TOPIC 5.1 ADVENT OF THE EUROPEANS
1.PORTUGUESE
The Cape Route from Europe to India was discovered by Vasco Da Gama. He reached Port of Calicut via Cape of Good Hope (Africa) on 17th May 1498 and was received by the Hindu ruler of Calicut, Zamorin. This led to the establishment of trading stations at Calicut, Cochin and Cannanore.
Cochin (1502) was the initial capital of the Portuguese in India, later on replaced by Goa.
The first Governor of Portuguese in India was Francisco Almeida (1505-09). He introduced ‘The Policy of Blue Water’.
Alfonso d’ Albuquerque arrived in India in 1503 and became Governor of the Portuguese in India in 1509. He captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur in 1510 and introduced the policy of Imperialism.
First Portuguese factory was established at CALICUT.
The famous Jesuit Saint, Francisco Xavier arrived in India with Martin Aflonso de Souza (1542-45)
Gradually, almost all of their territories were lost to Marathas (Salsette and Bassein in 1739), Dutch and English. Only Goa, Diu and Daman remained with them until 1961.
2.DUTCH
The Dutch EAST India Company established factories in India at Masulipatnam in 1605, Pulicat (1610), Surat (1616), Bimlipatam (1641), Karaikal (1645), Chinusura, Kasimbazar, Patna, Balasore, Nagapatam and Cochin.
They replaced the Portuguese as the most dominant power in European trade with the East.
Pulicat was their main Centre in India till Nagapatnam replaced it in 1690.
The Dutch conceded to the British after their defeat in the Battle of Bedera in 1759.
3.ENGLISH
Before the establishment of the East India Company, John Mildenhall, an English merchant, came to India over land route to trade with Indian merchants in 1599.
Formation: The British East India Company was established in 1600, receiving a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I.
Major Trading Centers: The British established significant trading posts in Surat (1613), Madras (1639), Bombay (1668), and Calcutta (1690)
Jahangir issued a farman to Captain Hawkins (1609) permitting him to establish a factory at Surat.
Sir Thomas Roe visited Jhangir’s court (1615). Surat was replaced by Bombay acquired from Charles-II on lease as the headquarters on the West coast in 1687.
In 1639, obtained Madras from Raja of Chandragiri with permission to build a fortified factory, which was named Fort St George.
In 1690, Job Charnock, established a factory at Sutanati and the Zamindari of three villages Sutanati, Kalikata and Govindpur were acquired by The British (1698). These three villages grew as the city of Calcutta.
The factory at Sutanati was fortified and named Fort William in 1700.
In 1717, John Surman obtained a royal farman from Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar. This farman is also called the Magna Carta of British rule in India as it gave large concessions to the company.
4.DANES
The Danes arrived in India in 1616. They established settlements at Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu) IN 1620 and Serampore (Bengal) in 1679. Serampore was their headquarters.
They were forced to sell their settlement to the British in 1854.
5.FRENCH
The French East India Company was formed in 1664 by Colbert under state patronage during the reign of Louis XIV.
The first French factory was
at Surat by Francois Caron in 1668 and second at Masulipatnam in 1669.
They occupied Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal.
The foundation of Pondicherry was laid in 1673, which afterwards became their capital. They also developed a factory at Chandannagar.
The Governors, Lenoir and Dumas revived the French power in India between 1720-42 and the Anglo-French conflict started with the arrival of Governor Duplex in 1742.
6. Anglo-French Rivalry
Carnatic Wars: The rivalry between the British and the French culminated in a series of conflicts known as the Carnatic Wars (1746-1763). These wars significantly weakened French influence and established British supremacy in India.
Treaty of Paris (1763): The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War, leading to the decline of French political influence in India, although they retained some territories.
7. Expansion of British Influence
Battle of Plassey (1757): Robert Clive's victory in the Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British political control in India, leading to the establishment of the British East India Company's rule.
Battle of Buxar (1764): The Battle of Buxar further consolidated British power, leading to the acquisition of the Diwani rights (revenue collection) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
8. Impact on Indian Economy and Society
Trade Monopolies: European trading companies, especially the British East India Company, established monopolies over trade, significantly impacting local economies and traditional industries.
Cultural Exchange: The advent of Europeans led to cultural exchanges, the introduction of new technologies, and the spread of Christianity, which influenced various aspects of Indian society.
Europeans Impact on India
The arrival of Europeans in India had a profound and lasting impact on the subcontinent's political, economic, social, and cultural landscape. Here are some key points detailing these impacts:
Political Impact
Colonial Rule: The most significant political impact was the establishment of colonial rule. The British East India Company, through various wars, treaties, and annexations, gradually extended its control over large parts of India. By the mid-19th century, India had come under direct British Crown rule after the suppression of the Revolt of 1857.
Disintegration of Indian Empires: The arrival of Europeans, particularly the British, led to the disintegration of powerful Indian empires and kingdoms, such as the Mughal Empire and the Maratha Confederacy, which were systematically dismantled.
Administrative Changes: The British introduced a centralized and uniform administrative structure, replacing the varied and localized systems of governance that existed before. This included the establishment of a civil service, judiciary, and police force based on British models.
Economic Impact
Commercialization of Agriculture: Traditional agricultural practices were altered as the British encouraged the cultivation of cash crops like cotton, indigo, and opium for export. This led to significant changes in land use and rural economies.
Industrialization and Deindustrialization: While the British introduced modern industries such as railways, telegraphs, and shipping, they also caused the decline of traditional Indian industries, particularly textiles. Indian handloom weavers faced severe competition from British manufactured goods, leading to widespread unemployment and economic distress.
Drain of Wealth: The economic policies of the British, including heavy taxation, trade monopolies, and the transfer of wealth from India to Britain, led to what is often referred to as the 'drain of wealth'. This had long-term negative effects on India's economic development.
Social Impact
Educational Reforms: The British introduced Western education, which led to the establishment of schools, colleges, and universities. This played a crucial role in the rise of a new educated middle class and the spread of new ideas.
Social Reforms: British rule also led to significant social reforms, sometimes through direct intervention and sometimes by encouraging reform movements. Practices such as Sati (widow burning), child marriage, and untouchability were challenged and gradually outlawed.
Urbanization: The development of modern infrastructure, such as railways, ports, and cities, led to increased urbanization. Cities like Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), and Madras (Chennai) became important centers of trade, industry, and administration.
Cultural Impact
Cultural Exchange: The presence of Europeans led to a cultural exchange that influenced Indian art, architecture, literature, and cuisine. Indo-Saracenic architecture, for example, is a blend of Indian and European styles.
Rise of Nationalism: The impact of British policies and the spread of Western ideas also contributed to the rise of Indian nationalism. Educated Indians began to demand self-rule and more significant participation in governance, leading to the formation of political organizations like the Indian National Congress.
Missionary Activities: European missionaries introduced Christianity and established schools and hospitals, which played a role in social and cultural changes, especially in education and healthcare.
