{"id":126835,"date":"2024-08-20T18:31:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T13:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=126835"},"modified":"2025-01-10T17:57:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T12:27:15","password":"","slug":"portuguese-in-india","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs\/portuguese-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Advent, Expansion and Decline of the Portuguese in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In May 1498, Vasco Da Gama, accompanied by a Gujarati pilot named <\/span><b>Abdul Majid<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, arrived in <\/span><b>Calicut<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with three ships. Calicut had the status of a key trading hub and the <\/span><b>Hindu ruler, the Zamorin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, welcomed them. Vasco Da Gama&#8217;s return in 1501 saw a complete rupture with the Zamorin, as he sought to replace <\/span><b>Arab merchants<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/portuguese-in-india-1505-1961\/\"><b>Portuguese<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. He established a trading post in <\/span><b>Cannanore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and over time, <\/span><b>Calicut,<\/b> <b>Cannanore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>Cochin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> became key Portuguese trade centers, and gradually fortified under the pretext of protecting their commercial interests.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Quest for Dominance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese aimed to monopolize the trade, particularly in spices, by excluding competitors, especially Arabs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Merits of Direct Trade with India: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vasco Da Gama stayed for three months, returning to Portugal with a lucrative cargo, demonstrating the value of direct access to pepper trade.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Setting-up of Factory and Trading Post: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1500, <\/span><b>Pedro Alvarez Cabral <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrived in Calicut to negotiate for spices and establish a factory in Calicut.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_126836\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-126836\" style=\"width: 715px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-126836 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-2-1-1.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"715\" height=\"465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-2-1-1.webp 715w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-2-1-1-300x195.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-126836\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 2.4: Voyage of Vasco Da Gama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><span class=\"vc_button\"><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>Portuguese Trades<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Spice Trade:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They procured spices, particularly pepper, from the Malabar region and later from Kanara on the southwest coast of India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They maintained a strict monopoly on the spice trade, reserving it exclusively for the Portuguese crown and its appointed agents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their monopoly was effectively enforced through their naval supremacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Horse Trade:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese aimed to monopolize the horse trade by centralizing the trade route from Arabia to Persia, with Goa serving as the central hub.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ships carrying horses from Saudi Arabia or Hormuz were directed exclusively to Goa.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reverse Trade:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To support their trade endeavours and finance the acquisition of spices and other commodities, the Portuguese engaged in reverse trade.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This involved the importation of various items, including precious metals such as gold from West Africa and silver from the Americas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also imported non-precious metals like copper, lead, tin, quicksilver, and mercury, along with other commodities like corals, alum, wines, and olive oil.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Notable\u00a0 Governors<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Francisco De Almeida<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1505, the King of Portugal appointed Francisco De Almeida as governor of India, granting him substantial resources to safeguard Portuguese interests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126837 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-2-2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"277\" height=\"270\" \/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Mandates: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Almeida&#8217;s mandate was to strengthen the <\/span><b>Portuguese presence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India and disrupt Muslim trade by capturing key locations like <\/span><b>Aden, Ormuz, and Malacca.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>He<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was also instructed to construct fortresses in strategic places.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Conflicts: Almeida<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> faced resistance not only from the Zamorin but also from the Sultan of Egypt.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Encouraged<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Venetian merchants, as their trade was at risk due to <\/span><b>Portuguese interference,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the Egyptians assembled a fleet in the <\/span><b>Red Sea<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to oppose the Portuguese advance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>In 1507<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Portuguese squadron suffered a defeat in a naval battle off Diu against the combined <\/span><b>Egyptian and Gujarat navies, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resulting in the death of Almeida&#8217;s son. The following year, Almeida sought vengeance and decisively defeated the two navies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Towards Blue Water Policy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Almeida&#8217;s ambitious <\/span><b>goal was to establish Portuguese mastery over the Indian Ocean<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a strategy known as the <\/span><b>Blue Water Policy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, implemented through the <\/span><b>cartaze system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>Views<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>\u00a0 As long as you may be powerful at sea you will hold India as yours; and if you do not possess this power, little will avail you a fortress on shore.<\/em> \u2014<\/span><b>Francisco De Almeida<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Alfonso de Albuquerque<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Albuquerque, who succeeded Almeida as the Portuguese governor in India, played a pivotal role in establishing Portuguese dominance in the East. He strategically controlled the Indian Ocean by establishing bases at key entrances, which were<\/span><b> East Africa,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the<\/span><b> Red Sea<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Ormuz<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><b> Malabar,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Malacca<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126838 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-3.