Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Advent Of The Europeans from Class 7 Social_Science. On 17th May, 1498 C.E, Vasco da Gama reached Calicut by discovering a new sea route to India. This discovery enabled the Europeans to come to India. It helped the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British to arrive in India for trade. Let us look at the competencies we will achieve. We will understand the early activities of the Europeans in India. We will understand the conflict that emerged between Europeans and Indians. We will get acquainted with the European companies that came to India. We will understand the conditions that enabled the British to settle down in India. Finally, we will learn to locate European trade settlements on the map of India. [CHECKPOINT]
The Portuguese were in India from 1498 to 1961 C.E. Through this newly discovered sea route, the Portuguese were the first among the Europeans to reach India. They gained a trade monopoly with the eastern countries. Building a colonial empire and the propagation of Christianity were their main aims. Now, let us understand the causes for the rise of the Portuguese. Zamorin, the King of Calicut, granted trade permission to the voyager Vasco da Gama. In 1509 C.E, Albuquerque was appointed as Governor, also known as Viceroy, of India. In 1510 C.E, he captured Goa from the Sultan of Vijayapur. Until the Portuguese left India, Goa remained as their capital. Successive Governors after Albuquerque established colonies at Diu, Daman, Salsette, Bassein, Chawl, Mumbai, Santhome, and Hugli in Bengal. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, what were the causes for the decline of the Portuguese? The possession of a strong navy by the Dutch and the English posed a formidable challenge to the Portuguese. Portuguese Government officials became highly corrupt, losing their loyalty, which later reduced their government to a pathetic condition. Religious fanaticism was another major reason for their decline, as they attempted to convert the locals forcefully. Additionally, with the decline of the Vijayanagar Empire, their trade also declined. Francisco de Almeida was the first Portuguese Viceroy in India. They were the first among the Europeans to enter India, and the Portuguese happened to be the last to leave. Until the end, only Goa, Diu, and Daman remained as Portuguese possessions. Even though British rule ended in 1947 C.E, the Portuguese did not leave our land. For the liberation of Goa, native Indians resorted to non-violent protest, but the protesters were subjected to inhuman treatment. Ultimately, in 1961 C.E, the Indian Navy chased away the Portuguese and liberated Goa. [CHECKPOINT]
After the Portuguese, the Dutch from the Netherlands arrived in India. In 1602 C.E, the Dutch East India Company was established. This company obtained a monopoly to trade with countries in the East. It also came equipped with the mandate to wage battles or enter peace treaties with the local rulers. Pulicat became the capital of the Dutch. Their trading centres were located at Agra, Machalipatnam, Surat, Karaikal, Nagapatnam, and Cochin. Now, what led to the decline of the Dutch? The Dutch clashed with the English, but the English defeated them. Unable to face the English competition, the Dutch turned their attention towards the islands of South East Asia, which include Indonesia, Malaya, Thailand, Philippines, and Cambodia. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us move on to the English, who were in India from 1600 to 1947 C.E. In the beginning, the English followed Peaceful Trade as their policy. However, they took advantage of the deteriorating political situation in India to establish their political supremacy. The Merchants of England who aspired to have trade with the Eastern countries founded The East India Company in 1600 C.E. They established trade links with India by obtaining the permission of Queen Elizabeth. In the beginning, East India Company ships were anchored at Surat ports. Sir Thomas Roe visited the court of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in 1615 C.E and obtained permission to trade in Surat. Later, trade centers were established at Agra, Ahmedabad, and Broach. After this, they established trade factories at Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. Calcutta, now known as Kolkata, was their first capital. [CHECKPOINT]
Gradually, the profit of the East India Company increased remarkably. From the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyyar, they received licenses called Dastaks to carry out duty free, or tax free, trade in the province of Bengal, which includes present day Bengal, Bihar, and Odhisha, and Surat. With the help of these, the English became more powerful than the domestic traders. The special passes or licenses issued to the British traders to conduct tax free trade were known as Dastaks. In order to improve their strength, the British built forts around their residential areas and trade centres. They employed soldiers to protect their establishments and also stocked arms and ammunitions. Within a short time, the English had a strong army. [CHECKPOINT]
