Question

Which of the following statements are correct?
(1) Vasco Da Gama was welcomed by the Zamorin king at Muziris port.
(2) Thomas Roe visited the court of Aurangzeb to get permission to trade in India.
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

Hint: Spices, gold and other riches attracted various explorers to India, these goods were valuable in Europe and other parts of the world but they had to travel or sail long ways over the land and sea to acquire them in Asia.

Complete answer:
Let's explore the correct versions of this statement.
1) Vasco da Gama, sailed from Portugal, Lisbon and anchored at Malindi on the east coast of South Africa via Cape of Good Hope. With the help of an Indian merchant from Kenya; he reached Calicut, India on May 20 1498.Europeans were keen on finding a faster way to reach India by sailing around South Africa. Vasco da Gama's successful discovery of the sea route proved to be an imperative moment in history. This ocean route was important in establishing a permanent route from Europe to India and simultaneously ensured that Portugal had an unchallenged monopoly to the vast Indian spices making them the lords of trade in Europe for some time.
2) Thomas Roe visited the court of Jahangir where he represented England in the Mughal Empire, he was an English diplomat who voyaged from Central Asia to India. He arrived in India in 1615 at the port of Surat. This can be considered as the inception of East India Company .
Hence, the correct answer is, ‘D) Neither 1 nor 2’.

Note: Other voyagers and travellers explored India. Portuguese were controlled by other European powers but this discovery of the sea route to India is known as “Age of discovery”. Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India gave the Portuguese a strategic upper hand.