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"294\" height=\"245\" \/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Permit System for Ships: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under his leadership, the Portuguese implemented a <\/span><b>permit system for ships <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and gained control over major ship-building centers in the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>First European Possession: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>1510<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Albuquerque <\/span><b>acquired Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, marking the first European possession of Indian territory since Alexander the Great&#8217;s time. Notably, <\/span><b>he abolished the practice of sati during his rule<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Attempt at Blending with Local Populace: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermarriage between Portuguese men and Indian women was promoted to establish a permanent Portuguese presence in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>They<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> established themselves as landlords in villages, constructing infrastructure, roads, and irrigation systems, introducing new crops <\/span><b>like tobacco, red chilies, and cashew nuts, and cultivating coconut groves for coir rigging and cordage<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In urban centers like Goa and Cochin, they thrived as artisans, craftsmen, and traders. Many of these Portuguese settlers came to consider their new homes, rather than Portugal, as their true homeland.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Persecution of Muslims: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Albuquerque pursued policies that led to the <\/span><b>bitter persecution of Muslims <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to eliminate their commercial influence in the East, while also strengthening <\/span><b>Goa&#8217;s fortifications.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Nino da Cunha<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nino da Cunha became <\/span><b>governor of Portuguese <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interests in India in 1529 and moved the government&#8217;s base to Goa in 1530.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126839 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-4.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"255\" \/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1534, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat sought Portuguese aid against Mughal Emperor Humayun, ceding them Bassein and promising a base in Diu.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relations soured when Humayun withdrew from Gujarat in 1536, leading to conflict in the town. Bahadur Shah&#8217;s proposal of a partition wall was opposed by the Portuguese, resulting in negotiations where the <\/span><b>ruler of Gujarat was invited onto a Portuguese ship and killed in 1537<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Da Cunha also tried to expand Portuguese influence in Bengal, establishing Hooghly as a key center.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Portuguese Administrative Structure Political Power of Portuguese in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Regions of Influence<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126840 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-5-1.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"633\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-5-1.webp 633w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-5-1-300x187.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese hold in India is often underestimated. The <\/span><b>Estado<\/b> <b>Portugu\u00eas da \u00cdndia (State of Portuguese India) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was a significant force in Indian history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within fifty years of Vasco da Gama&#8217;s arrival, they controlled many coastal regions, including about sixty miles around Goa.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along the west coast <\/span><b>from Mumbai to Daman and Diu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they commanded key ports and numerous towns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the south, they established seaport fortresses and trading posts in places like <\/span><b>Mangalore, Cannanore, Cochin, and Calicut<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese also <\/span><b>established military posts and settlements on the east coast at San Thome (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) and Nagapattinam (in Tamil Nadu).<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By<\/span><b> the late sixteenth century,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a prosperous settlement had developed in Hooghly, West Bengal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Diplomacy\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They <\/span><b>engaged in diplomatic relations with major Indian kingdoms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, signing treaties with Deccan sultans in 1570, regularly renewed. The Portuguese <\/span><b>played a role in power struggles <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">between various Indian factions between Vijayanagar and Deccan sultan, between Deccanis and Mughal, and between Mughal and Marathas over the centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interestingly, they were both <\/span><b>the first and last Europeans in India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leaving only in 1961 when the Government of India reclaimed Goa, Daman, and Diu.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Religious Policy of the Portuguese<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Religious Tensions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Arabs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the<\/span><b> Moors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Muslim people of North Africa) were the bitter enemies of the Portuguese. The Portuguese, driven by <\/span><b>religious zeal,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sought to promote Christianity and <\/span><b>suppress Islam <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upon their arrival in the East.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They were initially tolerant towards Hindus but became less so over time, particularly after the introduction of the <\/span><b>Inquisition in Goa <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Inquisition was a powerful office set up within the <\/span><b>Catholic Church <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">infamous for its severity against Jews and Muslims).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Akbar&#8217;s Invitation to Jesuit Scholars:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In September 1579, Akbar requested the authorities to send two learned priests.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Jesuit fathers, Rodolfo Aquaviva and Antonio Monserrate <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were received with honour at Fatehpur Sikri.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Akbar then called in for a second mission in 1590. The third mission arrived in 1595 at Lahore. <\/span><b>Fathers Jerome Xavier and Emanuel Pinheiro <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were the leaders of the mission.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Jahangir&#8217;s Relationship with the Jesuit Fathers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prince Salim, on ascending the throne neglected the Jesuit fathers yet a spacious church at Lahore was allowed to be retained by them.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jahangir was cordial with the Jesuit priests however, <\/span><b>their hopes of converting the Mughal kings to Christianity were debunked every time.