PPT: The Colonial Era in India | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

 Page 1


The Colonial Era in 
India
Page 2


The Colonial Era in 
India
The Age of Colonialism
Definition
The practice where a 
country takes control of 
another region, imposing 
its political, economic, 
and cultural systems.
European Expansion
European powers 
established colonies 
worldwide from the 15th 
century onward.
Motivations
Reasons for European 
colonialism: political, 
economic, resource 
access, trade, religion, 
science.
Page 3


The Colonial Era in 
India
The Age of Colonialism
Definition
The practice where a 
country takes control of 
another region, imposing 
its political, economic, 
and cultural systems.
European Expansion
European powers 
established colonies 
worldwide from the 15th 
century onward.
Motivations
Reasons for European 
colonialism: political, 
economic, resource 
access, trade, religion, 
science.
Europeans in India
India traded with Greeks and Romans over two millennia ago. Indian goods4
spices, cotton, ivory, gems, sandalwood, teakwood, wootz steel4were highly 
sought after in the Mediterranean world.
Until the 16th century CE, India was a vibrant economic and cultural 
powerhouse, contributing at least one-fourth of the world GDP alongside 
China.
European travelers to India described her as 'flourishing' with impressive 
manufacturing capabilities, diverse agricultural output, and extensive trading 
networks.
Page 4


The Colonial Era in 
India
The Age of Colonialism
Definition
The practice where a 
country takes control of 
another region, imposing 
its political, economic, 
and cultural systems.
European Expansion
European powers 
established colonies 
worldwide from the 15th 
century onward.
Motivations
Reasons for European 
colonialism: political, 
economic, resource 
access, trade, religion, 
science.
Europeans in India
India traded with Greeks and Romans over two millennia ago. Indian goods4
spices, cotton, ivory, gems, sandalwood, teakwood, wootz steel4were highly 
sought after in the Mediterranean world.
Until the 16th century CE, India was a vibrant economic and cultural 
powerhouse, contributing at least one-fourth of the world GDP alongside 
China.
European travelers to India described her as 'flourishing' with impressive 
manufacturing capabilities, diverse agricultural output, and extensive trading 
networks.
The Portuguese: commerce and 
atrocities
1
Arrival & Colonization
Vasco da Gama's arrival at Kappad (near Kozhikode, 
Kerala) in May 1498 marked the beginning of 
European colonization in India.
2
Strategic Ports & Trade
The Portuguese captured strategic ports like Goa in 
1510, establishing trading posts along the coasts.
3
The Cartaz System
They implemented the cartaz (pass) system, requiring 
all ships in the Arabian Sea to buy Portuguese permits.
Page 5


The Colonial Era in 
India
The Age of Colonialism
Definition
The practice where a 
country takes control of 
another region, imposing 
its political, economic, 
and cultural systems.
European Expansion
European powers 
established colonies 
worldwide from the 15th 
century onward.
Motivations
Reasons for European 
colonialism: political, 
economic, resource 
access, trade, religion, 
science.
Europeans in India
India traded with Greeks and Romans over two millennia ago. Indian goods4
spices, cotton, ivory, gems, sandalwood, teakwood, wootz steel4were highly 
sought after in the Mediterranean world.
Until the 16th century CE, India was a vibrant economic and cultural 
powerhouse, contributing at least one-fourth of the world GDP alongside 
China.
European travelers to India described her as 'flourishing' with impressive 
manufacturing capabilities, diverse agricultural output, and extensive trading 
networks.
The Portuguese: commerce and 
atrocities
1
Arrival & Colonization
Vasco da Gama's arrival at Kappad (near Kozhikode, 
Kerala) in May 1498 marked the beginning of 
European colonization in India.
2
Strategic Ports & Trade
The Portuguese captured strategic ports like Goa in 
1510, establishing trading posts along the coasts.
3
The Cartaz System
They implemented the cartaz (pass) system, requiring 
all ships in the Arabian Sea to buy Portuguese permits.
The Dutch: commerce and competition
Early 17th Century Arrival
The Dutch focused primarily on commercial dominance, 
particularly in the spice trade.
Trading Posts
Established in Surat, Bharuch, Cochin, Nagapattinam and 
Masulipatnam, with significant presence in the Malabar 
region.
Battle of Colachel (1741)
Forces of Travancore under King Marthanda Varma 
decisively defeated the Dutch, marking a rare instance of 
an Asian power repelling a European colonial force.