ADVENT OF EUROPEANS IN INDIA

Question 1

Who discovered the sea route from europe to india?

Answer 1

Vasco Da Gama

Question 2

European goods in great demand in the European Market

Answer 2

Spices [Pepper (Kaalee mirch), cardamom (Elaichi), Cloves (Laung), Cinnamon (Dalchini)], Calicoes (Cotton), Silk

Question 3

What facilitated the Europeans to find a sea Route to India?

Answer 3

1.Decline of the Roman Empire (7th Century) and Arab domination in Europe and Persia
=> led to decline in direct contact between Europeans and India => no easy accessibility to Indian goods.
The Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Empire:
=>Now Merchandise from India went to European merchants through ARAB INTERMEDIARIES
BOTH LAND AND THE RED SEA ROUTE TO INDIA WAS CONTROLLED BY THE ARABS.
ARABS EXPLOITED SALE OF INDIAN GOODS TO EUROPEANS.
2. 15th century Europe was gripped by the Spirit of Renaissance which pushed the Europeans to engage in exploration.
3. Advances in the art of shipbuilding and navigation in Europe
4. Economic development and prosperity in Europe created an increased demand for oriental luxury goods,
5. Increased supply of meat in Europe created the demand for spices like pepper in India.

Question 4

Which century did Renaissance in Europe?

Answer 4

15th century

Question 5

Who was nicknamed the “navigator”?

Answer 5

Prince Henry of Portugal

Question 6

Treaty of Tordesillas

Year? and Between which Countries? Provisions?

Answer 6

1494, 1497 between Spain and Portugal
Divided the non Christian world between them by an imaginary line in the Atlantic.
Territories to the east of the line could be claimed by Portugal and those to the West by Spain

Question 7

Who rounded the Cape of Good Hope and sailed up the eastern coast of Africa?

Answer 7

Bartholomew Dias

Question 8

Who was the Gujarathi pilot who was a navigator in Vasco da gama’s mission to India?

Answer 8

Abdul Majid

Question 9

Where did Vasco da gama arrive in India?

Answer 9

Calicut

Question 10

Who was the ruler of Calicut?

Answer 10

The Zamorin ( Samuthiri)

Question 11

Why were the Arab traders apprehensive about the Portuguese Traders?

Answer 11

For centuries the trading system in the Indian ocean had had numerous participants-Indians, Arabs, Africans,, Chinese, Javanese,etc. But these participants had acted according to some tacit rules of conduct and none had sought overwhelming dominance though all were in it for profit.
Portuguese wanted to MONOPOLIZE the hugely profitable eastern trade by excluding competitors especially the Arabs.

Question 12

Who established the Portuguese factory at Calicut?

Answer 12

Pedro Alvarez Cabral

Question 13

Where did Vasco da gama set up a trading factory?

Answer 13

Cannanore

Question 14

Who was the first Portuguese governor in India?

Answer 14

Francisco de Almeida

Question 15

Who are the America’s named after?

Answer 15

Amerigo Vespucci

Question 16

Arrange in chronology

a. Battle of Diu
b. Battle of Chaul
c. Battle of Cannanore

Answer 16

1. Battle of Cannanore
2. Battle of Chaul
3. Battle of Diu

Question 17

Who were the players in the Battle of Cannanore?

Answer 17

Zamorin+ Egyptian forces vs the Portuguese under Lourenzo de Almeida

Question 18

Who was victorious in the battle of Cannanore?

Answer 18

The Portuguese

Question 19

Who were the players in the Battle of Chaul?

Answer 19

Portuguese vs Egyptian Mamluk+Ruler of Gujarat (Mahmud Begada)

Question 20

Why did the Gujarat participate in the Battle of Chaul?

Answer 20

The Sultan of Gujarat (Mahmud Begada) feared that the Portuguese would extend their control from the Southern Malabar ports to the Northern portsand encroach upon their interests. The Gujarathis were bringing spices from Moluccas (Indonesia) and silk from China for trade with the Egyptians and Arabs.

Question 21

Who was Victorious in the Battle of Chaul?

Answer 21

Combined forces of the Sultan of Gujarat and the Egyptian Forces. Lourenco de Almeida ( Son of Francisco de Almeida was killed in this battle,

Question 22

Who were the players in the Battle of Diu?

Answer 22

Joint fleet of the Sultan of Gujaratz+ Sultanate of Egypt+ Zamorin of Calicut VS the Portuguese

Question 23

Who was victorious in The Battle of Diu?

Answer 23

The Portuguese

Question 24

What is the other name for the Battle of Diu?

Answer 24

The second Battle of Chaul

Question 25

Which Battle marked the beginning of European Colonialism in India?

Answer 25

The Battle of Diu

Question 26

What is the Significance of the Battle of Diu?

Answer 26

1.Marked the beginning of European Colonialism in India.
2. Considered as one of the most important battles in history.
3. William Weir in his book “ 50 Battles That Changed The World” ranks it as the 6th most important battle in history
He says “ When the 15th Century began, Islam seemed about ready to dominate the world. That prospect sank in the Indian Ocean off Diu.

Question 27

Which Portuguese was known as “ Caesar of the East” and “ The Lion of the Seas”?

Answer 27

Alfonso de Albuquerque

Question 28

Arrange the following Portuguese Governors in increasing order of chronology

1. Nino da Cunho
2. Alfonso de Albuquerque
3. Francisco de Almeida

Answer 28

1. Francisco de Almeida
2. Alfonso de Albuquerque
3. Nino da Cunho

Question 29

What were the favourable conditions for the Portuguese that allowed them to establish themselves in India during the 15th century?

Answer 29

A. There was no state in India at the time strong enough to take on the Portuguese.
Mughal empire was not yet consolidated. There was no power in the North or South of India to effectively check the establishment of the Portuguese dominion on the coast.
1. At the time the only powerful state in India was Gujarat ruled by the powerful Mahmud Begarha.
2.The Northern part of India was divided among many small powers.
3.In the Deccan, the Bahmani kingdom was breaking up into many small kingdoms.
4. The Kingdoms in India at the time were not at par with the Portuguese when it came to naval strength. The Portuguese had cannons on their ships.
B. The Arabs who had been dominating the Indian trade were not able to match the Portuguese strength and unity.
C. In the far East the imperial decree of the Chinese emperor limited the navigational reach of Chinese ships.

Question 30

Who were the two parties in the Treaty of Bassein?

Answer 30

Kingdom of Portugal and Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat

Question 31

Which year was Dadra and Nagar Haveli liberated from the Portuguese?

Answer 31

1954

Question 32

Which year was Daman and Diu liberated from the Portuguese?

Answer 32

1961 (Operation Vijay)