APPSC GROUP-1, GROUP-2/ TSPSC / UPSC

MEDIEVAL HISTORY
ADVENT OF EUROPEANS

India had contact with Europe in the time Memorial through land contact.
discovery of sea route, far reaching consequences and the shape and course of Indian society
and history. The spirit of adventure that led to foundation of modern world promoted
geographical discoveries to far ung areas Primary objective of this voyages was pro t
earning from trade with eastern countries 1st to come to India as traders were Portuguese
followed by Dutch, British, Danish and French.

The Advent of Europeans in India

The advent of Europeans in India marked a signi cant turning point in the history of India.
• The arrival of Vasco da Gama: It began with the arrival of Portuguese explorer Vasco da
Gama in 1498, establishing a direct sea route between Europe and India. This pivotal
moment opened doors to European colonialism and trade domination in the sub-
continent.
• Other Europeans: The Portuguese, followed by other European powers, sought to control
the lucrative spice trade, leading to the establishment of trading posts and forti cations
along the Indian coastline.
• Impact: Their arrival brought about cultural exchanges, con icts with local rulers, and
the reshaping of Indian society. This period laid the foundation for centuries of European
in uence and colonial rule in India.

The Advent of The Portuguese

The Portuguese arrival in India marked the beginning of European colonialism in the subcontinent.
Factors behind the Portuguese Voyage to India
• After the decline of the Roman Empire, in 1453, the Arabs established dominance in Egypt and
Persia, controlling the trade routes to India. The Europeans lost direct contact with India and
the easy accessibility to Indian commodities. land route to India controlled by Arabs.
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 • Spirit of the voyage: In the 15th century, there was a growing eagerness in Europe for
adventurous sea voyages to reach the East, driven by the spirit of the Renaissances and
advancements in shipbuilding and navigation.
• Division of non-Christian world: The Treaty of Tordesillas(1494) divided the non-Christian
world between Portugal and Spain, granting Portugal the eastern territories and Spain
the western territories. This set the stage for Portuguese incursions into the waters around
India.
The Portuguese Governors

• Vasco da Gama:
• The arrival of Vasco da Gama in Calicut
(now Kozhikode) in 1498 had a
signi cant impact on Indian history. The
Hindu ruler of Calicut, the Zamorin,
welcomed him as the prosperity of his
kingdom relied on trade.
• However, the Arab traders, who had a
strong presence on the Malabar coast,
were concerned about the
Portuguese gaining in uence in the
region.
• The Portuguese aimed to monopolise
the pro table eastern trade and exclude their competitors, especially the Arabs.
• Vasco da Gama returned to India in 1501 but faced resistance from the Zamorin when he
sought to exclude Arab merchants in favour of the Portuguese.

• Francisco de Almeida (1505-1509):

• In 1505, Francisco de Almeida was appointed as the Governor of India, with the mission to
consolidate Portuguese in uence and destroy Muslim trade.
• Almeida faced opposition from the Zamorin and a threat from the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt.
• In 1507, the Portuguese squadron was initially defeated in a naval battle o Diu but avenged the
defeat the following year.
• Almeida aimed to make the Portuguese the masters of the Indian Ocean through his Blue
Water Policy.
• Blue Water Policy (Cartaze system): It was a naval trade licence or pass issued by the
Portuguese empire in the Indian Ocean during the sixteenth century. Its name derives from the
Portuguese term 'cartas', meaning letters.

• Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509-1515)

• Alfonso de Albuquerque succeeded Almeida and established Portuguese bases strategically
overlooking the entrances to the Indian Ocean.
• Albuquerque introduced a permit system for other ships and exercised control over major
shipbuilding centres.
• Goa was acquired from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510, becoming the rst Indian territory under
European control since Alexander the great's time.
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 • Albuquerque's rule also saw Portuguese men settling in India, establishing themselves as
landlords, artisans, craftsmen, and traders. An interesting feature of his rule was the
abolition of sati. Introducing new crops like tobacco and cashew nuts.

• Nino da Cunha (1529-1538)

• He moved the headquarters from Cochin to Goa.
• The Portuguese secured the island of Bassein and its dependencies from Bahadur Shah of
Gujarat in 1534, but their relations soured after Humayun withdrew from Gujarat, leading to a
confrontation in which Bahadur Shah was killed by the Portuguese in 1537.
• Additionally, da Cunha attempted to increase Portuguese in uence in Bengal by settling many
Portuguese nationals there with Hooghly as their headquarters.

- Four Important ports of Portuguese - Mangalore, cannanore, Kochi, and Calicut.

- Established military post at Nagapattinam in Andhra, san thome in Chennai & hoogly.

Decline of the Portuguese

By the 18th century, the Portuguese in India experienced a decline in their commercial in uence.
• The Portuguese lost their local advantages as powerful dynasties emerged in Egypt,
Persia, and North India, and the Marathas became their immediate neighbours.
• The Marathas captured Salsette and Bassein from the Portuguese in 1739.
• The religious policies of the Portuguese, including the activities of the Jesuits, caused
political concerns.
• Their conversion e orts to Christianity, coupled with antagonism towards Muslims, led to
resentment among Hindus.

Signi cance of the Portuguese

• The emergence of naval power: The arrival of the Portuguese in India marked the
emergence of naval power and initiated what is often referred to as the European era.
• Own systems: The Portuguese disregarded existing rules and sought to establish their
dominance over Indian trade and the Indian Ocean trading system.
• Military innovations: In the sixteenth century Malabar, the Portuguese demonstrated
military innovation with their use of body armour, matchlock men, and guns landing from
their ships.
• Organisational skills: Their organisational skills, the establishment of royal arsenals and
dockyards, and the maintenance of a regular system of pilots and mapping were
notable contributions.
• Religious Policy: The Portuguese arrived in the East with a zeal to promote Christianity
and persecute Muslims. They were initially tolerant towards Hindus but became increasingly
intolerant over time, especially after the introduction of the Inquisition in Goa.

