- emerged as naval powers in late 16th century
- challenge: achieve freedom of navigation in oceans & end Portuguese hegemony over trade w/ east.
- 1588: Brit navy defeated a large Spanish naval fleet (Armada) in Atlantic Ocean
- now Brit & Dutch could travel to East
- Eventually led to Portuguese v British
British v Dutch
- After Portuguese eliminated in Portuguese v British, Dutch was a competitor
- mid 17th century, Brit won in India, while Dutch in Indonesia (from Portuguese)
- Both compromised to not attack each other territories
- Brit however stayed in Malaya and Singapore
- Dutch by 1669 set up base in Cochin
- removed in 1741 by Martanda Verma of Travancore
- By 1795, Dutch totally removed from South Asia by EIC