About the Advent of the Europeans in India
The advent of the Europeans means the arrival of European trading companies in India, beginning with the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century. The Europeans came first for trade, especially in spices, and later used their trading bases to build political power. The Portuguese were the first, followed by the Dutch, the English, the Danish and the French. In the end it was the English East India Company that established British rule in India.
Why the Europeans Came to India
After the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, the land route between Europe and Asia became difficult and costly. Europeans wanted to reach India by sea to buy spices, cotton textiles, silk and indigo directly, without Arab and Turkish middlemen. New navigation techniques, the mariner’s compass and better ships made long sea voyages possible. The search for a sea route to India was also encouraged by the desire to spread Christianity and by the rivalry among European nations.
The Portuguese
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese sailor, reached Calicut on the Malabar Coast in 1498 AD. He was welcomed by the local ruler, the Zamorin. This was the first direct sea route from Europe to India. In 1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral followed him. Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese governor, came in 1505 and followed the Blue Water Policy, that is, to control the sea and keep other traders away. The real founder of Portuguese power was Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509–1515), who captured Goa from Bijapur in 1510. Later the capital was moved from Cochin to Goa. In 1612 the Portuguese were defeated by the English at the Battle of Swally. Their power declined because of religious intolerance, corruption, the union of Portugal with Spain (1580) and the rise of the Dutch and the English.
The Dutch
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was formed in 1602. The Dutch set up their first factory at Masulipatnam in 1605 and concentrated on the spice trade of the East Indies. They defeated the Portuguese but were later defeated by the English at the Battle of Bedara (1759). Their main interest shifted to the East Indies (Indonesia), so they lost importance in India.
The English East India Company
The English East India Company was chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 AD. Captain Hawkins visited the court of Jahangir in 1608, and Sir Thomas Roe (1615–1619) obtained trading rights for the English. Their first factory was set up at Surat in 1613. They built Fort St. George at Madras (1639), received Bombay (1661, as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza, and leased to the Company in 1668 for a tiny rent), and founded Calcutta with Fort William in 1690 (associated with Job Charnock). The English won the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764), which made them masters of Bengal and soon of much of India.
The Danish
The Danish East India Company was founded in 1616. The Danes set up settlements at Tranquebar (Tarangambadi, 1620) and Serampore in Bengal (1755). They were never a major power and sold their settlements to the British in 1845.
The French
The French East India Company was formed in 1664 by Colbert under King Louis XIV. Their first factory was at Surat (1668), and the important settlement of Pondicherry was founded in 1673 by Francois Martin. The able governor Dupleix tried to build French power, and the French fought the English in the Carnatic Wars (1740–1763). The French were defeated, and the Treaty of Paris (1763) ended French hopes in India, leaving the English supreme.
Timeline of the Advent of the Europeans
- 1498 AD: Vasco da Gama reaches Calicut.
- 1500 AD: Pedro Alvares Cabral reaches India.
- 1505 AD: Francisco de Almeida becomes the first Portuguese governor.
- 1510 AD: Albuquerque captures Goa.
- 1600 AD: English East India Company is chartered.
- 1602 AD: Dutch East India Company is formed.
- 1613 AD: English factory at Surat.
- 1616 AD: Danish East India Company is founded.
- 1664 AD: French East India Company is formed.
- 1673 AD: Pondicherry is founded.
- 1757 AD: Battle of Plassey.
- 1763 AD: Treaty of Paris ends French hopes.
- 1764 AD: Battle of Buxar.
Main Facts about the Advent of the Europeans (Quick Revision Bullets)
- First European to reach India by sea: Vasco da Gama (1498).
- Place where Vasco da Gama landed: Calicut, welcomed by the Zamorin.
- First Portuguese governor: Francisco de Almeida (Blue Water Policy).
- Real founder of Portuguese power in India: Alfonso de Albuquerque.
- Portuguese capital in India: Goa (captured 1510).
- Dutch East India Company: 1602; first factory at Masulipatnam.
- English East India Company chartered: 1600 by Queen Elizabeth I.
- English ambassador to Jahangir: Sir Thomas Roe.
- First English factory: Surat (1613).
- English settlements: Madras (Fort St. George), Bombay and Calcutta (Fort William).
- French East India Company: 1664, formed by Colbert.
- French capital in India: Pondicherry (1673).
- Danish settlements: Tranquebar and Serampore.
- Decisive English victories: Battle of Plassey (1757) and Battle of Buxar (1764).
- Treaty that ended French hopes: Treaty of Paris (1763).
Important Persons and Terms
- Vasco da Gama: Portuguese sailor; discovered the sea route to India (1498).
- Zamorin: the ruler of Calicut who welcomed Vasco da Gama.
- Alfonso de Albuquerque: real founder of Portuguese power; captured Goa.
- Blue Water Policy: the Portuguese policy of controlling the seas.
- Sir Thomas Roe: English ambassador who secured trading rights from Jahangir.
- Job Charnock: associated with the founding of Calcutta.
- Dupleix: the ambitious French governor in India.
- Colbert: the French minister who set up the French East India Company.
- Carnatic Wars: the Anglo-French struggles (1740–1763) in South India.
- Battle of Plassey and Buxar: English victories that established British power in Bengal.
Why This Topic Matters for Exams
Common questions: Who was the first European to reach India by sea? (Vasco da Gama, 1498.) Who was the first Portuguese governor? (Francisco de Almeida.) Who captured Goa? (Albuquerque.) When was the English East India Company founded? (1600.) Who secured trading rights from Jahangir? (Sir Thomas Roe.) Who was the French governor who fought the English? (Dupleix.) A common trap is to confuse Vasco da Gama (the discoverer) with Albuquerque (the empire-builder), and to mix up the founding years of the English (1600), Dutch (1602) and French (1664) companies.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn the order of arrival. Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danish and French.
- Learn the Portuguese phase. Vasco da Gama, Almeida, Albuquerque and Goa.
- Learn the English company’s growth. Charter of 1600, Surat, Madras, Bombay and Calcutta.
- Learn the French challenge. Pondicherry, Dupleix and the Carnatic Wars.
- Learn the decisive battles. Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764).
Common Exam Traps
- Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route (1498); Albuquerque founded Portuguese power.
- Goa was captured from Bijapur in 1510, not from the Mughals.
- The English East India Company (1600) is older than the Dutch (1602) and the French (1664).
- Sir Thomas Roe secured rights from Jahangir, not from Akbar.
- The Battle of Plassey (1757) was won by the English under Clive, not by the French.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first European to reach India by sea and when?
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese sailor, was the first European to reach India by sea. He landed at Calicut on the Malabar Coast in 1498 AD and was welcomed by the local ruler, the Zamorin.
Who were the first Europeans to come to India and who founded their power?
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come to India. Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498, Francisco de Almeida became the first governor in 1505, and Alfonso de Albuquerque became the real founder of Portuguese power after capturing Goa in 1510.
When was the English East India Company founded and what rights did it get?
The English East India Company was chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 AD. Captain Hawkins visited Jahangir’s court in 1608, and Sir Thomas Roe (1615–1619) secured trading rights. Its first factory was set up at Surat in 1613.
How did the English defeat the French in India?
The French East India Company was formed in 1664 and set up its capital at Pondicherry in 1673. The ambitious governor Dupleix fought the English in the Carnatic Wars (1740–1763). The French were defeated, and the Treaty of Paris (1763) ended French hopes, leaving the English supreme in India.
Which battles established British power in Bengal?
The Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764) were the two decisive English victories. They made the English East India Company the master of Bengal and soon of much of India.
Which were the main European trading companies that came to India?
The main European trading companies were the Portuguese, the Dutch East India Company (1602), the English East India Company (1600), the Danish East India Company (1616) and the French East India Company (1664). Of these, the English East India Company finally established British rule in India.