Test: Beginning of European Commerce- 2 - UPSC MCQ

The English initially came to the East for the spice trade, just like the Dutch. However, the Dutch had already established a dominant presence in the Spice Islands (modern-day Indonesia). Given the Dutch's strength in the spice trade, the English realized that it would be difficult to compete with them in that region. As a result, the English shifted their focus to India, where they saw an opportunity to establish their own trade network. India offered a variety of goods, such as textiles and raw materials, which the English could profit from by establishing trade outposts and colonies.

Thus, the primary reason for the English shift was the Dutch's firm control over the spice trade in Southeast Asia, which forced the English to concentrate on India instead.

By the second half of the 18th century, the English East India Company had established strong political and military dominance in India. The Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Battle of Buxar in 1764 allowed the English to gain significant territorial and political control over large parts of India, particularly Bengal. This political dominance gave the English East India Company the upper hand in trade, which gradually undermined the position of other European trading companies, including the Dutch.

While the Dutch were still strong in the Spice Islands, they were not able to compete effectively with the English in India because the English had both commercial and political power. The Dutch did not lose control of the Spice Islands during this period, so Option A is incorrect, and Option C alone is the correct answer.

In 1658, the Dutch conquered Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) from the Portuguese. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) had been involved in a long struggle against the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. They successfully ousted the Portuguese from several strategic locations, including Ceylon, which was important for its cinnamon trade. The Dutch then controlled the island until the British took over in 1796.

Between 1654 and 1667, the Dutch and the English fought a series of conflicts in various parts of the world, including India, as part of the broader Anglo-Dutch Wars. These wars were primarily about control over trade routes and colonial dominance, especially in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Both the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the English East India Company were competing for control over valuable trading regions, particularly in India and the Spice Islands.

The rivalry between these two powers in India was part of their larger global struggle for supremacy in the spice trade and other lucrative markets.

Initially, the Mughals tried to develop friendly relations with the English for several reasons:

1. To counter the Portuguese on the sea (Statement I): The Portuguese had established a strong naval presence in the Indian Ocean and posed a challenge to Mughal power. By aligning with the English, the Mughals could weaken the Portuguese influence and control over sea routes and trade.
2. Indian merchants benefiting from competition among foreign buyers (Statement III): The presence of multiple foreign trading companies, such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and English, created competition, which could potentially benefit Indian merchants by giving them more options and better prices for their goods.

Statement II is incorrect because the Mughals were not focused on using the English to help them open trading posts in the Spice Islands, as the Spice Islands were more of interest to European powers (Dutch and Portuguese), not the Mughals.

Thus, I and III are the correct reasons, making Option B the right answer.

The Amboyna Massacre occurred in 1623 on the island of Amboyna (modern-day Ambon in Indonesia). The Dutch, fearing the rising influence of the English in the spice trade, arrested and tortured English traders on charges of conspiracy. This resulted in the execution of several Englishmen. The massacre marked a significant deterioration in relations between the Dutch and the English, ending their cooperation and escalating their commercial rivalry in the East Indies (Southeast Asia).

• The English set up their first factory on Indian soil in 1613 at Surat.
• By 1623, the English East India Company had established factories at Surat, Broach, Ahmedabad, Agra, and Masulipatam.
• From the very beginning, the English trading company tried to combine trade and diplomacy with war and control of the territory where their factories were situated.
• In 1625, the East India Company's authorities at Surat made an attempt to fortify their factory, but the chiefs of the English factory were immediately imprisoned and put in irons by the local authorities of the Mughal Empire.
• In Eastern India, the English Company had opened its first factories in Orissa in 1633.
• In 1651, the first factory was established at Hugli by the British.
  • English Company was permitted to trade at Hugli in Bengal. It soon opened factories at Patna, Balasore, Dacca, and other places in Bengal and Bihar.

The English opened their first factory in the South at Masulipatam in 1611. But they soon shifted the center of their activity to Madras the lease of which was granted to them by the local king in 1639. The English built a small fort around their factory called Fort St.

Fort St. David was an important British fortification and trading post on the Coromandel Coast in India, located near Cuddalore. It became a major center for the British East India Company's trade in the region. Over time, the significance of Fort St. David diminished as the nearby settlement of Madras (now Chennai) grew in importance and eventually developed into the primary British administrative and trading hub on the Coromandel Coast.

Bombay (now Mumbai) was given to Charles II of England as part of the dowry for his marriage to Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess, in 1661. The Portuguese handed over the islands of Bombay to the English crown as part of the marriage treaty. Charles II later leased Bombay to the English East India Company in 1668, which played a key role in the British expansion in India.

The Battle of Bedara (also known as the Battle of Chinsurah) was fought in 1759 between the English East India Company and the Dutch near Chinsurah (in modern-day West Bengal). The Dutch attempted to challenge the growing power of the English in India, but they were decisively defeated in this battle. This defeat marked the end of Dutch political and military influence in India, although they continued to engage in trade on a limited scale.

