Portuguese advent in india

   

Portuguese advent in India


  • In 1500, a new Portuguese company 'Estado Da India' was founded by few merchants to trade in India and other Asian countries. This was a private company. 
  • Portuguese has set up the trading stations in India for carrying on business. Few important stations were
               - Calicut in the year 1500(first), Cochin, Cananore in Kerala
               - Bombay, Salsetty, Bassain in Maharastra
               - Goa
               - Surat, Bhavnagar, Diu, Daman in Gujarat
               - Hooghly, Chittagong, Satgon in Bengal

  • A Governor is appointed to administer all these stations.
             - 'Francis De Almida' (1504 - 1509)
             - 'Albuquerque' (1509 - 1515) In 1510 he conquered Goa from Bijapur and in 1511 he                            concluded a friendly treaty with Sri Krishnadevaraya.
             - 'Nino De Cunha' - In 1530 he changed headquarters from Cochin to Goa.
  • In 1556 Printing press was first time introduced in Goa,India.  The purpose was simple to promote and spread Christianity. The first book to be printed in India was 'St. Peter's Charitha' in Marathi. (The first book printed in Telugu was 'Bible'. Benjamin Shulk, a German printed this book in Germany, not in India).
  • In the 17th Century, few new crops were introduced by these. They were
             - Tobacco (The then Mughal Sultan Jahangir banned this)
             - Maize
             - Chili
             - Papaya
             - Pine Apple
  • Various Christian Missionaries came to India to promote and promulgate Christianity and Gospels of Christ. 'Francis Xavier' a Portuguese Catholic missionary evangelized more than 6000 fishermen of  TamilNadu and Kerala. His mummy (preserved dead body) was kept at St. Bassillus Church in Goa.
  • For almost 100 years, there were no other traders from Europe to India. Portuguese were enjoying the complete monopoly of Indian trade.
  • Little later Portuguese were expelled from Bengal by Shah Jahan. Salsetty and Basin were captured by 'Bazirao I' of Maratha. Of late there were many battles between British and Portuguese. Finally, Portuguese were left with only 3 trading stations in India. They were Goa, Diu and Daman. These 3 stations were under the control of Portuguese till 1961. 
  • Portuguese were first to come and last to leave India.