Coming of the Europeans Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

(a) 1492 (b) 1498 (c) 1500 (d) 1510

(a) Cochin (b) Calicut (c) Goa (d) Daman

(a) A land revenue system (b) A maritime pass system requiring ships to pay toll (c) A religious conversion policy (d) A trade monopoly over textiles

(a) 1600 (b) 1602 (c) 1664 (d) 1616

(a) Madras (b) Bombay (c) Surat (d) Calcutta

(a) The British and the Portuguese (b) The British and the Dutch (c) The British and the French (d) The British and the Marathas

(a) Portuguese (b) Dutch (c) French (d) Danish

(a) French victory over the British (b) British victory over Siraj-ud-Daulah (c) Dutch victory over the British (d) Maratha victory over the British

False. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in India by sea. Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498. The order of arrival was: Portuguese (1498), Dutch (1605), English (1613), Danish (1620), and French (1664).

False. The English East India Company was founded in 1600, two years before the Dutch East India Company (founded in 1602). However, the Dutch arrived in India and established their first trading post before the English consolidated their position.

True. The Cartaze system required all ships sailing in the Indian Ocean to purchase a pass from the Portuguese and pay customs duties. Ships without a cartaz were captured or destroyed. This system gave the Portuguese a virtual monopoly over Indian Ocean trade and allowed them to control the lucrative spice trade.

False. The Carnatic Wars ended with British dominance in India. The French were decisively defeated, and the Treaty of Paris (1763) restricted them to their settlements without political power. The British emerged as the dominant European power, paving the way for their eventual control over India.

False. The Battle of Plassey was won primarily through conspiracy and betrayal, not military superiority. Robert Clive had secured the defection of Mir Jafar (the Nawab's commander-in-chief), who held back his troops during the battle. The actual fighting was minimal. This conspiracy was more important than military strength in determining the outcome.

True. The Danish East India Company established a settlement at Tranquebar (Tarangampadi) on the Tamil Nadu coast in 1620. The Danes also established a settlement at Serampore in Bengal. They sold their Indian possessions to the British in 1845.

False. The Dual Government (1765-1772) was disastrous for the people of Bengal. Under this system, the British East India Company had all the power (revenue collection, military control) while the Nawab had all the responsibility (administration, law and order) but no resources. The Company extracted maximum revenue while the Nawab could not maintain order, leading to economic exploitation, famine, and administrative collapse.

Europeans came to India primarily for the spice trade. After the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453 and blocked the overland trade routes, European powers needed a direct sea route to India and Southeast Asia for spices (pepper, cinnamon, cloves), textiles, indigo, and other goods that were highly valued in Europe. The Portuguese were the first to find a sea route around Africa, followed by the Dutch, English, French, and Danes.

The Cartaze system was a maritime pass system introduced by the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean. Under this system, all ships had to purchase a pass (cartaz) from the Portuguese and pay customs duties. Ships found sailing without a cartaz were captured or destroyed. This system gave the Portuguese a virtual monopoly over Indian Ocean trade and was essentially a form of naval extortion that ensured Portuguese control over maritime commerce.

The Dutch East India Company (VOC), founded in 1602, established trading posts at Masulipatnam, Pulicat, Cochin, and other centres. The Dutch focused on the spice trade (especially in the Indonesian archipelago) and were more interested in Southeast Asia than India. They defeated the Portuguese in several naval battles but were themselves defeated by the English. By the mid-18th century, the Dutch had lost their Indian settlements to the British and focused on Indonesia.

The Carnatic Wars were three conflicts (1746-1748, 1749-1754, 1756-1763) between the British and the French for control of the Carnatic region in South India. These wars were extensions of the Anglo-French rivalry in Europe (War of Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War). The French governor Dupleix initially gained the upper hand through alliances with local rulers, but the British under Clive eventually prevailed. The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended French political ambitions in India.

The Battle of Plassey (June 23, 1757) was significant because it marked the beginning of British political power in India. Robert Clive defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, with the help of the treacherous Mir Jafar. The British gained control of Bengal's enormous resources, which funded further military campaigns. This battle transformed the English East India Company from a trading organisation into a political power, laying the foundation for British rule in India.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in India by sea and the last to leave, establishing a presence that lasted over 450 years:

Arrival:

• Vasco da Gama reached Calicut on May 20, 1498, after sailing around the Cape of Good Hope.
• He was received by the Zamorin (ruler) of Calicut but faced resistance from Arab traders who already dominated the spice trade.
• Da Gama returned to Portugal with spices, demonstrating the profitability of direct European trade with India.

Consolidation:

• Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese viceroy (1505-1509), established the "Blue Water Policy" emphasising naval supremacy.
• Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509-1515), the most important Portuguese governor, captured Goa from the Bijapur sultanate in 1510 and made it the headquarters of Portuguese India.
• Albuquerque also captured Malacca (1511), Hormuz (1515), and other strategic points, creating a chain of Portuguese bases across the Indian Ocean.

Administration:

• The Portuguese established a well-organised administration with a Viceroy at Goa.
• They built forts at Diu, Daman, Bassein, and other strategic locations.
• They introduced the "Estado da India" (State of India) as their administrative framework.
• The Portuguese also set up a system of trade monopolies and customs collection.

