The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come to India.

Background:
• Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, reached Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in Kerala, India on May 20, 1498.
• He was the first European to establish direct contact with India.
• His arrival marked the beginning of European exploration and trade in India.

Reasons for Portuguese arrival:
• The Portuguese were looking for a sea route to India to bypass the Ottoman Empire, which controlled the land routes.
• They were also searching for valuable spices and other goods that could be traded for profit.

Portuguese activities in India:
• The Portuguese established trading settlements in various parts of India, including Goa, Daman, Diu, and Mumbai.
• They monopolized the spice trade, which was highly profitable.
• They also introduced new crops, such as cashew and tobacco, to India.
• The Portuguese established a powerful navy and fought several battles with the local rulers, including the Zamorin of Calicut and the Sultan of Bijapur.

Impact of Portuguese arrival:
• The arrival of the Portuguese marked the beginning of European imperialism in India.
• It paved the way for the arrival of other European powers, including the British, French, and Dutch.
• The Portuguese left a lasting impact on Indian culture, especially in Goa, which was under Portuguese rule for over four centuries.
• The Portuguese also introduced Christianity to India, which is still a significant minority religion in the country today.

Portugese were the first to come and last to go from India.