Advent of European
- Traditionally European trade with the east was done via the silk route(a land route to china and a spice route a sea route to the east)
- Traders from Venice and Geneva dominated European trade with the east and earned huge profits by selling to the rest of Europe.
- Arabain sea part of the trade was dominated by Arab traders.
- In 1453 Ottoman empire conquered Constantinople and locked European trade with the east, triggering a search for a northwest trade route to the east.
- This led to the age of discovery in the 16th century, whereby man of the world was gradually developed and there were advances in shipping and knowledge of geography.
- In 1492, Columbus discovered Central America.
- In 1498, Vasco-de-Gama discovered a route via the cape of good hope to India and reached Calicut.
- In 1500, Amerigo Vespucci discovered south America and proved that America was a continent different from India.
- In the early 16th century, the Portuguese discovered a new route to China and the Philippines.
- Therefore European trade with the east was established.
Portuguese in India
- Trade with India was done via a state-led corporation.
- They began their trade with south India and set up trading centers in different parts of India, especially coastal areas.
- They set up their main base in and around Surat and later in Goa.
- In 1510 they captured Goa from the kingdom of Bijapur and Bombay in 1534.
- They dominated international trade in the east indies for 100 years with HQ in Goa.
- Since India had strong land power, therefore Portuguese followed the policy of domination only of the high seas/oceans, and the oceanic trade of India.
- They did not aim to build a political empire in India.
- Portuguese dominated the high seas(Bule water policy) as they were strong naval powers.
- They did armed trade, engaged in piracy, and therefore the passage via oceans and allowed passage only after payment of a license fee by other ships.
- They regularly raided Arab traders who until now dominated Arabian sea trade and also threaten Mughal ships forcing Mughals to give trade concessions from lower customs duties and permission to set up factories and trading centers.
- They were religious fanatics and engaged in forced conversions to Christianity.
- In the late 16th century, there was the rise of 2 new naval powers- Dutch and England.
- The 1st challenge to achieving freedom was navigation in the ocean and the 2nd to removing Portuguese control over the oceanic trade of the east indies.
- In 1588, in a decisive battle, Britain defeated Armada/a large Spanish naval fleet in the Atlantic Ocean, and now Britain and the dutch could travel to the east via the Cape of good hope.
British Vs Portuguese
- In 1608, EIC wanted to open a factory in Surat, therefore sending captain Hawkins to Jahangir's court, he was given a Mansab and a Jagir but then was removed from court due to pressure from the Portuguese.
- Therefore EIC realized that the military defeat of the Portuguese is a must for EIC to expand its trade with India.
- In 1612, EIC defeated the Portuguese navy in surat and therefore was rewarded by Jahangir with a royal Farman in 1612, which gave EIC the right to establish itself on the west coast.
- Hence Surat factory was set up in 1612.
- To extract more concession British government sent Thomes Roe as an ambassador and he was accepted as a resident in Jahangir's court.
- Finally, in 1617, he was able to extract another royal Farman where the British got the right to establish factories in the whole of the Mughal empire and liberal trading rights.
- These angered the Portuguese and in 1620 conflicts culminated in a major battle where the British won and this ended Portuguese domination of international trade in India.
- In 1661, King Charles II of England got the island of Bombay in dowry from the Portuguese.
- Therefore by the mid-17 century, the Portuguese were restricted to Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli.
British Vs Dutch
- Dutch removed the Portuguese from Cylon and the east indies(Indonesia).
- And now rivalry between the British and the Dutch who fought for decades and finally by the mid-17 century British was defeated and a compromise was reached whereby the Dutch agreed to not attack the British in India and the British left Indonesia to the dutch.
- British stayed in Malaya and Dutch dominated Kochin by 1669.
- The Dutch were removed from Kochin in1741 by Marthanda Varma.
- By 1795, the complete removal of the dutch from India by British.
English East India Company
- It was set up on 31st December 1600 by a royal charter which was its founding document issued by Queen Elizabeth.
- The tools given by royal charter to EIC were:
- Monopoly over British trade with the east indies that is with all land east of cape of good hope for 15 years.
- EIC was allowed to carry gold out of Britain to buy eastern goods.
- The Right to wage war, acquire territories, and administer them.
- The goal for EIC formation as per the charter was not empire building but trade with the east to counter dutch competition.
- Presidencies of EIC:
- Presidencies of EIC in Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta served as regional HQ of EIC trade with south, west, and east India respectively.
- The term presidency was given or the status of HQ was given when these places came to have significant EIC establishments in form of warehouses, offices, homes, etc.
- Later when EIC annexed territories in India, they were added to respectively regional presidencies leading to the expansion of the company's regional HQ into provinces of British India.
- The Madras presidency was set up in 1652.
- The Bombay presidency was set up in 1681.