Trade Policy:

• The Cartaze system required all ships in the Indian Ocean to buy a Portuguese pass, giving them control over maritime trade.
• They monopolised the spice trade, particularly pepper, and fixed prices in Europe.
• They traded in textiles, indigo, saltpetre, and other goods.
• They were involved in the slave trade between Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

Religious Activities:

• The Portuguese aggressively promoted Christianity through missionaries, especially the Jesuits.
• St. Francis Xavier arrived in Goa in 1542 and carried out extensive missionary work.
• The Goa Inquisition (1560-1812) persecuted those suspected of heresy, including Hindus and converted Christians who retained Hindu practices.
• They established churches, schools, and the first printing press in India (Goa, 1556).

Impact:

• The Portuguese introduced new crops (tobacco, potato, tomato, cashew), new military technology (firearms), and European cultural elements.
• They established the first European colony in India (Goa) and demonstrated the potential of European naval power.
• They created a maritime empire based on control of sea lanes rather than territorial conquest.

The British East India Company transformed from a trading organisation to a territorial power through a series of strategic steps:

Initial Trading Phase (1600-1757):

• The English East India Company was established by Royal Charter in 1600.
• Captain William Hawkins arrived at the Mughal court in 1608 and obtained permission from Jahangir to trade.
• The first factory was established at Surat in 1613.
• Factories were later established at Madras (1639), Bombay (1668), and Calcutta (1690).
• The Company obtained various farman (imperial orders) granting trade privileges, including the important farman from Farrukhsiyar in 1717.

Political Expansion:

• Carnatic Wars (1746-1763): The three Carnatic Wars between the British and French established British supremacy in South India. The French governor Dupleix initially succeeded through alliances with local rulers, but the British under Clive prevailed. The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended French political ambitions in India.

• Battle of Plassey (1757): Robert Clive defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, with the help of Mir Jafar's betrayal. The battle was won more through conspiracy than military strength. The British gained control of Bengal's enormous resources, which funded further expansion.

• Battle of Buxar (1764): The British defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (Mughal emperor). This victory gave the British the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765.

Administrative Methods:

• Dual Government (1765-1772): Clive introduced the Dual Government in Bengal, where the Company had power (revenue collection) but the Nawab had responsibility (administration) without resources. This allowed maximum exploitation.

• Subsidiary Alliance System: Later, Wellesley and others used the Subsidiary Alliance to bring Indian states under British control. Under this system, an Indian ruler accepted British protection, maintained British troops at his expense, and lost the right to conduct independent foreign policy.

• Doctrine of Lapse: Dalhousie used this doctrine to annex Indian states where the ruler died without a natural heir, bringing states like Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur under British control.

Factors in British Success: 1. Superior naval power: The British navy dominated the seas, cutting off French supplies. 2. Strong financial base: Profits from Bengal's revenues funded British military campaigns. 3. Diplomatic skill: The British exploited divisions among Indian rulers and formed strategic alliances. 4. Military organisation: A disciplined, well-equipped army with Indian sepoys trained in European methods. 5. Political fragmentation: The decline of the Mughal Empire and the lack of unity among Indian states made conquest easier. 6. Industrial Revolution: Britain's industrial superiority provided better weapons, ships, and resources.

Five European powers — Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, and Danish — arrived in India, each with distinct policies and approaches:

Portuguese (1498-1961):

• Approach: Aggressive maritime control and religious zeal.
• Trade: Monopolised the spice trade through the Cartaze system; controlled sea lanes.
• Administration: Centralised under a Viceroy at Goa; maintained a chain of forts along the coast.
• Religion: Actively promoted Christianity through missionaries; enforced the Goa Inquisition.
• Military: Relied on naval supremacy; used fortified settlements rather than territorial conquest.
• Decline: Lost ground to the Dutch and English in the 17th century but held on to Goa, Daman, and Diu until 1961.
• Legacy: Introduced European military technology, new crops (tobacco, cashew), printing press, and Gothic architectural style.

Dutch (1605-1795):

• Approach: Commercially focused; more interested in the spice trade of Southeast Asia.
• Trade: Focused on spices, textiles, and indigo; their main trading centres were Masulipatnam, Pulicat, and Cochin.
• Administration: Governed by the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) from Batavia (Jakarta).
• Military: Strong navy but limited territorial ambition in India.
• Decline: Defeated by the English in the 17th-18th centuries; shifted focus to Indonesia.
• Legacy: Left behind few lasting political or cultural impacts in India.

English (1600-1858):

• Approach: Initially commercial, gradually became political and territorial.
• Trade: Started with spices and textiles; gradually expanded to opium, indigo, saltpetre, and tea.
• Administration: Evolved from trading posts to territorial administration; introduced the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse.
• Military: Built a professional army of Indian sepoys trained in European methods.
• Expansion: From Bengal (after Plassey, 1757) to control over most of India by 1858.
• Legacy: British rule transformed India's economy, administration, education, and social systems fundamentally.

French (1664-1954):

• Approach: Initially commercial under Dupleix, became aggressively political.
• Trade: Main centres at Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Mahe, Yanam, and Karaikal.
• Military: Dupleix used alliances with Indian rulers to extend French influence.
• Decline: Defeated by the British in the Carnatic Wars; restricted to small settlements after 1763.
• Legacy: Minimal political impact; some cultural influence in Pondicherry's architecture and cuisine.

Danish (1620-1845):

• Approach: Purely commercial with no political ambitions.
• Trade: Settlements at Tranquebar (Tarangampadi) and Serampore.
• Notable contribution: Established Serampore College and introduced printing in Indian languages.
• Decline: Sold all settlements to the British in 1845.
• Legacy: The missionaries at Tranquebar produced early Tamil dictionaries and Bible translations.

Comparison: