Context: Fall of Constantinople (1453) to Ottoman Turks blocked traditional land routes for trade between Europe and Asia. ๐ซ
Motivation: Search for new sea routes to the East (India, Spice Islands) for valuable spices (pepper, cloves, cinnamon), textiles, and other goods. Economic (profit), Political (power), Religious (spread Christianity). ๐ฐโ๏ธ
Pioneers: Portugal and Spain led early explorations.
II. The Portuguese (c. 1498 – 1961 CE)
First to Arrive, Last to Leave: The earliest European power to establish a presence in India. Retained territories until 1961. ๐ต๐น
Key Figures & Voyages:
Vasco da Gama:
Arrival: Landed at Calicut (Kerala) in 1498 CE. Received by the local ruler, Zamorin. ๐บ๏ธ
Significance: Opened a direct sea route from Europe to India, bypassing Arab middlemen. Revolutionized global trade. ๐
Pedro รlvares Cabral: Arrived in 1500, established first factory at Calicut.
Francisco de Almeida (1505-1509): First Portuguese Governor in India.
Policy:“Blue Water Policy” โ aimed at Portuguese mastery of the Indian Ocean, not building fortresses on land. ๐
Battle of Diu (1509): Defeated combined fleets of Gujarat, Egypt, and Zamorin. Outcome: Established Portuguese naval supremacy. ๐ช
Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509-1515): Second and most important Governor.
Policy: Real founder of Portuguese power in India. Abandoned “Blue Water Policy” for territorial expansion. ๐๏ธ
Conquest of Goa (1510): Captured from the Sultan of Bijapur. Outcome: Became the administrative capital and stronghold of Portuguese in India. Still a Portuguese territory until 1961.
Other Conquests: Captured Malacca (1511), Ormuz (1515) โ strategically controlling major trade choke points.
Religious Policy: Encouraged mixed marriages, built churches, but also engaged in religious persecution (Goa Inquisition). โช
Reasons: Limited manpower, brutal religious policy, rise of new powerful European rivals (Dutch, English), discovery of Brazil (diverting attention), dishonest officials, fall of Vijayanagara Empire (affected spice trade). ๐
Arrival: Formed the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602 CE (first joint-stock company).
Primary Motivation: Spices from the Indonesian archipelago (Spice Islands/East Indies), but also trade in Indian textiles, indigo, saltpetre, opium. ๐ฐ
Key Settlements/Factories:
Masulipatnam (1605): First factory.
Pulicat (1610): Became their main center in Coromandel Coast, minting gold pagodas.
Surat, Chinsura (Bengal), Nagapattinam, Karaikal.
Conflicts & Decline:
Conflict with Portuguese: Successfully ousted Portuguese from most of their strongholds.
Conflict with English: Main rivalry was with the English East India Company.
Battle of Amboyna (1623): Dutch massacred English traders in Indonesia. Outcome: English focused on India, Dutch on Indonesia.
โ๏ธ Battle of Biderra/Chinsura (1759 CE):Decisively defeated by the British in Bengal. Outcome: Led to the complete decline of Dutch power in India. ๐ฅ
Loss of territories during Napoleonic Wars: Most Dutch possessions taken by British.
Impact on India: Major role in Indian textile trade. Introduced “Hundi” (bill of exchange) system for trade financing.
IV. The English (c. 1600 – 1947 CE)
Arrival:English East India Company (EIC) formed in 1600 CE by royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I. ๐ฌ๐ง
Primary Motivation: Trade (spices initially, then textiles, indigo, saltpetre, opium). Later, political dominance. ๐
Key Figures & Events:
Captain William Hawkins: Arrived at Jahangir’s court (1609) but failed to get permission for a factory at Surat.
Sir Thomas Roe: Successfully obtained permission from Jahangir (1615) to establish factories at Surat, Agra, Ahmedabad, Broach.
First Factory:Surat (1613 CE). ๐ญ
Madras (Fort St. George): Founded in 1639 CE by Francis Day, built Fort St. George. ๐๏ธ
Bombay: Acquired as dowry from Portuguese in 1668 (King Charles II married Catherine of Braganza), leased to EIC. ๐๏ธ
Calcutta (Fort William): Zamindari rights over Sutanuti, Gobindapur, Kalikata acquired in 1698. Fort William built. Became a major trade hub.
Consolidation & Rise to Power:
Conflict with Portuguese: Defeated Portuguese at Battle of Swally Hole (1612), boosting their reputation.
Conflict with Dutch: Focused on India after Amboyna Massacre.
Anglo-French Rivalry (Carnatic Wars): See next section.
Key Battles for Dominance:
โ๏ธ Battle of Plassey (1757 CE):Defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal). Outcome: Marked the beginning of British political dominance in India. Major revenue gains from Bengal. ๐ฐ
โ๏ธ Battle of Buxar (1764 CE):Decisively defeated combined forces of Mir Qasim (deposed Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Outcome: Confirmed British as the supreme power in Bengal; secured Diwani rights (revenue collection) over Bengal, Bihar, Orissa; Mughal Emperor became British pensioner. ๐โก๏ธ๐ต
Rise of British Raj: From trading company to ruling power by late 18th century.
V. The French (c. 1664 – 1954 CE)
Arrival:French East India Company founded in 1664 CE by Colbert under King Louis XIV. State-controlled. ๐ซ๐ท
Primary Motivation: Trade, economic and political rivalry with English.
Key Settlements/Factories:
Surat (1668): First French factory.
Pondicherry (1674): Became the chief French settlement and capital. ๐๏ธ
Chandernagore (Bengal), Mahe, Karaikal, Yanam.
Key Figure:Joseph Franรงois Dupleix (1742-1754): Ambitious French Governor, aimed at establishing French political empire in India. Utilized native rulers’ rivalries, established ‘subsidiary alliance’ system (early form). ๐ง
Context: Extensions of Anglo-French rivalry in Europe (Austrian Succession, Seven Years’ War) into India. Fought for control over Deccan and trade routes.
First Carnatic War (1746-1748):
Cause: Austrian War of Succession.
โ๏ธ Battle of St. Thome (1746): French defeated forces of Nawab of Carnatic. Outcome: Showed European disciplined armies could defeat large Indian armies.
Outcome: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Madras restored to English.
Second Carnatic War (1749-1754):
Cause: Succession disputes in Hyderabad and Carnatic. Both British (Robert Clive) and French (Dupleix) supported rival claimants.
Outcome: French power weakened. Dupleix recalled. British gained influence.
Third Carnatic War (1758-1763):
Cause: Seven Years’ War in Europe. Decisive phase of Anglo-French rivalry in India.
โ๏ธ Battle of Wandiwash (1760 CE):Decisively defeated French (Count de Lally) by British (Sir Eyre Coote). Outcome: Sounded the death knell for French ambitions in India. ๐
Outcome: Treaty of Paris (1763). French factories restored but could not be fortified. French political influence in India effectively ended. Only retained trading posts.
Decline of French Power: Defeated by British due to stronger navy, better financial resources, centralized control of EIC (vs. French state control), and superior leadership (Clive vs. Lally). ๐ธ
Impact on India: Introduced ‘subsidiary alliance’ concept (Dupleix).
VI. The Danes (c. 1616 – 1845 CE)
Arrival: Danish East India Company (1616).
Settlements: Tranquebar (1620, Tamil Nadu), Serampore (Bengal).
Decline: Never achieved significant commercial success. Sold all their Indian settlements to the British by 1845. ๐
VII. Overall Impact of European Advent on India ๐๐
Economic:
Shift of trade routes from land to sea.
Drain of wealth from India to Europe (especially by British). ๐ฐ
Exploitation of India’s resources (raw materials) for European industries.
Introduction of new crops and technologies (e.g., printing press by Portuguese).
Political:
Introduction of new military techniques and disciplined armies.
Interference in internal affairs of Indian states, exacerbating existing rivalries. ๐ช
Gradual erosion of Indian sovereignty, leading to colonial rule.
Rise of British as the paramount power. ๐
Social & Cultural:
Introduction of Western education and ideas (later by British).
Spread of Christianity. โ๏ธ
Architectural influences (e.g., churches, some colonial buildings).