📌 Topic 01 of 6 · Chapter 12 · Advent of Europeans & British Expansion
European Trading Companies in India
Portuguese (Vasco da Gama 1498), Dutch, Danish, French, British — establishment of trading posts, rivalry.
📖 Why Did Europeans Come to India?
- Spice trade: Indian spices (pepper, cardamom, cinnamon) were extremely valuable in Europe
- Ottoman blockade: Ottomans controlled the traditional land routes to India — Europeans needed a sea route
- Age of Exploration: 15th–16th century — European nations competed to find new trade routes
- Wealth: India was known as a land of fabulous wealth — “Golden Bird” (Sone ki Chidiya)
⚓ European Companies in India
| Company/Nation | Arrival | Key Events | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | 1498 (Vasco da Gama) | Captured Goa (1510, Alfonso de Albuquerque); controlled spice trade; built forts at Diu, Daman, Cochin | Declined after Dutch and British arrival; retained Goa until 1961 |
| Dutch (VOC) | 1602 | Focused on Southeast Asia (Indonesia); defeated Portuguese; Battle of Colachel (1741) — defeated by Travancore | Left India; focused on Indonesia (Dutch East Indies) |
| English (EIC) | 1600 (Charter) | Surat factory (1613); Madras (1639); Bombay (1668); Calcutta (1690); defeated French in Carnatic Wars | Became dominant; ruled India 1757–1947 |
| French (CIO) | 1664 | Pondicherry (1674); Chandernagore; Carnatic Wars; Dupleix vs Clive | Defeated by British; retained Pondicherry until 1954 |
| Danish | 1620 | Tranquebar (1620); Serampore (Bengal) | Sold settlements to British (1845) |
⚓ Portuguese in India
- Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut (Kozhikode) in 1498 — discovered sea route to India
- Pedro Alvares Cabral — second Portuguese expedition (1500)
- Francisco de Almeida — first Portuguese Viceroy of India; Battle of Diu (1509) — defeated Arab-Egyptian fleet
- Alfonso de Albuquerque — captured Goa (1510); made it Portuguese headquarters; “real founder of Portuguese power in India”
- Portuguese controlled the spice trade for about a century
- Introduced tobacco, potato, tomato, cashew to India
⭐ Battle of Colachel (1741): The Battle of Colachel is significant because Travancore (Kerala) under King Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch — the only Asian victory over a European power in the 18th century. The Dutch commander Eustachius De Lannoy was captured and later served as a naval commander for Travancore. This ended Dutch power in India.
⚓ British East India Company (EIC)
- Founded: December 31, 1600 — Queen Elizabeth I granted charter
- First factory: Surat (1613) — under Thomas Best
- Madras (Fort St. George) — 1639
- Bombay — 1668 (received from Portuguese as dowry for Catherine of Braganza’s marriage to Charles II)
- Calcutta (Fort William) — 1690 (Job Charnock)
- Defeated French in Carnatic Wars (1746–1763) — became dominant European power
📝 Exam Tip:
• Vasco da Gama = 1498 = Calicut = discovered sea route to India
• Alfonso de Albuquerque = captured Goa (1510) = real founder of Portuguese power
• EIC charter = December 31, 1600 = Queen Elizabeth I
• Battle of Colachel = 1741 = Travancore defeated Dutch = only Asian victory over Europeans
• Carnatic Wars = 1746–1763 = British vs French = British won
• Vasco da Gama = 1498 = Calicut = discovered sea route to India
• Alfonso de Albuquerque = captured Goa (1510) = real founder of Portuguese power
• EIC charter = December 31, 1600 = Queen Elizabeth I
• Battle of Colachel = 1741 = Travancore defeated Dutch = only Asian victory over Europeans
• Carnatic Wars = 1746–1763 = British vs French = British won