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Why did the port of Surat decline by the end of the 18th century?
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Why did the port of Surat decline by the end of the 18th century?
Decline of the Port of Surat by the End of the 18th Century



  • Introduction: Surat was one of the most important ports of India during the 16th and 17th centuries. However, by the end of the 18th century, its importance declined significantly.


  • Competition from other ports: The emergence of other ports such as Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras posed a strong competition to Surat. These ports had better infrastructure and facilities for trade, which drew merchants away from Surat.


  • Decline of the Mughal Empire: The decline of the Mughal Empire also contributed to the decline of Surat. The Mughal Empire was the major political power in India during the 16th and 17th centuries. The decline of the Mughal Empire weakened the political stability of the region, which affected the trade and commerce activities of Surat.


  • Shift in trade routes: The discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498 shifted the trade routes from the land to the sea. The sea routes were more efficient and economical, which led to the decline of the land routes. This shift in trade routes also affected the importance of Surat as a port.


  • Natural disasters: Surat was also affected by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. These disasters caused significant damage to the port infrastructure, which affected the trade activities of Surat.


  • Conclusion: The decline of the port of Surat was a result of multiple factors such as competition from other ports, the decline of the Mughal Empire, shift in trade routes, and natural disasters. However, Surat still remains an important commercial center in India.

Community Answer
Why did the port of Surat decline by the end of the 18th century?
I) The European companies were gaining power by securing a variety of concessions from the local courts.
(ii) Some of the European companies got the monopoly rights to trade. All this resulted in the decline of Surat Port by the end of the eighteenth century. In the last years of the seventeenth century, the gross value of trade that passed through Surat had been ` 16 million. By the 1740s, it had slumped to ` 3 million. With the passage of time, Surat and Hoogly decayed, while Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) grew. 
(iii) It was very difficult for the Indian merchants and traders to face the competition as most of the European countries had huge resources. 

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