Beginnings

  • trade done by a govt company
  • began trade with S India
    • set up trade centre in many parts
    • main base around Surat
  • Alfonso Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510 from Bijapur
    • set up HQ there
  • Bombay was captured in 1534 from Sultan of Guj.
  • Portuguese dominated intl. trade of East India i.e. region to east of Cape of Good Hope, for 100 years
  • used Hooghly as a base for piracy in Bay of Bengal

Bluewater Policy

  • India has strong land powers already Portuguese did not seek pol empire; limited to dominating ocean, oceanic trade (Goa an exception)
  • did armed trade, engaged in piracy, dominated ocean passages
  • allowed passages only after payment of licence fee
    • Cartez system
  • regularly raided Arab traders
  • threatened Mughal ships forcing Mughals to give trade benefits in form of
    • lower duties
    • perms to set up centers in India
  • religious fanatic
    • brutal forced conversions (in Goa)

Portuguese v British

  • Captain Hawkins of East India Company wanted to open factor in Surat
    • realized Portuguese main base in Surat
    • gotta defeat Portuguese 😡
  • 1612: EIC got naval victory in Surat (after 12 years of inception!)
  • led to EIC Advent In India
  • Treaty of White Hall 1661: Brit to protect Portuguese in war
  • Marriage Treaty 1661: King Charles II got Bombay in dowry (dahej?? 😟)
  • 1688: EIC got Bombay on rent of 10 pound per annum
  • by mid 17th century, Portuguese limited to Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadar & Nagar Haveli