Advent of the Europeans in India

Portuguese

• Vasco-de-Gama reached Calicut via cape of good hope in 1498.
• Was warmly welcomed by Zamorin (Ruler of Calicut).
• Francis – De – Almeida [arr] 1^st Portuguese governor in India.
• In 1510, Albuquerque became governor [arr] Captured Goa from the ruler of Bijapur.
• Goa became capital of Portuguese settlements in India.
• Built fort at Calicut & encouraged his countrymen to marry Indian girls.
• Albuquerque died in 1515 leaving Portuguese as strongest Naval power in India.

Dutch (Netherlands)

• In 1602, Dutch East India company came to India.
• Subsequently they won over Portuguese & emerged as most dominant European trade power
• Pulicat was their main center in India, later replaced by Nagapattinam
• 1650 (17^th century), English began to emerge as big colonial power in India.
• Anglo Dutch rivalry lasted for 70 years, during which Dutch lost their settlements to British one by one

British

• English east India Company was established in 1600
• Charter for the same was issued by Queen Elizabeth of England
• Captain Hawkins of England arrived at royal court of Jahangir in 1609 seeking permission to establish England trade center at Surat but was refused by Jahangir due to Portuguese pressure.

• Later in 1613, Jahangir issued a farman (permission letter) to English to establish their trade center hence British established their 1^st trading factory at Surat in 1613
• In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe came to India as ambassador of James 1 (King of England) & obtained permission from Jahangir to settle English trading factories in different parts of India
• Bombay, Madras & Calcutta became 3 presidency towns of English settlements in India by 1700 with capital Calcutta.

French

• French east India Company was formed in 1664 establishing their 1^st factory at Surat [arr] by Francis Caron
• Francis Martin founded Pondicherry in 1673 & became 1^st governor of Pondicherry.
• Henceforth Pondicherry became headquarter of French possessions in India.

• In beginning of 18^th century, English & French were competing for their supremacy in India, Mainly in Karnatic & Bengal region.
• After 3 Karnatic wars, finally French were crushed & limited to Pondicherry

Dane (Denmark Settlements)

• Settled at Tranquebar & Serampore (Headquater) in Bengal
• Failed to strengthen themselves in India
• Sold all their settlements to British in 1845