BEGINNING OF EUROPEAN COMMERCE

Ancient and Medieval History(PCS) Later Mughals and Advent of Europeans

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PORTUGESE

Landing of Vasco da Gama at Calicut (Kerala coast) in 1498 with two Ships, with a Gujarati pilot, Abdul Majid’ aboard who had guided the ships from the African coast to calicut.
Discovery of the new all sea route from Europe to India, via Cape of Good Hope by Vasco da Gama.
Da Gama reached Calicut on 17 may, 1498
On arrival Vasco da Gama was welcomed by Zamorin (Hindu ruler) of Calicut.
Da Gama returned to Portugal in 1499 which cargo worth 60 times of his expenses.
Arrival of Pedro Alvarez Cabral in 1500 AD.
Second trip of Vasco da Gama to India in 1502
Portuguese set up trading stations at Calicut, Cochin, and Cannore in 1502.
Cochin was the early capital of Portuguese in India. Later Goa replaced it.
In 1503 Alfonso de Albuquerque arrived in India as commander of a Squadron.
King Manuel declared himself lord over conquests, navigation and trade with Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia and India.
Vasco da Gama bombarded Calicut on the Zamorin’s refusal to expel Muslim traders.
In 1503, Raja of Cochin let Vasco build first fort.
De Almeida was the first Portuguese governor (1505-9) in India.
Albuquerque was appointed second governor of Portuguese in India in 1509
Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510 from Bijapur.
Albuquerque encouraged his country men to marry Indian wives. He persecuted the Muslims.
At the time of Albuquerque’s death in 1515 Portuguese was the strongest naval power in India.
Nino da Cunha (Governor 1529-38) transferred his capital from Cochin to Goa in 1530
In 1530 Nino da Cunha acquired Diu and Bassein from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
Martin Alfanso de Souza (governor 1542-45) arrived in India with the famous Jesuit saint Francisco Xavier.
Francisco de Almeida created fortresses at Kilwa, Anjadiva, Mannaur and Cochin.
Mahmud Beghra (ruler of Gujarat) and Egyptian Mamelukes defeated & killed Dom Laurenco, son of Almeida at Chaul in 1508.
In 1509 Mahmud Beghra and Egyptians were defeated at Diu.
Albuquerque was the real founder of Portuguese power in India.
Portuguese Maritime empire was called Estado da India.
Portuguese ruler Dom Manuel turned the spice trade of Lisbon into crown monopoly in 1506
In 1739 Marathas captured Salsette and Bassein from Portuguese.
Portuguese possessed Goa, Daman and Diu till 1961.
In 1536 they got permission from Mahmud Shah, ruler of Bengal, to open factories at Chittagong and Sattagong.
In 1579-80 they got Hughli from Akbar to open a factory.
In 1633 Shah Hahan allowed them to set up a factory at bandel (Bengal)
Cartez was a letter of permission for a person to take his ship in other part of India or neighbouring countries. It was issued by Portuguese.
For the first time Cartez was issued in 1502
Bahadur Shah (Ruler of Gujarat) was murdered by Portuguese due to dispute about Diu.
Portuguese settlements on west coast: Calicut (1500), Cochin (1501), Cannore (1503), Quilon (1503), Cheliyan (1531), Rahole (1535), Krengannore (1536), Mangalore (1568), Hanawer (15680, Diu (1509), Goa (1510), Surat (1599), Daman (1599) and Bhavanagar.
Portuguese settlements on East coast Meliyapur (San Thome), Chittagong, Hughli and Bandel.
First press in India (Goa) was set up by Portuguese.
They introduced Tobacco in India.
They set up settlements in Srilanka in 1556
Portugal’s initial objective was to seize the spice trade, but after Cabral’s Voyage she decided to divert to all the trade of the East with Europe.

Causes for their decline

Decline of the Portuguese Power by the end of the 16th century and the Gradual loss of their many settlements in India.
Loss of Hughli in 1631 to Qasim Khan, a Mughal noble.
In 1616 king of Portugal gave Bombay to Charles II of England for marrying his sister Catherine Braganza.
Capture of Salsette and Bassein by Marathas in 1739
In the end they were left with only Goa, Daman and Diu.
Discovery of Brazil, consequently their diversion from India.
Their clandestine practices in trade and their resort to piracy.
Due to their religios intolerance, Indian rulers and people became histile.
Their inability to compute with other European companies.
Internal weaknesses and conflict.

Portuguese settlements

Cochin-1501 Cannanore-1502
Goa-1510 Diu&Daman -1534
Hugly – 1537 Hugly-(lost in 1632)
Salsette & Bassein (lost to Maratha in 1739)
Chittangong -(lost in 1665)
Bombay-(given to Enlshih 1662)

DUTCH (HOLLAND)

Formation of the Dutch East India company in 1602 by a charter of Dutch Parliament.
Dutch Parliament allowed Dutch East India company to make wars, conclude treaties, acquire territories and build fortresses.
Factories: Masulipatam (1605) Pulicat (1610) Surat (1616) Bimlipatam (1641) Karikal (1645) Chinsura (1653) Kasim bazaar, Patna, Baranagar, Balasore, Nagapatam (all in 1658) and Cochin (1663)
Hughen Linschoterie’s book on India led to Dutch entrance in India and her trade.
Cornelis de Houtman led the first Dutch expedition to cross Cape of Good Hope and reached Sumatra and Bantam in 1596
East India Company of Dutch/ Netherlands was known as Verrenigde Oost Indische Companie (VOC)
Dutch factories : Masulipatnam (in 1605 by Vande Hagen). Pettappoli (Nizampatnam), Devanampettam/Tegnapattam (called st. David under English), Palicut ( 1610,fortGeldiria), Surat (in 1616 by Van Broecke)
Till 1690 Pulicat was their main centre in India, thereafter Nagapattam replaced it
In the 17th century they supplanted the Portuguese as the most dominant power in the European trade with the East, including India.
Beginning of rivalry between the Dutch and the English in the middle of the 17th century (1654)
Decline of the Dutch power in India by the beginning of the 18th century
Their final collapse with their defeat by the English in the battle of Badera in 1759.
Loss of their settlements one by one to the East India company of Britain
They were expelled from their last possession in India by the British in 1795
With the beginning of war between France and Holland a conflict arose between Dutch and French in India too. Dutch captured Pondicherry from French. But with the concluding of treaty of Rickzwick, Pondicherry was restored to French.
The credit for making Indian textiles the premier export from India goesto the Dutch.
Dutch were forced to trade with India because Islands (of Indonesia ) were imperfectly monetized and Indian handloom Products provided the barter commodity for everyday wear and luxury products.
Indians consumed Indonesian spices leading to inter Asian trade, or country trade monopolized by the Dutch after replacing Pprtuguese.
Van Soldt got a farman from Golconda to set up a factory at Masulipatanam.

Dutch settlements

Musolipatnam-1605 Pulicat -1610
Surat- 1616 Bimulipatnam -1641
Karikal- 1645
Pipli,Balasore, Chinsura-1653
Nagapattanam -1659
Cochin (from portugese) Ahmedabad-1663

ENGLISH

Arrival of John Mildenhall, a merchant adventurer in India in 1599 by the overland route.
On 31st December, 1600 Queen Elizabeth granted a charter to The Governor and company of Merchants of London Trading into the East – Indies, later came to be known as East India Company for 15 year.
Grant of a fresh charter even before the expiry of the first charter by James I (1609) giving East India company the monopoly for an indefinite period.
Decision to set up a factory at Surat in and for this Captain Hawking arrived at Jahagir’s court in 1609, due to Portuguese failed in it
Defeat of a Portuguese fleet by English under Captain Best at Swally (near surat in 1612). Grant of a farman by Jahangir permitting the English to set up a factory at surat in 1613
Arrival of Sir Thomas Roe, as ambassador of James I, at Jahagir’s court in 1615 and his stay there till the end of 1618
Thomas Roe obtained the permission from Jahangir to trade and erect factories in different parts of empire in 1618 at Broach, agra, Surat, ahmadabad.
Thomas Roe left India for England in 1619.
Factories: Masulipatanam (1611) for export of cloth to Persia and Bantam.
Surat (1613) first factory in India.
Madras (1639) by Francis Day from Nayaka of Chandragiri. Fort St. George was built here.
Balasore, Pipli (1661)
Hughli (1651) by Bridgeman
Patna, Qasim bazaar, Rajmahal,
Hawkins had been given mansab of 400 by Jahangir
In 1668 Bombay was transferred to East-India company by James II for 10 per Years.
In 1687, Bombay became seal of the western presidency, it replaced surat.
In 1661 Shah Hahan’s Nishan granted free trade in Begal for Rs. 3000 P.A
Settlements of Coromandal coast were brought under Fort St. George (Madras in 1661. Settlements of Bengal and Bihar were also subordinated to it
Sir Josiah Child, a Director in London, pursued aggressive policies leading to trouble with the Mughals, due to piracy of interlopers. Who captured two Mughal ships and harassment of Haj pilgrims. Aurangzeb ordered the siddis to blocked Bombay. But later pardoned on plea in John child
Shaista Khan exempted them from duties in 1672
In 1682 William Hedge’s (first governor of Bengal) mission to Shaista Khan to fortify Hughli failed.
In 1688 Captain William Heath (Governor of Bengal ) stormed Balasore.
Job Charnock established a factory at Sutanati in 1690 Along with Govindpur, Kalikata it emerged as Calcutta.
In 1691 Ibrahim Khan’s farman exempted them from customs duties for Rs. 3000 p.a, during the reign of Aurangzeb .
In 1696,Shobha Singh’s (a Zamindar of Burdwan ) rebellion led to fortifiation of Sutanate.
British purchased the Zamindaris of Sutanati Govindpur and Kalikata from Prince Azimush Shah in 1698 for Rs. 1200. Their fortification in 1700 as Fort-William
Charles Eyre was the first president (Governor) of FortWilliam
General Aungier was the first governor of Bombay (1669-1677)
Masulipatam (1611)was first English settlement on East-coast
In 1717 Farrukh siyar confirmed the privileges (farman)of 1691 and extended them to Gujarat and Deccan also.
Formation of a rival compay by a group of merchants under sir William courtein in 1635 and granted a licence to trade in the East by Charles I. But soon amalgamated with East India compay in 1649
East-India Company became a Joint stock company by a charter of Cromwell in 1657.
In 1694, a resolution was passed by the British Parliament giving equal rights to all Englishmen to trade in the East.
Formation of a new rival company, known as the “English company of Merchants Trading to the East Indies (in 1698) Which sent Sir William Norris as an ambassador to Aurangzeb to secure trading privilege but failed. It merged in EIC in 1702
n Amalgamation of all British companies (by the award of the Earl of Goldolphin 1708) under the title of “The united Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies”. (this new company continued its existence till 1858).Its poplar name was East India Company.
In 1713 Murshid Quli Khan annulled all privileges of the English, he wanted English to customs duties as others.
‘Maratha ditch’ dug by English in 1743 north East of Calcutta for protection of the city against invasions.
East-India Company was regulated by court of Directors.
Queen Elizabeth was the largest share holder of East India Company
Charter of 1632 empowered the company to control and punish its employees in India.
Bombay was fortified by Charles Boon in 1720.
Company’s mint was located in Bombay.
Free Merchants were called Interlopers by the EIC . Whigs supported the free merchants.
In 1715 Johan Surnam (governor of Calcutta) and William Hammilton cured Farrukhsiyar of disease and gained a farman (1717), called the Magna Carta of company.
The immediate aim of the company was the acquisition of the spices and pepper of the Eastern Archipelago.
FortWilliam (Calcutta) was named after king William III
In 1701, Aurangzeb ordered the general arrest of all the Europeans in India.

English settlements

Surat-1608 Musolipatnam -1611
Pulicat- 1620 Armagaon- 1626
Madras-1639 Hugly-1651
Bombay-1669
Sultanati, Calicuta, Govindpur-1698

FRENCH

Colbert, minister of Louis xiv, created the compangnie des Indes Orientales in 1664.(i.e. French East-India company)
French East-India company was under the state patronage and it was fincance by the state.
It began in Madagascar.
Establishment of the first French factory at Surat by Francois Caron in 1668
Establishment of factory at Masulipatam by Marcara in 1669
In 1673, acquisition of village of Valikondapuram (Pondicherry ) and Bellanger de Lespinay by Francois Martin from Muslim governor, Sher Khan Lodi
Francois Martin was the first governor of Pondicherry.
In 1690 they got Chandernagar in Bengal from mughal governor, Shaista Khan.
In 1672, De Lattaye seized San Thome but had to surrender to the Sultan of Golconda.
In 1693, the Dutch captured Pondicherry but returned it by the Treaty of Ryswick.
In 1720, the company was reconstituted as the Perpetual company of Indies by Lenoir and Dumos.
Maurtius (1721), Mahe (1725), Calicut, Yanam and Karikal (1739) were occupied.
Arrival of Dupleix, French Governor in India in 1742 and the beginning of the Anglo-French conflict (Carnatic wars), resulting in defeat of French power in India.
French were finally defeated in the battle of Wandiwas (1760) by English and they lost almost all Indian settlements (by the treaty of Paris in 1763) to English
Pondicherry (FortLouis, was centre of French settlements in India. Francois Martin was the First French governor in India.
‘Superior Council of Indies; was the supreme body of French East India company and director general was its chief.
Superior council was consisted of five members, presided over by governor.
French commander Martin accepted the suzerainty of Shivaji and got trading privileges in Lieu of a fixed amount.
French got permission from Shambhaji to fortify Pondicherry in 1689
They were in association of Dost Ali of Carnatic.
At the suggestion of Dost Ali, Mughal ruler Mahammad Shah granted French right to mint and issue gold & silver coins having name of Mughal ruler.