Advent of Europeans, growth of British empire, Socio-religious reform and Tribal-peasant movements Flashcards
advent of Portuguese: backgrnd?
- decline of roman empire in 7th cent-> Arab domination in Egypt and Persia
- easy accessibililty to Indian spices, silk, calicoes, silk and precious stones declined- due to monopolisation of red sea routes by arab
- 15th century Europe- renaissance+ great advances in ship-building+ eagerness for sea voyages+ econ dev due to expansion of land under cultivation, intro of an improved plough, scientific crop mgmt and increased supply of meat
- Portugese assumed leadership of in Christendom’s resistance against Islam and too the exploration spirit of genoese; idea of finding an ocean route to India became an obsesision of Prince Henry of Portugal(Navigator)
- 1497: under treaty of Tordesillas(1494), Portugal and Spain divided non-christian world betn them by an imaginary line in atlantic Ocean, 1300 miles west of Cape Verde
- 1487: Portugese navigator , Bartholomew dias, rounded the cape of good hope and sailed up eastern African coast
‘Navigator’: who? significance?
Prince Henry of Potugal; Pope Nicholas V gave him a bull in 1454, conferring on him the right to navigate ‘sea to distant shores of the Orient’….’as far as INdia’ to fight Islamic influence and spread christianity
Treaty of Tordesillas:
divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the Portuguese Empire and the Spanish Empire, along a meridian 1300 miles west of the Cape Verde islands
Arrival of vasco da gama?
- May 1948
- led by a Gujarati pilot abdul Majid
- accorded friendly reception by Zamorin, though arab traders there were apprehensive
advent of portugese changed rules of the game. how?
earlier many players, all wanted profit bt none wanted complete dominance, Portuguese wanted to monopolise the hugely profitable eastern trade by excluding competitors including arab.
Portuguese advent after vasco da Gama?
- Pedro Alvarez cabral-1500- to trade for spices, negotiating and establishing a factory at calicut; conflicts with Arabs; finally advantageous treaties with local rulers of cochin and Cannanore
- Vasco da gama in 1501- conflicts with arabs- Zamorin supported arabs- thus rupture with Zamorin- set up a trading factory at cannanore- thus, Calicut, cannanore and cochin became trade centres of Portuguese- also gradually fortified
- Francisco de almeida- 1505- appointed Guv by Portuguese king for a 3-yr term- aim to destroy Muslim trade by seizing Aden, Hormuz and malacca- came in conflict with and defeated by mamluk Sultan of Egypt (along wit GJ), off the coast of Diu in 1507- next yr though defeated both and launched ‘Blue Water policy’
- Alfonso de Albuqerque: succeded almeida as Guv- REAL founder of Portuguese power in east
- Nino-da-cunha- Guv in 1529
Alfonso de Albuqerque : significant points?
- succeded almeida as Guv-
- REAL founder of Portuguese power in east-
- estab bases at hormuz (overlooking Red sea), in Malabar and Malacca- introduced permit system-
- established control over major ship-building centres in the region-
- acquired Goa frm Bijapur Sultan in 1510 and thus GOA became the “first bit of Indian territory to be under the europeans since alexaner”-
- Abolition of Sati
- encouraged Portuguese men to take local wives and settle here
- Bitter persecution of Muslims
Portuguese men settling in India
- encouraged by Albuqerque
- established themselves as landlords in goa
- built new roads and irrigation works
- introduced new crops like tobacco andcashew nut or better plantation varieties of coconut; planted large groves of coconut to meet need for coir rigging and cordage
- settled as artisans and master ceaftsmen in Goa and cochin
- came to look this as their home rather than their homeland.
Nino-da-cunha?
- guv in 1529
- shifted hqrs frm Cochin to Goa
- 1534- Bahadur Shah of GJ- sought help in Fight with Mughal Humayun- ceded to Portuguese island of Bassein and promised them a base in Diu
- Bt relations with NBahadur Shah later soured and was killed by Portuguese
- attempted to increase in Bengal by setting many Portuguese nationals there with Hooghly as their hqrs
Favourable conditions for Portuguese in india?
- except GJ, ruled by powerful Mahmud Begarhs, northern part was divided among many small powers and in south bahamani kingdom was breaking up
- none of the powers had significant naval power
- In Far east, imperial decree of chinese emperor limited navigational reach of chinese ships
- Only possible sea rivals- Arabs din’t match Portuguese organisation and unity
- Portuguese had cannons on their ships.
importance of Portuguese state in India?
- tends to be under-estimated
- many coastal states within 50yrs of Vasco da Gama’s arrival eg. Goa;
- Mumbai to Daman and Diu to the approaches to GJ, they controlled a narrow tract with 4 important ports and hundreds of towns and villages;
- chain of seaport fortresses and trading posts like Mangalore, cannanore, Cochin and Calicut;
- military posts and settlements on the east coast at San Thome(chennai) and Nagapatam (Andhra).