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Decline of the Portuguese<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the 18th century, the Portuguese presence in India waned, with individuals engaging in independent trade and some turning to piracy. Factors contributing to their decline were:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Portuguese lost favour with the Mughals:<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Arrival of Captain William Hawkins: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>1608, Captain William Hawkins <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">arrived in Surat with a letter from King James I of England, seeking permission for English trade in India. Despite opposition from Father Pinheiro and Portuguese authorities, Hawkins reached the Mughal court of Jahangir, receiving a warm reception in 1609.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Jahangir appointed him as a mansabdar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but the promised salary was never received. Hawkins also married the daughter of an Armenian Christian.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-126841 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-3-1.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"506\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-3-1.webp 1206w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-3-1-300x196.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-3-1-1024x670.webp 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-3-1-768x502.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Granting trading privileges<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the English sparked conflict with the Portuguese, leading to a temporary truce.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite frustrations and wavering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/mughal-period-1526-40-and-1555-1857\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mughal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> policies, Hawkins left the court in 1611.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Strained Relations with Mughals: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1612, the English ship Dragon, led by Captain Best, defeated the Portuguese fleet, impressing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Jahangir.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><b>Portuguese piracy <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strained <\/span>relations with\u00a0 <b style=\"background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-family: var(--global--font-secondary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);\">Jahangir,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> resulting in his order for compensation to the Mughal government.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portuguese influence waned during <\/span><b>Shah Jahan&#8217;s reign<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, dashing hopes of converting the royal family to <\/span><b>Christianity,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> initially fostered by the Portuguese during <\/span><b>Akbar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Jahangir&#8217;s welcoming reception.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Capture of Hooghly: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In late <\/span><b>1579<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Portuguese settled near Satgaon in Bengal, establishing a trading hub.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They developed Hooghly as a new port, monopolizing<\/span><b> salt production<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and imposing <\/span><b>duties on tobacco.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Slave Trade and Forced Conversion Irked the Mughals: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also engaged in a cruel slave trade, forcibly converting Hindu and Muslim children to Christianity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Siege of Hooghly:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This led to a conflict with the Mughals, culminating in a siege of Hooghly in 1632. Shah Jahan ordered the Bengal governor to take action against the Portuguese.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The siege resulted in a Portuguese retreat, with the Mughals suffering casualties and taking prisoners.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The captives were given the choice of conversion or slavery. The persecution of Christians eventually subsided.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Other factors that led to their Decline<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Rise of powerful dynasties in Egypt, Persia, and North India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as the emergence of the Marathas as formidable neighbours.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-126843 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-5-2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"358\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-5-2.webp 441w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/unnamed-5-2-268x300.webp 268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 358px) 100vw, 358px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Religious policies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially Jesuit activities, led to political tensions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> policy of Christian conversion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> angered both Muslims <\/span>and Hindus, and <b style=\"background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-family: var(--global--font-secondary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);\">dishonest trade practices <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caused resentment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Declining Portugal&#8217;s Trade Monopoly:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Portuguese gained a reputation as sea pirates, earning animosity from small states and the Mughals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The union of Spain and Portugal in the late 16th century, and subsequent <\/span><b>involvement in wars with England and Holland<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, weakened Portugal&#8217;s trade monopoly in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Relative Competition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Dutch and English<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, gaining knowledge of the sea route to India, posed <\/span><b>fierce competition.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With greater resources and overseas ambitions, they gradually overcame Portuguese resistance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Goa, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">though still under Portuguese control, <\/span><b>lost its significance as a port. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Dutch took control of the spice trade, and Brazil replaced Goa as Portugal&#8217;s economic center. In 1683, the Marathas successfully invaded Goa after two naval assaults.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Significance of the Portuguese<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>A<\/b><b>rtillery and Warfare:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><b>Naval Power and Foreign Influence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The arrival of the Portuguese in India marked a significant <\/span><b>shift towards naval power <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and foreign influence via sea routes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Portuguese<\/b> <b>ships were armed with cannons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, giving them an advantage in trade negotiations through the threat or use of force. They disregarded established rules and aimed to dominate the Indian Ocean trade.