The advent of the Portuguese in India marks a significant chapter in the history of exploration and trade. It was a time when brave sailors set out on perilous voyages across uncharted waters, driven by a thirst for discovery and the promise of riches. In this blog, we will delve into the fascinating story of how the Portuguese ventured into the Indian subcontinent, forever altering the course of history.
Portuguese India was like a small country within India from 1505 to 1961. The Portuguese set up trading spots and strongholds along the coast of India, mainly in places like Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli. They didn’t control much of India like the British did. In 1961, the Indian government took over these Portuguese areas, and that was the end of Portuguese rule in India. These places became part of India as a new country.
Vasco da Gama’s Voyage: In 1498, Vasco da Gama achieved a monumental feat by becoming the first European to reach India by sea. Departing from Portugal, his expedition navigated treacherous waters around the Cape of Good Hope, eventually making landfall on the shores of Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in southern India. This historic voyage opened up direct maritime trade between Europe and India, bypassing the overland routes controlled by middlemen.
What brought European powers to Indian Subcontinent?
Luxury Goods in Europe: For a long time, Europeans wanted fancy things like silk from China and spices from places like India and Southeast Asia.
Constantinople Falls: When Constantinople was taken over by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, trade routes changed. Stuff from India started going through Arab intermediaries to Europe.
Need for New Routes: Europeans wanted to find a way to get these goods without going through middlemen.
Money and Help: Explorers from Spain and Portugal got help from Northern Europeans who gave them money and people. They also got ships and know-how from Genoa, a city in Italy.
Portuguese Leadership: Portugal’s ruler, Dom Henrique, also called Henry the Navigator, was a big supporter of exploration. He wanted to compete with Arabs and other Europeans and spread Christianity to Asia and Africa.
Renaissance Influence: The Renaissance period encouraged people to explore new places, including the East.
Treaty of Tordesillas: In 1494, Portugal and Spain agreed that Spain would get lands west of a certain line, and Portugal would get lands to the east. This gave Portugal the chance to explore the Indian Ocean freely.
Portuguese in India:
Early Trade Attempts: Portugal and Spain were among the first European countries to try to find new trade routes to India. Their traders and sailors, helped by their governments, played big roles during the Age of Discoveries.
Columbus and Vasco da Gama: In 1494, Christopher Columbus tried to find a way to India but ended up discovering America instead. Meanwhile, Vasco da Gama successfully found a sea route to India in 1498.
Portuguese Arrival in India: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to directly reach India. Vasco da Gama’s journey to Calicut through Africa’s Cape of Good Hope was a big deal. The goods he brought back from India made a huge profit, much more than what they cost.
Success in Lisbon’s Perspective: Despite facing problems, the Portuguese government saw the expedition as a success. Finding a sea route that bypassed the Ottoman Empire was a big deal. It made a lot of money, more than what they spent, and opened doors for future trade with India and beyond.
Goa and Consolidation of Power: In 1510, the Portuguese took control of Goa from the ruler of Bijapur during Alfonso de Albuquerque’s rule. After this, they expanded their power along the Asian coast, from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca, including places like the Indonesian Spice Islands.
Portuguese Trade and Goods: The Portuguese were known for trading valuable things like cloth, wood, pearls, spices, medicine, dishes, silk, and gold. They used their power in the region to make profitable trade connections.
Struggle of Power:
Establishment of Cochin: Vasco da Gama’s trips and conflicts with the Zamorin Kingdom led to the Portuguese setting up a base on India’s Malabar coast. Francisco de Almeida, the first viceroy, picked Cochin as his main spot.
Conflict with the Zamorin and Treaty: In 1509, Alfonso de Albuquerque tried to attack the Zamorin in Calicut but had to back off because of strong resistance. However, later on, Albuquerque made a deal with the Zamorin in 1513 to protect Portuguese interests in the Malabar area.
Establishment of Goa: With help from the Vijayanagar Empire, Alfonso de Albuquerque defeated the Bijapur Sultanate in 1510, leading to Goa becoming a permanent Portuguese settlement. After that, Goa became the main base for Portuguese control in India.
Mumbai and British Control: Mumbai was under Portuguese rule until it was given to the British in 1661. Similarly, the British took over Goa from 1799 to 1813, ending the Inquisition during their short rule.
Shifting Capital and Limited Control: In 1843, the capital of Portuguese India moved to Panjim, which was renamed Nova Goa and became the main administrative center. Portuguese control mostly stayed in Goa, along with Diu and Daman, for about a hundred years.
Decline of Portuguese power:
Seizure of Colonial Outposts: In 1954, groups like the United Front of Goans took over Daman, and Nagar Haveli was captured by the Azad Gomantak Dal, challenging Portuguese control. Even though the International Court of Justice said they should give up their territories in India, the Portuguese didn’t really listen.
Stopping Protests and Refusal to Give Up: When people protested against Portuguese rule in Goa, the government led by Dictator António de Oliveira Salazar used violence to stop them. Despite many requests, the Portuguese government didn’t want to give up their territories, saying they were an important part of Portugal.
Indian Government’s Approach: From 1951 to 1961, the Indian government waited and watched what was happening. They talked to other countries about ending colonialism while stopping trade with the Portuguese colonies.
Recognition of Indian Sovereignty and Better Relations: Salazar’s government didn’t accept that India had control over Goa until the 1970s. But after Salazar’s government ended, India and Portugal started getting along better, and their relationship improved.
Timeline of Portuguese rule:
| 1498 | Vasco-da-Gama reached Calicut. |
| 1503 | First Portuguese fort built in Cochin. |
| 1505 | Second Portuguese fort built in Cannanore. |
| 1509 | Portuguese won the Battle of Diu. |
| 1510 | Goa captured from the Sultanate of Bijapur. |
| 1530 | Goa became the Portuguese capital in India. |
| 1538 | Siege of Diu. |
| 1539 | Blockade of Portuguese Diu ended in victory. |
| 1559 | Official acquisition of Daman by the Portuguese. |
| 1596 | Dutch replaced Portuguese in Southeast Asia. |
| 1612 | English established authority in Surat. |
| 1661 | English gained control over Bombay. |
| 1663 | Dutch seized all Portuguese forts on Malabar Coast. |
| 1779 | Portuguese purchased Nagar Haveli and Dadra. |
| 1843 | Panjim became the new capital of Portuguese India. |
| 1961 | Goa liberated by the Indian Army, ending Portuguese rule. |
The arrival of the Portuguese in India was a pivotal moment in world history, marking the dawn of a new age of exploration and trade. Their exploits laid the groundwork for future European expansion in the region and left an indelible imprint on the cultural landscape of India. As we reflect on this chapter of history, we are reminded of the transformative power of human curiosity and the enduring legacy of cross-cultural exchange.
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