In 1622, Ormuz, a strategically important island in the Persian Gulf, was captured from the Portuguese by a combined force of the English East India Company and Persian forces under the rule of Shah Abbas I. The Portuguese had controlled Ormuz for more than a century, but with the help of the English, the Persians were able to take control of the island, marking the decline of Portuguese influence in the region.

In 1639, the English East India Company was granted a lease by the local Raja of Chandragiri (a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire) to establish a trading post at Madraspatnam (now Chennai). The English were authorized to:

• Fortify Madras, which led to the construction of Fort St. George (related to statement A).
• Administer the town, meaning they could exercise some administrative control, so statement B is incorrect.
• They were not authorised to coin money (related to statement C, which is correct).
• The English did build a fort around their factory (related to statement D, which is correct).

Therefore, the only incorrect statement is B.

Calico, all-cotton fabric woven in plain, or tabby, weave and printed with simple designs in one or more colours. Calico originated in Calicut, India, by the 11th century, if not earlier, and in the 17th and 18th centuries calicoes were an important commodity traded between India and Europe.

In 1608, Captain William Hawkins, representing the English East India Company, approached the Mughal court of Emperor Jahangir to seek permission to establish a trading factory at Surat. This marked the beginning of the English efforts to establish a foothold in India for trade. Surat was a key port city in Gujarat and was strategically important for trade with Europe and the Middle East. Although Hawkins faced initial resistance, it laid the foundation for the English to eventually secure trading privileges in India.

The linkage with European trade did have several negative factors, but India was not forced to export large quantities of gold and silver. In fact, it was the opposite—India was importing large quantities of gold and silver from Europe because European countries had little to offer in terms of goods that India needed. Instead, India supplied valuable goods such as spices, textiles, and other products, and in return, European traders paid in gold and silver.

Thus, Option C is incorrect, as India was not exporting gold and silver. The other options (A and B) reflect valid challenges, such as the rise in prices and the limited goods Europe could supply in exchange for Indian products.

Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador to the Mughal court of Jahangir, made the remark, "I know these people are best treated with the sword in one hand and the caducean (a rod carried by a messenger) in the other." This statement reflects his view on how to deal with local rulers, balancing diplomacy (symbolized by the caducean) with the threat of military force (symbolized by the sword). Roe played a significant role in securing trading privileges for the English East India Company in India.

Saltpetre (potassium nitrate) was a critical component for the production of gunpowder, which was essential for European military power during the 16th to 18th centuries. India, particularly Bengal and Bihar, became a significant source of saltpetre for European powers, supplementing European production. Saltpetre was also used as ballast in ships, adding weight and stability to the vessels returning to Europe with lighter loads after delivering goods in India. This dual use made saltpetre a valuable commodity in the maritime trade and military strategies of European nations.

• John Mildenhall was indeed an English merchant and adventurer who played a significant role in the early attempts to establish trade links between England and the Mughal Empire during the 16th century.
• In 1599, John Mildenhall embarked on a remarkable journey from England to the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who ruled a vast empire in the Indian subcontinent.
• His main objective was to secure a royal decree or "farman" from Akbar that would grant English traders the right to conduct trade in the prosperous region of Gujarat, which was a prominent center of commerce and trade at the time.
• Mildenhall's journey was long and arduous, taking him through various countries and territories, facing numerous challenges and dangers along the way.
• He reached the Mughal court in Fatehpur Sikri, near present-day Agra, in 1603.
• There, he managed to gain an audience with Emperor Akbar, one of the most powerful and influential rulers of his time.
• According to Mildenhall's accounts, Akbar was intrigued by his stories and gifts from England, but whether he actually obtained the coveted farman for trade in Gujarat remains somewhat uncertain.
• Some historical sources indicate that he did receive the farman, which allowed the English to establish a factory (trading post) in Surat, Gujarat.
• However, there are also conflicting accounts suggesting that Mildenhall was unsuccessful in his mission, and it was not until later that the English East India Company was granted the official permission to establish a presence in India.
• It's worth noting that John Mildenhall's journey and claims have been the subject of historical debate and scrutiny over the years.
• Nevertheless, his efforts and those of other early English traders laid the groundwork for the future English and British East India Company's influence in the Indian subcontinent, which significantly shaped India's history and trade relations with Europe.

Therefore the correct answer is John Mildenhall.

Adam Smith, a Scottish economist and philosopher, wrote this statement. He recognized the significance of the discovery of America and the Cape route to India (via the Cape of Good Hope) in transforming global trade and shaping the modern world economy. These discoveries greatly expanded European access to new markets and resources, which had profound effects on trade, colonization, and the development of capitalism.

Smith discussed such historical and economic impacts in his famous work, "The Wealth of Nations", published in 1776.