- Towards end of 16th century, settlement at Hooghly
- role played in battles of powerbetn Vijaynagara and deccan sultans, betn daccanis and Mughals, betn Mughals and Marathas
- first to arrive and last to leave-1961
- religious policy: zeal to promote christianity and defeat Muslims; initially tolerant to Hindus bt later persecuted them too; sent Christian missionaries, Aquaviva and Monsearatte to Akbar in 1579 at Fatehpur Sikri. Again in 1595 , by Fathers Xavier and Pinheiro.
- Under the rule of jahangir, warmed up to him. 1608, 20 baptisms carried out in Agra with priests enjoying liberty.
- initiated European Era as well as marked emergence of naval power, after Cholas.
- aimed to gain monopoly in trade by the threat of or actual use of force- a blueprint followed by english later.
- military innovation in use of body armour, matchlock men and guns landed frm ships; led to the Mughals using field guns and artillery of the stirrups.
- an imp military contri was the system of drilling groups of infantry, on the Spanish model, introduced in 1630s as a counter to the Dutch pressure. This was later adopted by French, Englis, Marathas and Sikhs
- improved techniques at sea: multi-decked ships permitting carrying heavier armament, use of castled prow and stern to repel or launch boarding parties. Later both were adpated by Indian builders
- Portuguese skill at organisation- royal arsenals and dockyards, maintaining regular system of pilots. Mughals as well as other Europeans learnt frm them.
- Church were also teachers and patrons of the arts of paintor, carver and sculptor and music. Art of silversmith and goldsmith in Goa along with elaborate filigree work, fretted foliage work and metal work embedding jewels.
Decline of portuguese?
by 18th century, P lost commercial influence , though some carried trade in their individual capacity.
Factors-
- emergence of powerful dynasties in Egypt, Persia and North India as well as rise of Marathas (they captured Salsette and Bassein in 1739 frm P)
- religious policies of P like activities of Jesuits gave rise to political fear. Their antagonism for Muslim and conversion policy.
- Their dishonest trade practices also evoked strong reaction. earned notoriety as sea pirates eg. a similar act of plundering Mughal ships caused Jahangir to order Muqarrab Khan, then incharge of Surat to seek compensation.
- discovery of Brazil diverted colonising activities
- union of kingdoms of Spain and Portugal in 1580-81, dragging the smaller kingdoms into spain’s war with England and Holland, badly affected Portuguese monopoly of trade in India.
- Earlier monopoly of knowledge of sea route to India didn’t remain secret for long. the Dutch and the English had greater resources andmore compulsions to expand overseas.
Arrival of Dutch?
important Dutch factories in india?
main trading items?
- Cornelis de Houtman: reached Sumatra and Bantam in 1596
- 1602: formation of ‘EIC of Netherlands’
- it was also empowered to carry on war, conclude treaties and to take possession of territories
- first factory in India in Masulipatam (AP) in 1605
- captured nagapatam near madras frm the Portuguese and made it their main stronghold in S. India
- principal factories at Surat, Bimlipatam, Karaikal, chinsura, Baranagar, Kasimbazar, Balasore, Patna and Cochin
- main business
- redistributive or carrying trade: articles frm India, sell to East islands
- indigo manufacture in yamuna valley and Central india
- textiles (cotton) and silk frm bengal, GJ and Coromandel
- saltpetre frm Bihar
- opium and rice frm Ganga valley
Anglo-Dutch Rivalry?
- English were also coming near this time: commercial rivalry
- Massacre of English and Japanese at Amboyana (in Indonesia) by Dutch
- compromise in 1667: Britain withdrew its claims on Indonesia and the Dutch retired frm india, and instead monopolised trade in black pepper and spices
decline of Dutch in India: factors?
- mainly trade of Malay Archipelago
- Defeat of Dutch on the hands of British in the battle of Hooghly, 1759, dealt a crushing blow
- Dutch were nt much interested in Empire-building; their main concerns were trade, esp frm Spice islands of INdonesia
Beginnings of English voyage?
- As the knowldge of Portuguese profit spread
- On Dec 31st, 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted exclusive trading rights to the company named ‘Guv and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies’. initially a monopoly of 15 yrs, extended indefinitely in 1609
Progress of English in South and west?
- Captain hawkins arrived in court of Jehangir in 1609, bt mission to set up a factory in Surat didn’t succeed due to Portuguese influence in court
- In 1611, English started trading at Masulipatam and established a factory there in 1616 (first English factory in South)
- IN 1612, