Indian History and World History (Part-25)

Vasco da Gama was welcomed by Zamorin, Calicut's ruler of that time. The arrival of Vasco da Gama in India marked the beginning of a new era in trade between the Portuguese and India.

Vasco da Gama was welcomed by Zamorin, Calicut's ruler of that time. The arrival of Vasco da Gama in India marked the beginning of a new era in trade between the Portuguese and India.

Vasco da Gama was welcomed by Zamorin, Calicut's ruler of that time. The arrival of Vasco da Gama in India marked the beginning of a new era in trade between the Portuguese and India.

Vasco da Gama was welcomed by Zamorin, Calicut's ruler of that time. The arrival of Vasco da Gama in India marked the beginning of a new era in trade between the Portuguese and India.

• He was the first European to reach India by sea.
• Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut on 20 May 1498.
• He was appointed the Governor of India as Viceroy, in 1524.
• Vasco da Gama died at Kochi in 1524.

The Portugese were the first among Europenas to arive in India with French being the last in the race for trade with India and east.

Europeans Came to India in Series – Timeline

1. Portuguese (1498):

   • First Europeans to reach India.

   • Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut (Kerala) in 1498, establishing the Portuguese sea route to India.

   • Established colonies in Goa, Daman, and Diu and dominated Indian Ocean trade for a time.

   • Focused on spices, Christian missionary work, and fortified trading posts.

2. Dutch (1602):

   • Came through the Dutch East India Company in 1602.

   • Initially focused on spice trade and established bases in Surat, Chinsura, and Cochin.

   • Their influence declined due to competition from other Europeans, especially the British.

3. English (1600):

   • The English East India Company was established in 1600.

   • Set up its first trading post in Surat in 1612 and later expanded to Madras (Chennai), Bombay (Mumbai), and Calcutta (Kolkata).

   • Initially focused on trade, particularly in textiles, but gradually moved toward territorial expansion and political control.

   • The Battle of Plassey (1757) marked the beginning of British dominance in India.

4. French (1664):

   • The French East India Company was founded in 1664.

   • Focused on trade in the East Coast and established key settlements at Pondicherry, Chandernagore, and Mahe.

   • The French were involved in constant rivalry with the British, especially during the Anglo-French wars in India.

5. Danish (1616):

   • The Danish East India Company was founded in 1616.

   • Established a small colony in Tranquebar (now in Tamil Nadu), but their influence remained limited compared to the Portuguese, Dutch, or British.

6. Swedish (1731):

   • The Swedish East India Company was established in 1731, and they made an attempt to trade with India.

   • They built a factory in Tranquebar (same as the Danish), but their presence was short-lived.

• Portuguese (1498)

  • First to establish trade relations with India, led by Vasco da Gama.

  • Set up colonies in Goa, Daman, and Diu.

• Dutch (1602)

  • Founded the Dutch East India Company.

  • Focused on spice trade with posts in Surat and Cochin.

• English (1600)

  • Established the English East India Company.

  • Set up their first post in Surat and later expanded to Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta.

• French (1664)

  • Founded the French East India Company.

  • Set up posts in Pondicherry, Chandernagore, and Mahe.

• Danish (1616)

  • Founded the Danish East India Company.

  • Established a colony in Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu).

• Swedish (1731)

  • Established the Swedish East India Company.

  • Set up a trading post in Tranquebar.

His policies were known as 'Blue Water Policy ' because his main objective was to establish dominance in the Indian Ocean region from the perspective of commerce.

In 1509, Francisco-de Almeida was replaced by Albuquerque as the Portuguese governor in India, who captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510. He was the real founder of Portuguese power in India.

They were followed by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British in that order. In the year 1948, Sri Lanka achieved freedom from British.

Factories Built by Europeans in India

1. Portuguese:

   • Goa (1510): First Portuguese factory established here, becoming their base in India.

   • Cochin (1503): Another major Portuguese base and trading post.

2. Dutch:

   • Surat (1616): The Dutch East India Company established their first factory here.

   • Pulicat (1609): Another important Dutch factory on the Coromandel Coast.

   • Chinsura (1653): Located in Bengal, this was another key Dutch trade post.

3. English:

   • Surat (1612): The English East India Company set up its first factory here.

   • Madras (1639): The English built Fort St. George and established a major trading hub.

   • Bombay (1668): Acquired by the British from the Portuguese, it became an important factory and port.

   • Calcutta (1690): Established by the British as a factory, later becoming the capital of British India.

4. French:

   • Chandernagore (1673): The French East India Company set up a factory here.

   • Pondicherry (1674): The French established a major trading center and fortified settlement.

5. Danish:

   • Tranquebar (1620): Danish East India Company established its first and only factory here on the Coromandel Coast.

6. Swedish:

   • Tranquebar (1732): The Swedish East India Company established a small factory here, but their influence remained limited.