Thomas Best was an English captain who had sunk four Portuguese ships. This impressed the Mughal Governor and therefore he gave them a treaty which was approved by emperor Jhangir who gave them trading rights.

The first English factory in India was established at Surat. However, after four centuries, these early footmarks of the British had been wiped out. There were no remains of a factory or a warehouse. According to historian HG Rawlinson, the factory in Surat was one of the best one. It was a two-storey building. The location was not far from the Surat fort. The fort was said to have been commissioned by Sultan Mahmud III. Surat was one of the most important ports for trading with the Mughals. This port was used by the textile manufacturers of Gujarat. However, the Portuguese were already trading with the Mughals and they were the master of the sea. It would take a lot of time for the British to take over. In 1612, the factory of the East India Company was established in Surat.

Note: In 1611, another factory was established by the East India Company in Masulipatam in Coromandel Coast.in 1626, it extended to the South in Armagaon and settled there because of the availability of cheap cloth. In the main production areas like Gujarat, Bengal and Coromandel, several weavers, washers were employed who worked on muslins, cotton and quilt.

Gerald Aungier, an important figure in the British East India Company, wrote the statement, “the time now requires you to manage general commerce with the sword in your hands.” Aungier served as the Governor of Bombay in the 17th century and played a key role in developing Bombay as a strategic and commercial hub. His statement reflects the growing need for military force to protect and expand British commercial interests in India during a time when competition with other European powers and local rulers was intensifying.

In 1686, the English East India Company attempted to assert its power in Bengal, leading to a conflict with the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The war did not go well for the English, and they suffered heavy losses. Aurangzeb's forces were too strong for the English, and the Company was forced to surrender and negotiate. As a result, the English had to seek forgiveness from the emperor and relocate their base of operations from Hugli to Calcutta (now Kolkata), where they later established their stronghold.

Thus, the outcome of the war was unfavorable for the East India Company.

In 1691, the English East India Company was granted an exemption from paying custom duties in Bengal by the Mughal authorities. In return, the Company agreed to pay an annual sum of Rs. 3,000. This privilege significantly boosted the Company's trading activities in Bengal, which was a key region for the production of valuable goods such as textiles. This concession laid the foundation for the East India Company's growing economic and political influence in Bengal, which eventually culminated in its dominance over the region.

In 1717, the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar issued a farman (royal decree) that confirmed the privileges granted earlier to the English East India Company and extended these privileges to Gujarat and the Deccan. This farman was highly significant for the Company as it allowed them to trade freely in Bengal, Gujarat, and the Deccan without paying customs duties, further strengthening their commercial foothold in India. The farman was a key factor in the Company's expansion and dominance over Indian trade in the 18th century.

Mir Jafar, who became the Nawab of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey in 1757 with the support of the East India Company, granted the Company significant trading privileges, including the undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. In return for helping him gain the throne, Mir Jafar made major concessions to the British, which allowed them to dominate the trade and economics of these regions. This played a critical role in the East India Company's rise to power in Bengal.

In 1765, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the East India Company the Diwani, or the right to collect revenue, in the provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This was a result of the Treaty of Allahabad following the Battle of Buxar (1764), where the East India Company defeated the combined forces of the Nawab of Bengal, Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal Emperor. By securing the Diwani, the Company gained control over the revenue and finances of these important regions, marking a major step in its transition from a trading company to a governing power in India.

The farmans (royal decrees) issued by Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar in 1717 granted the East India Company several significant privileges, including:

1. Duty-free trade in Bengal in exchange for an annual payment of Rs. 3,000 (as mentioned in option A).
2. The English were allowed to settle in various places, which increased their ability to establish trading posts (related to option B).
3. The English were also allowed to acquire additional territories around Calcutta, which helped them expand their influence and territorial control (related to option C).

Thus, all three statements are correct, making D: All of the above the right answer.

The East India Company opened its first factory in southern India at Masulipatam (in present-day Andhra Pradesh) in 1611. Masulipatam was an important port on the Coromandel Coast and played a crucial role in the Company's early trading activities in southern India. This factory helped the English establish a foothold in the region before they eventually moved to other areas like Madras (modern-day Chennai).

By the middle of the 18th century, the population of three major cities—Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta—had grown significantly due to the increasing commercial and administrative activities of the European trading companies, especially the British East India Company.

• Bombay (A) – 70,000 (III): Bombay was still developing during this period, and its population was relatively smaller compared to the other major cities. The city had a population of around 70,000.
• Madras (B) – 200,000 (I): Madras, one of the first strongholds of the English, had grown significantly by the mid-18th century, reaching a population of 200,000. It was an important port and trading hub for the British in South India.
• Calcutta (C) – 300,000 (II): Calcutta had become the capital of British India in the eastern region and was the most populous of the three cities, with 300,000 people. Its significance as a center for trade, administration, and commerce contributed to its rapid growth.

Thus, the correct matching is: A-III, B-I, and C-II, which corresponds to Option C.