- The Calcutta presidency was set up in 1699.
- The Governor of the presidency was a regional manager of EIC, who initially looked mainly after the business of EIC but once EIC became conqueror and ruler, then ruling parts of India became his additional responsibility as the company transformed itself into a company-state
The topic of the next: Rise of EIC as political power.
1. Which empire's conquest of Constantinople in 1453 affected European trade with the East?
a) Roman Empire
b) Ottoman Empire
c) British Empire
d) Portuguese Empire
Answer: b) Ottoman Empire
2. Who discovered Central America in 1492?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco de Gama
c) Amerigo Vespucci
d) Marthanda Varma
Answer: a) Christopher Columbus
3. Which European power discovered a route to India via the Cape of Good Hope in 1498?
a) Spain
b) Portugal
c) England
d) France
Answer: b) Portugal
4. In which city did the Portuguese establish their main base in India?
a) Calicut
b) Surat
c) Goa
d) Bombay
Answer: c) Goa
5. The Portuguese dominated international trade in the East Indies for how many years from their HQ in Goa?
a) 50 years
b) 75 years
c) 100 years
d) 125 years
Answer: c) 100 years
6. What policy did the Portuguese follow regarding their domination in India?
a) Political empire building
b) Land power domination
c) High seas/ocean domination
d) Religious conversion
Answer: c) High seas/ocean domination
7. Who were the two naval powers that challenged Portuguese dominance in the late 16th century?
a) Spanish and French
b) Dutch and English
c) Portuguese and British
d) Ottoman and Mughal
Answer: b) Dutch and English
8. In which year did the British defeat the Portuguese navy in Surat?
a) 1600
b) 1608
c) 1612
d) 1620
Answer: b) 1608
9. Which Mughal emperor rewarded the English East India Company (EIC) with a royal Farman in 1612?
a) Akbar
b) Jahangir
c) Shah Jahan
d) Aurangzeb
Answer: b) Jahangir
10. Which island did King Charles II of England receive from the Portuguese in 1661?
a) Sri Lanka
b) Maldives
c) Bombay
d) Ceylon
Answer: c) Bombay
11. The Dutch were removed from Kochin in 1741 by whom?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco de Gama
c) Marthanda Varma
d) Thomas Roe
Answer: c) Marthanda Varma
12. When was the English East India Company (EIC) established?
a) 1500
b) 1588
c) 1600
d) 1620
Answer: c) 1600
13. What was the goal of the English East India Company (EIC) as per its charter?
a) Empire building in India
b) Establishing trade with the East Indies
c) Conquering Dutch territories
d) Converting Indians to Christianity
Answer: b) Establishing trade with the East Indies
14. Which were the three presidencies of the English East India Company (EIC)?
a) Madras, Goa, Calcutta
b) Bombay, Calicut, Surat
c) Mad
ras, Bombay, Calcutta
d) Delhi, Agra, Jaipur
Answer: c) Madras, Bombay, Calcutta
15. When was the Madras presidency set up?
a) 1588
b) 1600
c) 1652
d) 1681
Answer: c) 1652
16. Which presidency became the regional HQ for EIC trade in West India?
a) Madras
b) Bombay
c) Calcutta
d) Surat
Answer: b) Bombay
17. Who was the regional manager of EIC in the presidency?
a) Governor
b) Viceroy
c) President
d) Commissioner
Answer: a) Governor
18. Which European power challenged the British in India during the 17th century?
a) French
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: b) Dutch
19. When did the British defeat the Dutch and reach a compromise?
a) 1600
b) 1652
c) 1681
d) 1795
Answer: d) 1795
20. Which European power dominated Malaya during the 17th century?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: a) British
21. The English East India Company (EIC) had a monopoly over British trade with the East Indies for how many years?
a) 10 years
b) 15 years
c) 20 years
d) 25 years
Answer: b) 15 years
22. What was the purpose of the English East India Company (EIC) as per its charter?
a) To establish trade with China
b) To counter Dutch competition
c) To build an empire in India
d) To spread Christianity in the East
Answer: b) To counter Dutch competition
23. Which city served as the regional HQ for EIC trade in South India?
a) Madras
b) Bombay
c) Calcutta
d) Surat
Answer: a) Madras
24. Which city served as the regional HQ for EIC trade in East India?
a) Madras
b) Bombay
c) Calcutta
d) Surat
Answer: c) Calcutta
25. Which European power did the English East India Company (EIC) defeat in Surat in 1608?
a) Dutch
b) French
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: c) Portuguese
26. Who extracted the royal Farman from Jahangir allowing the British to establish factories in the Mughal Empire?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco de Gama
c) Amerigo Vespucci
d) Thomas Roe
Answer: d) Thomas Roe
27. In which year did the conflict culminate in a major battle where the British defeated the Portuguese?
a) 1608
b) 1612
c) 1620
d) 1661
Answer: c) 1620
28. When were the Portuguese restricted to Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli?
a) Early 16th century
b) Late 16th century
c) Mid-17th century
d) Late 17th century
Answer: c) Mid-17th century
29
. Which European power did the British defeat in a decisive battle in 1588?