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Military innovation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, during the 16th century, the Portuguese introduced new techniques in Malabar, including body armour, matchlock firearms, and ship-based artillery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also <\/span><b>introduced drilling techniques for infantry, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which later became a key aspect of Indian armies. Portuguese ships were designed to withstand Atlantic gales, allowing them to carry heavier weapons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Ship Building:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their <\/span><b>use of fortified prow and stern designs influenced Indian shipbuilding. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese excelled in organisation, establishing arsenals, dockyards, and a system of pilots and mapping.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Art and Culture:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Fusion of European and Indian Techniques:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Despite the negative aspects of religious persecution, the Portuguese <\/span><b>contributed to the arts in India, particularly in painting, carving, and sculpture.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They played a role in introducing European art forms to India, including silversmith and goldsmith techniques.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Goa <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">became a centre for intricate metalwork, including filigree and jewel-embedded pieces.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The art of the<\/span><b> silversmith <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><b> goldsmith<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> flourished at Goa, and the place became a centre of elaborate filigree work, <\/span><b>fretted foliage work,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and metalwork embedding jewels.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Architecture: Churches <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">such as The <\/span><b>Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, built under Portuguese influence were <\/span><b>characterized by ornate interiors <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with woodwork, sculpture, and occasionally painted ceilings while maintaining a generally simple architectural plan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Historical Research: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The missionaries conducted extensive research into the history and culture of India.<\/span><b> Fa Heras<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> conducted an in-depth examination of the<\/span><b> Indus Valley Civilization<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contribution to Printing and Vernacular Language:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese introduced the <\/span><b>printing press to India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leading to the printing of the Bible in Kannada and Malayalam languages.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agriculture:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese introduced various crops to India, including <\/span><b>tobacco<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables such as <\/span><b>potatoes, okra, chilli, pineapple, sapota, and groundnuts.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>Views<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Portuguese entered India with the sword in one hand and the crucifix in the other; finding much gold, they laid aside the crucifix to fill their pockets, and not being able to hold them up with one hand, they were grown so heavy, they dropped the sword, too; being found in this posture by those who came after, they were easily overcome. \u2014<\/span><b>Alfonso de Souza, the Portuguese Governor in India (1542-45)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><span class=\"vc_button\"><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.249%; height: 120px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 367.407%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center; height: 30px;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.2637%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><b>Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 317.144%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><b>Editorial Analysis<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.2637%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><b>Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 317.144%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><b>Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.2637%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><b>NCERT Notes<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 317.144%; text-align: center; height: 30px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><b>Free Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within the Indian Subcontinent, the Portuguese established the <\/span><b>Portuguese State of India,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> popularly referred to as Portuguese India. They were the <\/span><b>first <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/european-union\/\"><b>Europeans<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to arrive in India and the <\/span><b>last to go.<\/b> <b>Vasco Da Gama<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was the first Portuguese to set foot in India <\/span><b>in 1498. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonetheless, it is believed that the Portuguese ruled India from 1505 till 1961. Their colonialism was more persistent than <\/span><b>English <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/stages-of-colonialism\/\"><b>colonialism<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, however, it had less of an impact outside of its colonies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><i>Sign up for the <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>PWOnlyIAS Online Course by Physics Wallah<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> and start your journey to IAS success today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8426%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 210.022%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0287%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/portuguese-in-india-1505-1961\/\">PORTUGUESE IN INDIA (1505-1961)<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 159.993%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/mughal-period-1526-40-and-1555-1857\/\">MUGHAL PERIOD (1526-40 and 1555-1857)<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.0287%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/european-union\/\">European Union (EU)<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 159.993%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/stages-of-colonialism\/\">Three Different Stages of Colonialism<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Examine the history of the Portuguese in India, from the arri<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[5647],"doc_tag":[5649],"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-04","word_count":2289,"total_views":0,"reactions":{"happy":0,"normal":0,"sad":0},"author_info":{"name":"Priyanka","author_nicename":"priyanka6","author_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/author\/priyanka6"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Modern History","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-category\/modern-history"}],"doc_tag_info":[{"term_name":"The Advent of Europeans in India","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-tag\/the-advent-of-europeans-in-india"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/126835"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126835"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/126835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150965,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/126835\/revisions\/150965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=126835"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=126835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}