Which of the following was/were reason/s for the success of the European trading companies in South India, during the 17th century?
1. The presence of the Mughals in the south India was not as much as in the north India
2. The Vijayanagra kingdom had been overthrown in the late 16th century
3. The south had many small and weak states
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below
2 and 3 only
Incorrect Answer1 and 3 only
Incorrect AnswerAll of the above
Correct AnswerExplanation:
All are correct.
Advent of the Europeans
• Before the beginning of the formal rule of the British in India, there was a background of Indo-European economic relationship.
• The commercial contacts between India and Europe were very old via the land route either through the Oxus valley or Syria or Egypt.
• But, the new sea route via the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and thereafter, many trading companies came to India and established their trading centres.
• The British East India Company was a Joint- Stock Company established in 1600, as the Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies.
• During this time, other trading companies, established by the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and Danish were similarly expanding in the region.
• The British Company gained footing in India in 1612 after Mughal emperor Jahangir granted the rights to establish a factory (a trading post) in Surat to Sir Thomas Roe, a representative diplomat of Queen Elizabeth Ist of England.
• They entered India as traders at the outset but by the passage of time indulged in the politics of India and finally established their colonies.
• The commercial rivalry among the European powers led to political rivalry. Ultimately, the British succeeded in establishing their rule India.
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By: Vishal