a) Dutch
b) French
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: d) Spanish
30. Who discovered a new route to China and the Philippines in the early 16th century?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco de Gama
c) Amerigo Vespucci
d) Marthanda Varma
Answer: a) Christopher Columbus
31. Which European power dominated the Arabian Sea trade before the arrival of the Portuguese?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: c) Portuguese
32. Which European power established trading centers in coastal areas of India?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: c) Portuguese
33. Which European power captured Goa from the kingdom of Bijapur in 1510?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: c) Portuguese
34. What type of trade did the Portuguese engage in, along with piracy?
a) Peaceful trade
b) Forced trade
c) Armed trade
d) Free trade
Answer: c) Armed trade
35. Which naval powers challenged Portuguese dominance in the late 16th century?
a) British and Dutch
b) Dutch and Spanish
c) French and Portuguese
d) Spanish and Portuguese
Answer: a) British and Dutch
36. What did the Portuguese aim to establish in India?
a) Political empire
b) Religious dominance
c) Land power domination
d) Control over oceanic trade
Answer: d) Control over oceanic trade
37. Who discovered South America and proved that it was a continent different from India?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco de Gama
c) Amerigo Vespucci
d) Marthanda Varma
Answer: c) Amerigo Vespucci
38. Who defeated the Armada, a large Spanish naval fleet, in a decisive battle in 1588?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese
d) Spanish
Answer: a) British
39. Which empire's conquest of Constantinople triggered a search for a northwest trade route to the East?
a) Roman Empire
b) Ottoman Empire
c) British Empire
d) Portuguese Empire
Answer: b) Ottoman Empire
40. Who discovered a route to India via the Cape of Good Hope in 1498?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco de Gama
c) Amerigo Vespucci
d) Marthanda Varma
Answer: b) Vasco de Gama
Here are two long answer type questions for UPSC GS paper exam based on the provided class notes:
1. Discuss the advent of European trade with the East and its significance in shaping the Age of Discovery in the 16th century.
Answer:
The advent of European trade with the East marked a significant turning point in history and triggered the Age of Discovery in the 16th century. Traditionally, European trade with the East was conducted through the silk route and spice route dominated by traders from Venice and Geneva. However, the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 disrupted European trade routes and created the need for an alternative route to the East.
This led to a period of exploration and discovery as Europeans sought new trade routes. Advances in shipping technology and geographical knowledge played a crucial role in this process. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered Central America, followed by Vasco de Gama's discovery of a route to India via the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. Amerigo Vespucci's exploration of South America further proved that it was a separate continent from India.
These discoveries opened up new possibilities for trade and colonization. European powers, particularly Portugal and later England and the Netherlands, began establishing trading centers and colonies in different parts of the world, including India. The Age of Discovery brought about advancements in navigation, cartography, and knowledge of distant lands, laying the foundation for the expansion of European empires and the establishment of global trade networks.
2. Analyze the Portuguese presence in India and its impact on trade and political dynamics.
Answer:
The Portuguese presence in India had a significant impact on trade and political dynamics during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Portuguese, led by explorers like Vasco de Gama, established trading centers in coastal areas of India, especially in south India. They set up their main base in and around Surat and later captured Goa from the kingdom of Bijapur in 1510, making it their headquarters.
The Portuguese dominated international trade in the East Indies for around 100 years. They followed a policy of dominating the high seas and the oceanic trade of India, rather than aiming to build a political empire. Their naval power and armed trade tactics allowed them to control the Arabian Sea trade and engage in piracy. They established a monopoly over the passage via oceans and imposed license fees on other ships.
The Portuguese engaged in religious conversions and forced Christianity upon the local population. This led to conflicts with other powers, including the Mughal Empire. The rise of new naval powers, particularly the Dutch and the English, challenged Portuguese dominance in the late 16th century.
The Dutch and English, through battles and negotiations, gradually diminished Portuguese control over the oceanic trade of the East Indies. The British defeated the Portuguese in Surat in 1612 and obtained royal Firmans from Jahangir, granting them trading rights and the establishment of factories throughout the Mughal Empire.
By the mid-17th century, the Portuguese were restricted to Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli. Their influence in India declined, making way for the growing dominance of the British and the Dutch. The Portuguese presence in India had a lasting impact on trade patterns, as well as cultural and religious dynamics, with their legacy visible in the Indian coastal regions even today.
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