The French were the last among Europeans to reach India for trade, present from 1664 to 1954 C.E. They established the French East India Company in 1664 C.E. In India, the French opened their first warehouse at Surat in 1668 C.E. Within a short time, they established their trade centers in different parts of India. Their trade centres were located at Pondichery, Machalipatnam, Calicut, Mahe, Karaikal, and Chandranagar. Pondicherry was the capital of the French. Dupleix, the governor of the French, strengthened the influence of the French in Hyderabad and Carnatic regions, which is East of Tamil Nadu, with his clever diplomacy. The French and the English who had come to India for trade purposes now fought many wars to establish Political and Commercial Supremacy. They are called the Carnatic wars. [CHECKPOINT]
What were the causes for the decline of the French? French army commanders in India were not given complete support by the Government of France. Political confusion and revolutions took place in France, which led to their decline in India. Additionally, the French Navy was not superior to the English Navy. Let us remember the chronology of the establishment of these companies in C.E. The British East India Company was established in 1600. The Dutch East India Company was established in 1602. The French East India Company was established in 1664. Now, let us visualize the map of India mentioned in your textbook. The map shows the early European settlements along the coastal and inland regions of India. You can see Portuguese settlements like Goa, Diu, and Daman on the western coast. The Dutch settlements are marked at places like Pulicat, Cochin, Surat, and Machalipatnam. The English settlements are located at Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Surat, and Agra. The French settlements are shown at Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Chandranagar. [CHECKPOINT]
It is time to practice what we have learned. Let us answer the exercises together. First, answer the following questions in a sentence. Question one: Who were the first Europeans to reach India through sea route for trade? Answer: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach India through the sea route for trade. Question two: Who discovered the sea route to India? Answer: Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India. Question three: What was the capital of Dutch? Answer: Pulicat was the capital of the Dutch. Question four: When was the British East India Company established? Answer: The British East India Company was established in 1600 C.E. Question five: Name the trade centers of the French. Answer: The trade centers of the French were Pondichery, Machalipatnam, Calicut, Mahe, Karaikal and Chandranagar. Question six: Who was the Mughal emperor who granted Dastak to the British? Answer: The Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyyar granted Dastak to the British. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us discuss in groups and answer the following. Question seven: List out the causes responsible for the decline of the Portuguese in India. Answer: The causes responsible for the decline of the Portuguese in India are the possession of a strong navy by the Dutch and the English which posed a formidable challenge, the high corruption among Portuguese Government officials which led to loss of loyalty and reduced their government to a pathetic condition, religious fanaticism as they attempted to convert locals forcefully, and the decline of the Vijayanagar Empire which led to their trade decline. Question eight: What were the causes that led to the decline of the French? Answer: The causes that led to the decline of the French are that French army commanders in India were not given complete support by the Government of France, political confusion and revolutions took place in France, and the French Navy was not superior to the English Navy. [CHECKPOINT]
Next, match the items from list A with the information given in list B. Let us go through them carefully. One, Portuguese, matches with D, Goa. Two, Dutch, matches with C, Pulicat. Three, French, matches with A, Pondicherry. Four, English, matches with B, Calcutta, now known as Kolkata. Finally, let us complete the activity. Draw the map of India and locate the early European settlements. Take a blank outline map of India. Mark the western coast and locate Goa, Diu, Daman, Surat, and Bombay for the Portuguese and English. On the eastern coast, locate Calcutta, Madras, Pulicat, Machalipatnam, and Pondicherry. Also mark inland centers like Agra. Label each settlement with the name of the European power that controlled it. This hands-on exercise will help you remember the geographical spread of European trade centers clearly. [CHECKPOINT]
Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]