1. The Portuguese (1498-1961)
First Europeans to arrive in India - Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut (1498)
🗓️ Key Events Timeline
1498: Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut (Kerala). Ruler: Zamorin (Samuthiri) PYQ
1510: Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from Bijapur Sultan
1530: Established settlements at Diu & Daman
🏰 Portuguese Possessions
- Goa: Capital (1510-1961). "Rome of the East"
- Diu & Daman: Gujarat coast
- Bombay (Mumbai): Given to British as dowry (1661) when Catherine of Braganza
married Charles II
- Hooghly: Bengal (1579)
📌 Key Facts
- Governor: Francisco de Almeida (First Portuguese Governor in India)
- Policy: "Blue Water Policy" - Control sea routes, not land
- Religion: Introduced Christianity. St. Francis Xavier came to Goa (1542)
- Decline: Defeated by Dutch & English. Lost monopoly
- End: Goa liberated by India in 1961 PYQ
2. The Dutch (1602-1825)
🗓️ Key Events
1602: Dutch East India Company (VOC) formed
1605: First factory at Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
1759: Battle of Bedara - Defeated by British. Left India
🏭 Dutch Settlements
- Pulicat (Tamil Nadu): First factory (1610)
- Chinsura (Bengal): Main settlement
- Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu): Important port
- Cochin (Kerala): Captured from Portuguese (1663)
📌 Key Facts
- Focus: Spice trade (Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves)
- Strength: Strong naval power. Defeated Portuguese
- Decline: Focused more on Indonesia (Batavia). Lost to British in India
- End: Anglo-Dutch Treaty (1824) - Dutch left India for Indonesia
3. The British East India Company (1600-1858)
🗓️ Formation & Early Years
1600: British East India Company formed. Charter by Queen Elizabeth I PYQ
1608: Captain Hawkins arrived at Jahangir's court (Agra)
1613: First factory at Surat (Gujarat) - Permission from Jahangir
1615: Sir Thomas Roe came as ambassador to Jahangir's court
🏭 Major Settlements (The 3 Presidencies)
🏛️ Madras (Chennai)
- Founded: 1639
- By: Francis Day
- Fort: Fort St. George
- From: Chandragiri ruler
🏛️ Bombay (Mumbai)
- Acquired: 1661 (Dowry)
- From: Portuguese
- Given to EIC: 1668 (by Charles II)
- Rent: £10 per year!
🏛️ Calcutta (Kolkata)
- Founded: 1690
- By: Job Charnock
- Fort: Fort William (1700)
- Became: Capital of British India
⚔️ Anglo-Mughal Relations
- Jahangir: Granted permission for Surat factory (1613)
- Shah Jahan: Allowed trade expansion
- Aurangzeb: Conflict over customs. War (1686-90). British defeated
- Farrukhsiyar: Granted Farman (1717) - Duty-free trade in Bengal
Super PYQ
4. The French (1664-1761)
🗓️ Key Events
1664: French East India Company formed by Colbert (Minister of Louis XIV)
1668: First factory at Surat
1673: Pondicherry founded by François Martin PYQ
🏭 French Settlements
- Pondicherry (Puducherry): Capital. "Paris of the East"
- Chandannagar (Bengal): Important trading post
- Mahe (Kerala): Spice trade
- Karaikal (Tamil Nadu): Coastal settlement
- Yanam (Andhra Pradesh): East coast
⚔️ Anglo-French Wars (Carnatic Wars)
| War |
Period |
Key Events |
Result |
| First Carnatic War |
1746-48 |
French captured Madras. Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle |
Madras returned to British |
| Second Carnatic War |
1749-54 |
Succession dispute. Dupleix vs British |
Dupleix recalled. British gained upper hand |
| Third Carnatic War |
1758-63 |
Battle of Wandiwash (1760). Eyre Coote defeated French |
French power destroyed PYQ |
📌 Key Personalities
- Dupleix: French Governor (1742-54). Master strategist. Introduced "Subsidiary
Alliance" concept
- Count de Lally: French commander in Third Carnatic War. Defeated at Wandiwash
Battle of Wandiwash (1760): Decisive British victory. Eyre Coote defeated Count de
Lally. Ended French ambitions in India. Super PYQ
5. Comparison of European Powers
| Company |
Arrival |
Main Focus |
Decline Reason |
| Portuguese |
1498 (First) |
Goa, Coastal trade |
Weak navy, Dutch/British competition |
| Dutch |
1602 |
Spice trade |
Focused on Indonesia |
| British |
1600 |
Trade → Political power |
Ruled till 1947 |
| French |
1664 (Last) |
Pondicherry, Carnatic |
Defeated in Carnatic Wars |
🎯 PYQ Sniper Shots
Q: First European to reach India by sea route?
A: Vasco da Gama (1498) at Calicut
Q: Who founded Pondicherry?
A: François Martin (1673)
Q: Battle that ended French power in India?
A: Battle of Wandiwash (1760)
Q: Who granted Farman of 1717 to British?
A: Farrukhsiyar (Duty-free trade in Bengal)
Q: When was British East India Company formed?
A: 1600 (Charter by Queen Elizabeth I)
Q: Who founded Calcutta?
A: Job Charnock (1690)
Q: When was Goa liberated?
A: 1961
Q: Bombay was given to British as dowry by?
A: Portuguese (1661) - Catherine of Braganza's marriage
UPPCS Modern India