The Europeans & the Establishment of British in Bengal | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


The Europeans and the 
Establishment of British 
in Bengal
Page 2


The Europeans and the 
Establishment of British 
in Bengal
The Portugese
? The new sea route via the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
? The Portuguese traveler Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut on 17 May 1498 and he was warmly 
received by Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. 
? With establishment of trade links, Calicut, Cannanore and Cochin emerged the significant Portuguese 
centers in India. 
? Arab traders became jealous of the rise and success of the Portuguese and hence caused enmity bred 
between the Portuguese and the local king Zamorin. 
? The hostilities grew and led to full- fledged military face- off between them. King Zamorin was defeated 
by the Portuguese. With the victory over Zamorin, the military superiority of the Portuguese was 
established.
? Francis de Almeida was appointed the first governor of the Portuguese territory in India.
? His policy was centered on controlling the Indian Ocean and was known as the Blue Water Policy
? Later in 1509 Albuquerque was made the governor of the Portuguese territories in India
? In 1510, he captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur. Thereafter, Goa became the capital of the 
Portuguese settlements in India. He is, therefore, considered the real founder of the Portuguese power 
in India. 
Page 3


The Europeans and the 
Establishment of British 
in Bengal
The Portugese
? The new sea route via the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
? The Portuguese traveler Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut on 17 May 1498 and he was warmly 
received by Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. 
? With establishment of trade links, Calicut, Cannanore and Cochin emerged the significant Portuguese 
centers in India. 
? Arab traders became jealous of the rise and success of the Portuguese and hence caused enmity bred 
between the Portuguese and the local king Zamorin. 
? The hostilities grew and led to full- fledged military face- off between them. King Zamorin was defeated 
by the Portuguese. With the victory over Zamorin, the military superiority of the Portuguese was 
established.
? Francis de Almeida was appointed the first governor of the Portuguese territory in India.
? His policy was centered on controlling the Indian Ocean and was known as the Blue Water Policy
? Later in 1509 Albuquerque was made the governor of the Portuguese territories in India
? In 1510, he captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur. Thereafter, Goa became the capital of the 
Portuguese settlements in India. He is, therefore, considered the real founder of the Portuguese power 
in India. 
The Portugese
? Albuquerque captured Malacca and Ceylon. He also built a fort at Calicut. 
? Albuquerque died in 1515 leaving the Portuguese as the strongest naval power in India.
? Later, Portuguese established themselves at Daman, Salsette and Bombay on the west coast and at San 
Thome near Madras and Hugli in Bengal on the east coast. 
? Portuguese hold over the coastal areas and superiority in naval power helped them significantly. To 
maintain superiority at sea, Portuguese introduced Cartaze System, which involved all ships trading in 
Indian waters to stop, take permission and pay customs duty to Portuguese at Goa.
? The Portuguese power declined in India by the end of the sixteenth century.* They lost all their 
possessions in India except Goa, Diu and Daman in the next century. 
* - Struggle among various rival European trading blocs ensued in which Portuguese had to give way to 
the more powerful and enterprising competitors
Page 4


The Europeans and the 
Establishment of British 
in Bengal
The Portugese
? The new sea route via the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
? The Portuguese traveler Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut on 17 May 1498 and he was warmly 
received by Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. 
? With establishment of trade links, Calicut, Cannanore and Cochin emerged the significant Portuguese 
centers in India. 
? Arab traders became jealous of the rise and success of the Portuguese and hence caused enmity bred 
between the Portuguese and the local king Zamorin. 
? The hostilities grew and led to full- fledged military face- off between them. King Zamorin was defeated 
by the Portuguese. With the victory over Zamorin, the military superiority of the Portuguese was 
established.
? Francis de Almeida was appointed the first governor of the Portuguese territory in India.
? His policy was centered on controlling the Indian Ocean and was known as the Blue Water Policy
? Later in 1509 Albuquerque was made the governor of the Portuguese territories in India
? In 1510, he captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur. Thereafter, Goa became the capital of the 
Portuguese settlements in India. He is, therefore, considered the real founder of the Portuguese power 
in India. 
The Portugese
? Albuquerque captured Malacca and Ceylon. He also built a fort at Calicut. 
? Albuquerque died in 1515 leaving the Portuguese as the strongest naval power in India.
? Later, Portuguese established themselves at Daman, Salsette and Bombay on the west coast and at San 
Thome near Madras and Hugli in Bengal on the east coast. 
? Portuguese hold over the coastal areas and superiority in naval power helped them significantly. To 
maintain superiority at sea, Portuguese introduced Cartaze System, which involved all ships trading in 
Indian waters to stop, take permission and pay customs duty to Portuguese at Goa.
? The Portuguese power declined in India by the end of the sixteenth century.* They lost all their 
possessions in India except Goa, Diu and Daman in the next century. 
* - Struggle among various rival European trading blocs ensued in which Portuguese had to give way to 
the more powerful and enterprising competitors
The Dutch
Historically the Dutch have been experts in sea trade. 
? In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands was formed and given permission by the 
Dutch government to trade in the East Indies including India.
? The Dutch founded their first factory in Masaulipatam in Andhra Pradesh in 1605. Subsequently they 
also established trading centres in various parts of India. Dutch Suratte and Dutch Bengal were 
established in 1616 CE and 1627 CE respectively.
? The Dutch established their settlements at Masulipattinam, Pulicat, Surat, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, 
Chinsura and Kasimbazar. 
? The Dutch conquered Ceylon from the Portuguese in 1656 CE. They also took the Portuguese forts on 
the Malabar coast in 1671 CE. The Dutch gradually became a potent force capturing Nagapatam near 
Madras (Chennai) from the Portuguese thereby establishing their foothold in South India.
? They earned huge profit through business monopolizing in black pepper and spices. The major Indian 
commodities traded by the Dutch were cotton, indigo, silk, rice and opium.
? Pulicat was their main centre in India and later it was replaced by Nagapattinam. 
Page 5


