Spectrum Test: The Advent of Europeans & Consolidation of British Power in India- 2 - UPSC MCQ

• Albuquerque captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur in 1510 :This statement is correct.
  Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general and admiral, captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510. Goa subsequently became a major Portuguese colony in India.

• The Portuguese were tolerant of the existing religions in India and did not force people to convert to Christianity :This statement is incorrect.
  The Portuguese were known for their zeal in spreading Christianity. They often imposed restrictions on local religious practices and sometimes used coercion to convert people to Christianity, particularly during the early phases of their presence in India.

• By the end of the 15th century, Portuguese influence in India had declined due to competition from French, English, and Dutch naval powers :This statement is incorrect.
  The decline of Portuguese influence in India began in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, but it was primarily due to the rise of Dutch and English naval power. The French influence became significant only in the 18th century. Hence, attributing the decline of Portuguese influence at the end of the 16th century to French competition is historically inaccurate.

Threfore,Correct Answer- Option B

• Considered to be the founder of the Portuguese power in India 

• Captured Goa from Bijapur 

• Persecuted Muslims 

• Captured Bhatkal from Sri Krishna Deva Rai (1510) of the Vijayanagar 

• He initiated the policy of marrying with the natives of India and banned the practice of sati in his area of influence.

Statement-I: Francis de Almeida captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur in 1510: Incorrect
 Goa was captured in 1510 by Afonso de Albuquerque, not Francis de Almeida. Almeida was the first Portuguese viceroy in India but did not capture Goa.

Statement-II: The British East India Company gained a foothold in India in 1612 when Mughal emperor Jahangir granted the rights to establish a factory in Surat: Correct
In 1612, after the English victory in the Battle of Swally, Emperor Jahangir granted the British East India Company permission to establish a factory in Surat, marking their first major foothold in India.

Therefore, the correct option is:
c) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

• The industrial revolution started in England in the early 18th century. With the invention of new machines like the steam engine and the power loom, the industrial revolution helped England to maintain its hegemony. Hence, statement 1st is correct. 

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  The Royal Navy of Britain was not only the largest but it was the most advanced of its Times. In India, the British were able to defeat the Portuguese and the French due to the strong and fast movement of the naval ships, the English learn from the Portuguese the importance of an efficient Navy and improve their fleet technologically. Hence, statement 2nd is correct. 

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  The world's first Central Bank, the Bank of England, was established to sell government debt to the money market on the promise of a decent return on Britain's defeating Rival companies like France and Spain. So Britain used the Debt market to fund it. Hence, statement 3rd is also correct.

• Nino da Cunha assumed the office of the governor of Portuguese interests in India in November 1529 and almost one year later shifted the headquarters of the Portuguese government in India from Cochin to Goa. 

• Da Cunha also attempted to increase Portuguese influence in Bengal by settling many Portuguese nationals there with Hooghly as their headquarters.

1. Dutch East India Company - Established in 1602: Correct. The Dutch East India Company was indeed established in 1602.

2. Dutch East India Company - Main centre in India was Kasimbazar: Incorrect. The main centre of the Dutch in India was Pulicat, which was later replaced by Nagapattinam.

3. Danish East India Company - Arrived in India in 1616: Correct. The Danish East India Company arrived in India in 1616.

4. Danish East India Company - Sold all Indian settlements to the English in 1795: Incorrect. The Danish sold all their Indian settlements to the English in 1845, not 1795.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.

Their important farmans were: 

1. In Bengal, the Company's imports and exports were exempted from additional customs duties expecting the annual payment of 3,000 rupees as settled earlier. 

2. The Company was permitted to issue dastaks (passes) for the transportation of such goods. The Company was permitted to rent more lands around Calcutta. 

3. In Hyderabad, the Company retained its existing privilege of freedom from duties in trade and had to pay the prevailing rent only for Madras. 

4. In Surat, for an annual payment of 10,000 rupees, the East India Company was exempted from the levy of all duties. 

5. It was decreed that the coins of the Company minted at Bombay were to have currency throughout the Mughal empire.

Both statements are accurate. Statement-I highlights the initial motives of the Portuguese in India, emphasizing their trade ambitions and aggressive tactics to dominate the spice trade. Statement-II provides a historical context of the decline of Portuguese influence, attributing it to the emerging naval and commercial powers of European rivals. While both statements are correct, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I's content but rather explains a subsequent historical development.

Therefore,Correct Answer- Option A

1. Francis de Almeida - Captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur in 1510
Incorrect. It was Afonso de Albuquerque, not Francis de Almeida, who captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur in 1510.

2. Phillip II of Spain - Neglected Portuguese dominions in India after 1580
Correct. After Spain won Portugal in 1580, Phillip II of Spain neglected the Portuguese dominions in India.

3. William Hawkins - Stayed at the Court of Jahangir from 1608 to 1611
Correct. William Hawkins did stay at the court of Jahangir from 1608 to 1611.

4. Sir Thomas Roe - Granted rights to establish a factory in Surat by Mughal emperor Jahangir
Correct. Mughal emperor Jahangir granted the rights to establish a factory in Surat to Sir Thomas Roe.

In conclusion, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, but pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs.

All are the causes of French Failure. Causes of the French Failure:

• Inadequate Military and Financial Support 

• France's Involvement in Europe

• I managed Policy of Imperial France

• Lack of Commercial Incentive to the French Company 

• Sound Commercial Base of the English Company