The Advent of The Dutch

The Dutch Commercial enterprise led them to undertake voyages to the East.
• Trading company: In 1602, the States-General of the Netherlands merged various
trading companies to form the East India Company of the Netherlands.
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 • This company was granted the authority to conduct wars, negotiate treaties, acquire
territories, and establish fortresses.
• Trading centre: The Dutch established their control over Masulipatnam in 1605 and
they established their settlement at Pulicat in 1610.
• The Dutch were not much interested in empire building in India, they showed
commercial interest in spices in the islands of Indonesia.

The Advent of English

In 1599, a group of English merchants known as the 'Merchant Adventurers' formed a
company to pursue Eastern trade and share in the high pro ts enjoyed by the Portuguese.
• Queen’s charter: Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter on December 31, 1600, granting exclusive
trading rights to the newly formed 'Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading
into the East Indies.'
• Initially granted a monopoly of fteen years, it was later extended inde nitely.

Foothold in West and South

• Arrival at Jahangir’s court: In 1609, Captain Hawkins arrived at the court of Jahangir in an
attempt to establish a factory at Surat, but it was unsuccessful due to Portuguese
opposition.
• Beginning of trade: However, the English began trading at Masulipatnam in 1611 and
established a factory there in 1616.
• Battle with Portuguese: In 1612, Captain Thomas Best defeated the Portuguese in a sea
battle of Surat, leading to Jahangir granting permission for an English factory in Surat in
1613.
• Peace was established with the Portuguese, and an Anglo-Dutch compromise allowed the
English to trade without interference.
• Gift of Bombay: Bombay was gifted to King Charles II in 1662 and later given to the East
India Company in 1668, becoming their headquarters in 1687.
• Madras: The English also obtained trading privileges from the Sultan of Golconda and built a
forti ed factory at Madras in 1639, which became the headquarters of English settlements in
South India.

Foothold in Bengal
Bengal, a prosperous and signi cant province of the Mughal Empire, attracted English
merchants due to its trade and commercial opportunities.
• Permission to trade: In 1651, Shah Shuja, the subahdar of Bengal, granted the English
permission to trade in Bengal in exchange for an annual payment.
• Request for a forti ed settlement: Seeking a forti ed settlement, William Hedges, the rst
agent and governor of the Company in Bengal, appealed to Shaista Khan, the Mughal
governor, but hostilities ensued.
• Settlement at Sutanuti: In 1686, Hooghly was sacked by the Mughals, leading to English
retaliation. After negotiations, Job Charnock signed a treaty with the Mughals in 1690,
allowing the English to establish a factory at Sutanuti.
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 • Fort William: The English obtained permission to buy the zamindari of Sutanuti,
Gobindapur, and Kalikata in 1698, and the forti ed settlement was named Fort William in
1700, becoming the seat of the eastern presidency (Calcutta).

The Advent of The French

The French, although harbouring a desire for East Asian commerce since the early 16th century,
arrived on the Indian coasts relatively late.
• Trading company: In 1664, during the reign of Louis XIV, Minister Colbert established the
Compagnie des Indes Orientales (French East India Company), which received a 50-year
monopoly on French trade in the Indian and Paci c Oceans.
• The company was reorganised as the 'Perpetual Company of the Indies in 1720 and
strengthened under the governance of Lenoir and Dumas.
• Rivalry with the Dutch: The French company faced setbacks during wars with the Dutch
and the outbreak of the War of Spanish Succession, leading to the abandonment of
factories in Surat, Masulipatnam, and Bantam.
• Pondicherry: It was founded in 1674 and became the nerve centre of French power in
India.

The Advent of The Danes

The Danish East India Company, also known as the Danish Asiatic Company, was established in
1616 and 1620; they founded a factory at Tranquebar near Tanjore, on the eastern coast of
India.
• Their principal settlement was at Serampore near Calcutta.
• The Danish factories, which were not important at any time, were sold to the British
government in 1845.
• The Danes are better known for their missionary activities than for commerce.

Reasons for English success against other Europeans:

• Structure and nature of trading companies: The English East India Company, unlike its
counterparts, was controlled by a board of directors elected annually, with shareholders
exercising considerable in uence.
• Naval superiority: The Royal Navy of Britain was the largest and most advanced in Europe,
having achieved notable victories such as the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the
French at Trafalgar.
• Industrial Revolution: England was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, bene ting
from inventions and advancements in textiles, metallurgy, steam power, and
agriculture.
• Military skill and discipline: British soldiers were highly disciplined and well-trained.
British commanders demonstrated strategic prowess and implemented innovative
tactics, which, combined with technological advancements, allowed smaller groups of
British ghters to defeat larger armies.
• Stable Government: Compared to other European nations experiencing periods of political
upheaval, Britain enjoyed relatively stable governance with e cient monarchs. France, in
particular, faced the turbulent period of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars,
weakening its position and forcing it to align with Britain.
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• Lesser zeal for religion: Unlike Spain, Portugal, and the Dutch, Britain displayed less
zealousness in spreading Christianity. This more tolerant approach made British rule
more acceptable to the local population in India.
• Use of debt market: Britain successfully utilised the debt markets to fund its wars,
particularly through the establishment of the Bank of England.