Main Motives : Why Europeans came to India
- Search for direct sea route to India to avoid Arab–Venetian monopoly.
- Desire to buy Indian commodities like spices, silk, indigo, pepper, cotton, etc.
- Interest in participating in the profitable Indian Ocean trade.
- Establishment of colonies & trading posts for long-term gains.
| Europeans | Year of Arrival | First Place | Key Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | 1498 | Calicut | Vasco da Gama |
| Dutch | 1605 | Masulipatnam | — |
| English | 1608 | Surat | Captain Hawkins |
| Danish | 1620 | Tranquebar | — |
| French | 1664/1668 | Surat | François Caron |
PORTUGUESE IN INDIA (1498–1961)
First Europeans to reach India by sea.
Founder of Portuguese sea route: Henry the Navigator (Portugal).
📌 Vasco da Gama’s First Voyage (1498)
- Reached Calicut (Kozhikode) on 20 May 1498.
- Welcomed by Zamorin, the local ruler.
- Opened the India–Europe sea route.
| Settlement | Year | State |
|---|---|---|
| Goa | 1510 | Goa |
| Diu | 1535 | Gujarat |
| Daman | 1559 | Gujarat |
| Bassein | 1534 | Maharashtra |
| Chaul | Chaul | Maharashtra |
Important Governors / Viceroys
- Francisco de Almeida (1505–09)
“Blue Water Policy”: To make Portuguese powerful at sea. - Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509–15)
Conquered Goa (1510); considered the real founder of Portuguese power in India.
Portuguese Introductions in India (PYQs)
- Tobacco
- Potato
- Pineapple
- Guns & Gunpowder usage
- Tomatoes, Cashew nuts
- Printing Press (1556, Goa)
Decline of Portuguese Power
- Defeated in the Battle of Swally (1612) by the English.
- Lost influence due to corruption, rigid religious policies, and Dutch competition.
- Final end: Goa liberated by India in 1961 (Operation Vijay).
DUTCH IN INDIA (1605–1825)
Dutch East India Company (VOC) founded in 1602.
First Factory:Masulipatnam (1605) – Andhra Pradesh.
📌 Other Dutch Locations
- Chinsura (Bengal)
- Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu)
- Kochi (Kerala)
- Surat (Gujarat)
📌 Decline
- Defeated by the English in the Battle of Bedara (1759) → End of Dutch power in India.
ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY (EIC)
Founded in 1600 by a charter from Queen Elizabeth I.
📌 First English Factory in India
- Surat (1613) – permission from Mughal Emperor Jahangir (via Governor of Surat).
Major English Settlements
| Settlement | Year | Present State |
|---|---|---|
| Masulipatnam | 1611 | AP |
| Surat | 1613 | Gujarat |
| Madras (Fort St. George) | 1639 | Tamil Nadu |
| Bombay (Transferred by Portuguese) | 1661/1668 | Maharashtra |
| Calcutta (Fort William) | 1690 | WB |
📌 Important Treaties
- Treaty of Bassein (1534) – Portuguese gave Bombay to British.
- Treaty of Allahabad (1765) – British got Diwani rights of Bengal.
📌 English vs Other European Powers
- English vs Portuguese → Won at Battle of Swally (1612).
- English vs Dutch → Won at Bedara (1759).
- English vs French → Won in Carnatic Wars (1746–1763).
| Rival Powers | Major Battle / War | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| English vs Portuguese | Battle of Swally | 1612 | English defeated the Portuguese |
| English vs Dutch | Battle of Bedara | 1759 | English defeated the Dutch |
| English vs French | Carnatic Wars | 1746–1763 | English defeated the French |
DANISH IN INDIA (1620–1869)
📌 Key Settlements
- Tranquebar (1620) – Tamil Nadu
- Serampore (1755) – West Bengal
📌 Contribution
- Established Serampore Mission Press (major printing center).
- Introduced early missionary education.
📌 End
- Danes sold all territories to the British in 1845.
FRENCH IN INDIA (1664–1954)
French East India Company founded in 1664 by Colbert under Louis XIV.
📌 Major French Settlements
| Location | Year | Current State |
|---|---|---|
| Pondicherry (Puducherry) | 1674 | Puducherry |
| Chandernagore | 1688 | West Bengal |
| Mahe | 1725 | Kerala |
| Karaikal | 1738 | Puducherry |
📌 Important French Governor – Joseph François Dupleix
- Architect of French power in India.
- Tried to control Deccan politics.
- Competed with the British during Carnatic Wars.
📌 Carnatic Wars (British vs French)
- First Carnatic War (1746–48) – Caused by Austrian War of Succession.
- Second Carnatic War (1749–54) – Proxy war in Hyderabad & Arcot.
- Third Carnatic War (1756–63) – British victory; decisive.
The French lost political ambitions in India after these wars.
📌 End of French Presence
- French retained only a few pockets like Pondicherry until 1954 (formally merged in 1962).
Major European Contributions to India
| European Power | Major Contributions to India |
|---|---|
| Portuguese | – Introduced new crops: tobacco, potato, cashew – Brought the printing press to India – Introduced new navigation and shipbuilding techniques |
| Dutch | – Improved and expanded the spice trade – Introduced advanced commercial accounting practices |
| French | – Influenced Indian art, architecture, and modern education in Puducherry – Contributed to military drill and training methods |
| British | – Established modern administration, law, army, railways, postal system – Introduced the English education system – Led to major economic restructuring (positive & negative impacts) |
KEY EXAM FACTS (SUPER IMPORTANT FOR PRELIMS)
- First Europeans to come by Sea → Portuguese
- First English factory → Surat (1613)
- Portuguese Capital in India → Goa
- Last European to leave India → French (1954)
- Last European power conquered militarily → Portuguese (1961)
- English got Calcutta from → Job Charnock (1690)
- French political defeat ensured by → Battle of Wandiwash (1760)
- Dutch defeated in India at → Battle of Bedara (1759)
📘 Europeans in India – Key Events Table (Crack BPSC/UPSC)
🔹 Summary Table
| Key Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Main motive of Europeans | Trade, especially spices |
| First European to arrive | Portuguese |
| Last European to leave India | French (1954) |
| Power that established political rule | British defeated all other European powers |
📅 Key Events Timeline Table
| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Vasco da Gama reached India | 1498 | First direct sea route to India; Portuguese arrival at Calicut |
| Formation of English East India Company (EIC) | 1600 | British entry into Asian trade; beginning of British commercial influence |
| Battle of Swally (English vs Portuguese) | 1612 | English naval victory over Portuguese → strengthened English trading position |
| English capture Bengal (Battle of Plassey) | 1757 | British establish territorial rule; defeat of Siraj-ud-Daula |
| British become paramount power (Treaty of Allahabad) | 1765 | EIC receives Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, Odisha; beginning of British political dominance |
📌 Final Quick Revision Table
| Category | Answer |
|---|---|
| First Europeans to arrive | Portuguese (1498) |
| Last Europeans to leave India | French (1954) |
| Europeans who colonized India | British |
| Landmark event establishing British rule | Battle of Plassey – 1757 |
| British get revenue rights | 1765 – Diwani Rights |