The Europeans and the 
Establishment of British 
in Bengal
The Portugese
? The new sea route via the Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
? The Portuguese traveler Vasco da Gama reached the port of Calicut on 17 May 1498 and he was warmly 
received by Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. 
? With establishment of trade links, Calicut, Cannanore and Cochin emerged the significant Portuguese 
centers in India. 
? Arab traders became jealous of the rise and success of the Portuguese and hence caused enmity bred 
between the Portuguese and the local king Zamorin. 
? The hostilities grew and led to full- fledged military face- off between them. King Zamorin was defeated 
by the Portuguese. With the victory over Zamorin, the military superiority of the Portuguese was 
established.
? Francis de Almeida was appointed the first governor of the Portuguese territory in India.
? His policy was centered on controlling the Indian Ocean and was known as the Blue Water Policy
? Later in 1509 Albuquerque was made the governor of the Portuguese territories in India
? In 1510, he captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur. Thereafter, Goa became the capital of the 
Portuguese settlements in India. He is, therefore, considered the real founder of the Portuguese power 
in India. 
The Portugese
? Albuquerque captured Malacca and Ceylon. He also built a fort at Calicut. 
? Albuquerque died in 1515 leaving the Portuguese as the strongest naval power in India.
? Later, Portuguese established themselves at Daman, Salsette and Bombay on the west coast and at San 
Thome near Madras and Hugli in Bengal on the east coast. 
? Portuguese hold over the coastal areas and superiority in naval power helped them significantly. To 
maintain superiority at sea, Portuguese introduced Cartaze System, which involved all ships trading in 
Indian waters to stop, take permission and pay customs duty to Portuguese at Goa.
? The Portuguese power declined in India by the end of the sixteenth century.* They lost all their 
possessions in India except Goa, Diu and Daman in the next century. 
* - Struggle among various rival European trading blocs ensued in which Portuguese had to give way to 
the more powerful and enterprising competitors
The Dutch
Historically the Dutch have been experts in sea trade. 
? In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands was formed and given permission by the 
Dutch government to trade in the East Indies including India.
? The Dutch founded their first factory in Masaulipatam in Andhra Pradesh in 1605. Subsequently they 
also established trading centres in various parts of India. Dutch Suratte and Dutch Bengal were 
established in 1616 CE and 1627 CE respectively.
? The Dutch established their settlements at Masulipattinam, Pulicat, Surat, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, 
Chinsura and Kasimbazar. 
? The Dutch conquered Ceylon from the Portuguese in 1656 CE. They also took the Portuguese forts on 
the Malabar coast in 1671 CE. The Dutch gradually became a potent force capturing Nagapatam near 
Madras (Chennai) from the Portuguese thereby establishing their foothold in South India.
? They earned huge profit through business monopolizing in black pepper and spices. The major Indian 
commodities traded by the Dutch were cotton, indigo, silk, rice and opium.
? Pulicat was their main centre in India and later it was replaced by Nagapattinam. 
The Dutch
? The Dutch, during their stay in India, tried their hands on the minting of coinages.
? Gold pagoda with an image of Lord Venkateswara, (god Vishnu) was issued at Pulicat mint. 
? The coins issued by the Dutch were all modelled on the local coinages.
? The rise of the British power in the Eastern trade posed serious challenge to the commercial interest of 
the Dutch leading to bloody warfare between them in which Britishers were the clear winners owing to 
huge resources at their disposal.
? The Britishers one after another captured Dutch strongholds.
? Dutch presence on the Indian subcontinent lasted from 1605 CE to 1825 CE.