European Powers That Came To India

EUROPEAN POWERS THAT CAME TO INDIA

British were not the only one who came to India, but there were other Europeans powers as well, who tried their hands in this imperialism race.

Those were:

• Portuguese
• Dutch (Holland, now Netherlands)
• British
• Danish (Denmark)
• De French

In 1453, Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople, from where the shortest route to India passed. It was a greater setback to European merchants, who were in need of raw materials as well as markets because of Industrial revolution.

The European Kings started encouraging the navigators to search a new sea route to the eastern part of the world. Hence various navigators like Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci and many others went in search for a new route to Asia.

The 1st person to reach India circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope was Portuguese navigator VASCO-DA-GAMA. He landed at Calicut (Kerala) and was welcomed by Zamorin (ruler). The purpose to come here was spice trade (especially pepper).

1. PORTUGUESE:

     i) Vasco-da-gama: In1498, he visited Calicut and was welcomed by Zamorin. His 2nd visit was in 1501. He defeated Zamorin and captured Calicut (1502).9

     ii) Francis de Almeida (1505-1509): He was the 1st Governor General of Portuguese settlement in India.He followed a policy called BLUE WATERFALLS (strengthening the naval power to expel Arabs from Arabian sea and Indian ocean).

     iii) Afonso de Alboquerque (1509-1515): He was the real founder of Portuguese settlement in India. He captured Goa from Bahamani kingdom. He maintained good relationship with Vijaynagar ruler Krishnadevaraya. In 1510, Portuguese established bases at Goa.

     Reasons for the decline of Portuguese

a) They captured and colonised Brazil.

b) In 1661, Bombay, a Portuguese settlement was given as dowry to English prince Charles II. 

c) English defeated them in the Battle of Swally/Suhali (1612)

MAIN CONTRIBUTION OF PORTUGUESE:

 They brought tomatoes, tobacco, potatoes, chillies etc. to India.

2. DUTCH:

     United East India Company was started in 1602. 1st Dutch settlement in India was at Masulipatnam (1605), 2nd at Surat (1616), 3rd at Nagapatnam.

     Reasons for their decline:

a) They captured and colonised Indonesia

b) They maintained Triangular trade. Dutch brought gold bullions to India and exchanged it with cotton produced here. This cotton was taken to Indonesia and exchanged it with spices produced there.

c) English defeated Dutch at Battle of Bedara (1759).

3. BRITISH:

     In 1599, John Mildenhall came to India. English East India Company was started in 1600 in England by a Charter given by Queen Elizabeth I. It was a private organisation, started by issuing shares. The highest decision making authority was called as Court of Directors (COD). The company got a privilege to have monopoly of trade with the East. 

     In 1608, Company sent its representatives Captain William Hawkins to the court of Jahangir to set up settlement at Surat, but Jahangir initially refused. Later, in 1609, Jahangir gave a farman (royal order) to build a factory at Surat. EIC set up its 1st factory at at Surat in 1613 and 2nd at Masulipatnam in 1616.

     In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe visited Mughal emperor's court and received a farman to carry free trade and exemption from Inland toll.

     In 1632, they received Right to trade in Golconda Kingdom.

     In 1651, Nawab of Bengal Shuja-ud-din granted company the right to trade after paying duties.

    In 1663, the 1st factory to be built in EASTERN INDIA was at Orissa.

    In 1664, Company built its 1st fort St. George in Chennai ( then Madras).

     In 1668, company got Bombay from Charles II for a lease of 10 pounds/ yr.

     In 1691, royal farman was issued by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb which exempted EIC to pay custom duties in Bengal.

     In 1698, company bought 3 Villages from a local zamindar (Sutanidhi, Govindpur, Kalikata). These were also called presidential towns.

     in 1700, company built a fort called 'Fort Williams' in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

     In 1717, they received a royal farman from Farruk Siyar giving rights for minting their own coins and provided trade consessions.

4. DANISH:

     The Danish East India Company was set up in 1616. They wanted to propagate Christianity, besides trade. They propagated Education as well. Two important Danish settlements were Serampore and Tranquebar.

5. DE FRENCH

  French East India Company was set up in 1664 during the French ruler Louis XIV, with the support of his Finance Minister Colbert. It was a government company. 

     1st French settlement in India was at Surat (1668) and 2nd at Masulipatnam (1669). Another important settlement was at Chandranagar and Pondicherry.

     in 1742, when Dupleix came to India as French Governor General, there was change in their objective from Commercial motive to Imperial expansion and the Anglo-French/ Carnatic wars started.

Important Points:

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