European Arrival in India and the Foundation of the British Empire

The first Europeans were the Portuguese to arrive in India, who landed at Calicut on May 20, 1498. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch and the British. But other European countries soon followed their lead. The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and colonized Goa, which became the centre of Portuguese trade from 1510 onwards. It was from Goa that they established trading posts in other parts of India like Cochin (1510) and Bombay (1534). Other European powers followed suit by establishing colonial outposts along the coastlines of India. This article looks into commercial contact between India and Europe in 1498, the Portuguese Contributions to India, and how they established a new sea route from Europe to India.

Why did Europeans Arrive in India in 1498?

The Europeans believed, mainly Portuguese, that they could create commercial contacts between India and Europe for trade. The Europeans came to India mainly because they wanted more commercial opportunities. 

The Europeans found that India had many things they wanted, but it wasn’t easy to get them home. For example, India had spices such as cloves and nutmeg used in cooking and medicine. The Portuguese were able to sell these spices in Europe at a high price because there were few other places where they could be found.

Portuguese Contributions to India in 1498

The Portuguese were responsible for introducing many aspects of modern Western culture to India. They set up trading posts along the coast, bringing back Indian goods such as spices, precious stones, fabrics and ivory from East Africa, which they sold in Europe. The Portuguese also brought new agricultural techniques from their travels around Asia, including new methods of growing rice and sugarcane.

What is the Foundation of the British Empire?

The first Europeans to arrive in India were the Portuguese, who searched for a route from Europe to the East Indies and created commercial contacts between India and Europe. They landed on the west coast of India in 1498 and soon established trade links with local rulers. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch and later by the British, who defeated them in a war and took over their possessions.

The English East India Company was set up in 1600, but its early attempts to establish itself in India were unsuccessful until it acquired Bombay (now Mumbai) as a base. The company then expanded its power until it could control most of the subcontinent by 1857. It was replaced by direct British rule after this date, although India remained a colony until 1947 when it became independent.

The British East India Company was started in 1600. However, it began trading with India only in 1612 when it received a charter from Queen Elizabeth I. In 1757, the BEIC defeated the French forces at Plassey and established its control over the Bengal region of India.

In 1856, Lord Dalhousie took over as Governor-General of India and introduced many administrative reforms to strengthen Britain’s control over India. He also divided India into different provinces, such as the Bombay Presidency, Madras Presidency, etc.

Conclusion

The Portuguese had little interest in India, but they did have an interest in its spices. The Portuguese were a new sea route from Europe to India and also to China and Japan, which would take them through the Indian Ocean. They hoped that such a route would provide them with access to the spice islands of Indonesia. In this article, You learned about commercial contacts between India and Europe in 1498, the Portuguese Contributions to India, and how they established a new sea route from Europe to India.