History of the Advent of Europeans in India

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In both the Ancient and Medieval Eras, India has been a major hotspot as a trading destination for several European countries. Not only the Britishers were the Europeans who embarked in and settled, but also the Portuguese with their developments in navigation first discovered the sea route to India. 

The discovery of the European Age began with the Portuguese navigators, where Prince Henry the Navigator began maritime school in Portugal. The subsequent of these technical and scientific revelations drove Portugal to foster the most developed boats, including the Caravel, the Carrack, and the Galleon, where for the first time in history maritime navigation was possible. The Portuguese Empire drove the Portuguese Kingdom to find and navigate the greater part of the Globe, and discover oceans courses similar to the East and West, for example, the exceptional journey to discover the sea route to India through the Cape of Good Hope. Here, we are giving brief records of the advent of Europeans in India: The Portuguese, The Dutch, And The Danes.

Following the arrival of the Portuguese in India, we will understand the British In India.

Beginning Of The Europeans Entry To The Indian Land: Important Facts

Merchants of Western European states, specifically Spain and Portugal started the search for an Indian sea route for trading. The following two important facts describe the entry of Europeans into Indian land:

• In the year 1492, Spain’s Christopher Columbus started his journey to reach India, however, he discovered America.

• In the year 1498, Portugal's Vasco Da Gama discovered a sea route via Cape Of Good Hope to reach India from Europe.

Sequence of The Entry of European Countries to India

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Now, let’s understand the advent of these European countries one by one:

The Arrival of Europeans: The Arrival of Portuguese in India

It was the Portuguese who previously found the first sea route to India. Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama showed up at Calicut, a significant seaport situated in South-West India on May 20, 1498 AD. Ruler Zamorin, the neighborhood ruler, got him and gave him certain advantages. Subsequent to remaining in India for a time of 90 days Vasco da Gama got back with a rich loan which he sold in the European market at an over-the-top value 60 times the expense of his journey. 

After Vasco da Gama returned to India for the second time in 1501 AD, he stood a trading plant at Cannanore. With the development of trade links in Calicut, Cannanore, and Cochin arose the critical Portuguese centers in India. Bedouin dealers became envious of the ascent and accomplishment of the Portuguese and subsequently caused hatred to breed between the Portuguese and the neighborhood ruler Zamorin. The threats developed and prompted a full-fledged military face-off between them. Lord Zamorin was defeated by the Portuguese. With the triumph over Zamorin, the tactical predominance of the Portuguese was set up.

The Rise of Portuguese Influence in India 

In 1505 AD, Francisco de Almeida was named the first Portuguese governor in India. His strategy being driven on controlling the Indian Ocean was known as the Blue Water Policy. Alfonso d’ Albuquerque who designated Almeida as the governor in 1509 AD and seized Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510 AD is viewed as the real founder of the Portuguese power in India. Goa, therefore, turned into the base camp of the Portuguese settlements in India. Portuguese hold over the seaside regions and predominance in naval force helped them altogether. Before the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese captured Goa, Daman, Diu, and Salsette besides the huge stretches along the Indian coast. 

The Decline of Portuguese Power in India

The Portuguese ascent in India had a short life as the new opponent trading communities/networks from Europe posed a major challenge to them. Battles among different opponents trading coalitions followed in which Portuguese needed to offer a way to the more remarkable and ambitious competitors gradually delivering them an atrophied entity.

The Arrival of the British Raj in India

The advent of the British in India and the institution of the British East India Company was the result of the Portuguese traders who earned a huge profit by selling their merchandise in India. Being influenced by the accomplished business stories of the Portuguese, a bunch of English merchants called ‘Merchant Adventurers’ framed a company titled the East India Company in 1599 AD. On 31 December 1600 A.C., the Company was conferred with a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, thereby authorizing it to trade in the East. Queen was herself an investor in this company.

The Expansion of British East India Company in the East

After the successful establishment of its factories in the south and west India, the company started to focus on eastern India, specifically Bengal, which was also a significant province of the Mughal empire. In 1651 A.D., the Bengal’s governor Sujauddaula permitted the English Company to conduct its trade activities in Bengal.

Therefore, a factory in Hugli was established and three villages named Sutanati, Govindapur, and Kolkata - were purchased in 1698 AD by the company to construct a factory over there. Consequently, Fort William was raised to provide safety around the factory.

The Danes in India

The Danes were recognized for their missionary activities, had their headquarters in Serampore, West Bengal. They set up their first factory in Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu in 1620. The Danish East company was established in 1616.

The Arrival of the Dutch 

Individuals of Holland (present Netherlands) is known as the Dutch. Near to the Portuguese, the Dutch set their feet in India. Verifiably the Dutch have been specialists in ocean exchange. In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands was framed and given consent by the Dutch government to exchange the East Indies including India. 

Ascent of the Dutch 

The Dutch established their first factory in Masulipatnam in Andhra Pradesh in 1605. Along these lines, they likewise settled trading focusing on different pieces of India. Dutch Suratte and Dutch Bengal were set up in 1616 AD and 1627 AD individually. The Dutch vanquished Ceylon from the Portuguese in 1656 AD. They likewise took the Portuguese strongholds on the Malabar coast in 1671 AD. The Dutch steadily turned into a strong power capturing Nagapatam close to Madras (Chennai) from the Portuguese consequently building up their foothold in South India. In monetary terms, they procured tremendous benefits through business monopolizing in dark pepper and flavors. The significant Indian items traded by the Dutch were cotton, indigo, silk, rice, and opium. 

Dutch Coinage 

The Dutch, during their visit to India, tried their hands on the minting of coinage. As their trade flourished, they set up mints at Cochin, Masulipatnam, Nagapatam Pondicherry, and Pulicat. Much more, a Gold pagoda with a picture of Lord Venkateswara, (god Vishnu) was given at Pulicat mint. The coins given by the Dutch were completely demonstrated on the local coinages.

Decay of Dutch Power 

Dutch presence on the Indian subcontinent started from 1605 AD and remained till 1825 AD. The ascent of the British trade in the Eastern trade posed a major challenge to the business interest of the Dutch prompting ridiculous fighting between them in which Britishers were the clear winners attributable to tremendous resources available to them. The merciless killing of some English merchants by the Dutch in Amboyna in 1623 further disturbed the circumstance. The Britishers consistently captured Dutch strongholds.

The arrival of the French

The last European individuals to show up in India were the French. The French East India Company was framed in 1664 AD during the rule of King Louis XIV to trade with India. In 1668 A.D., the French set up their first factory at Surat, and in 1669 AD settled another French factory at Masulipatnam. In 1673 AD the Mughal Subedar of Bengal permitted the French to set up a township at Chandernagore. 

Puducherry and French Commercial Growth 

In 1674 AD, the French established a town called Puducherry from the Sultan of Bijapur and established a flourishing city on it which later turned into the fundamental fortress of the French in India. The French East India Company with the progression of time developed its trade bastions at Mahe, Karaikal, Balasore, and Qasim Bazar. 

The French came to India mostly with an aim of trade and commerce. From their arrival until 1741 AD, the targets of the French, similar to those of the British, were simply business. The French East India Company grabbed hold of Yanam in 1723 AD, Mahe on Malabar Coast in 1725 AD, and Karaikal in 1739 AD.

Interesting Facts on the Advent of Portuguese in India