade and discovery of Brazil.
Dutch
In March 1602, the Dutch East India Company was farmed. The name of the company was ‘Vereenidge Oostindische Companie (VOC). The Dutch set up their first factory at Masulipattam in 1605. The other Dutch factories were at Pulicat, Chinsura, Kasimbazar, Patna, Balasore, Nagapattinam and Cochin. The final collapse of the Dutch came with their defeat by English in the Battle of Bedara 1n 1759.
English
The English East India Company was formed by a group of merchants known as ‘The Merchant Adventurers’ in 1599. Captain Hawkins arrived at Jahangir’s court in 1609 and was given a mansab of 400. Sir Thomas Roe was an ambassador of James-I to Jahangir’s court. He got the firman to trade and erect factories in different parts of the empire.
The company acquired Bombay from Charles-II on lease at an annual rental of £10 in 1668. Bombay became the headquarters of the company on west coast. In 1639, Francis Day obtained the site of Madras from Raja of Chandragiri, which was named ‘Fort St. George’. Madras soon replaced Masulipattam as the headquarters of the English on the coromondal coast. In 1690, a factory was established at Sutanati by Job Charnock and the zamindari of three villages of Sutanati, Kalikota and Govindpur was acquired in 1698. These villages later grew into the city of Calcutta. The fortified settlement of Sutanati was named ‘Fort William’. In 1715, John Surman (Governor of Calcutta) and William Hamilton cured Farrukhsiyar of a disease and gained a firman in 1717, called the Magnacarta of the company.
French
Colbert, the minister of Louis XIV created the ‘compangnile des indes orientales‘ in 1664. Francis Caron set up first French factory at Surat in 1668. The second one was set up at Masulipattinam in 1669 by Maacara. First Governor of Pondiceherry was Francois Martin. Chandranagore in Bengal was acquired from Shaista Khan (Mughal Governor) in 1690. The arrival of Dupleix as French Governor in India in 1742 saw the beginning of Anglo-French Conflict (Carnatic wars) resulting in their final defeat in India.
Danes
The Danes formed an East India company in 1616. They established settlement at Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu) in 1620 and at Serampore (Bengal) in 1676. Serampore was their headquarters in India. They were forced to sell all their settlements, in India to the British in 1845.
Related Questions
1. Which of the following historians were the contemporaries of Akbar?I. Abul Fazl
II. Badauni
III. Mulla Daud
IV. Nizamuddin Ahmad
V. Muhammad Khan
VI. Abdul Hamid Lahori -- View Answer
2. Which of the following was/were factors that contributed to Humayun's defeat against Sher Shah in 1540?
I. Humayun lacked financial resources for continuous warfare
II. Humayun faced hostility of his brothers
III. Sher Shah had far more courage, political experience and organising capabilities
IV. Humayun had to face several rebellions from his nobles because of which he could not keep an eye on Sher Shah's activities. -- View Answer
3. Match the following:
A. Battle of Haldighati 1. Babur
B. Battle of Bilgram 2. Akbar
C. Second Battle of Panipat 3. Humayun
D. Battle of Khanua 4. Jahangir
The below options are given in A B C D order. -- View Answer
4. Ibadat Khana, where learned men of all religions discussed religious issues during the time of Akbar, is a famous structure in : -- View Answer
5. The word Mansab stood for : -- View Answer
6. Which of the following are true with regard to Akbar?
I. He abolished Jaziya and Pilgrim Tax in 1564 and 1563 A.D. respectively
II. He erected the 'Ibadat Khana' for holding religious discussions
III. His Din-i-Ilahi was a code of social conduct
IV. He got the Khutba to be read in his name in 1574 A.D. -- View Answer
7. Which of the following buildings is not situated at Fatehpur Sikri? -- View Answer
8. Which of the following was/were steps taken by Sher Shah to promote trade and commerce?
1. Making travel safe for traders
2.Building a new highway between Delhi and Warangal
3. Abolishing int3rnal duties and levying taxes only at the points of import and sale
4. Building sarals along roadways -- View Answer
9. Sher Shah is well known for his administrative skill, especially his : -- View Answer
10. The Sarak-i-Azam which ran from the Indus to Sonargaon (in Bangladesh) was built by : -- View Answer
Related Quizes
More Questions and Answers
1. Indus Valley Civilization2. Vedic Age-The Aryans
3. Religious movements-Buddhism and Jainism
4. Bhakti movement
5. Mughal Empire
6. Advent of Europeans
7. Expansion of British Supremacy
8. Indian National Movement
Related Articles
1. Anglo Maratha wars2. Anglo Sikh wars
3. British conquest of Bengal
4. British rule in India
5. Carnatic wars
6. Conquest of Mysore
7. East India Company
8. Foreign travellers
9. Governor generals of British India
10. Post Mughal-Autonomous states
11. Resistance to British rule-Non Tribal Movements
12. Resistance to British rule-Peasant Movements
13. Resistance to British rule-Tribal Movements
14. Revolt 1857
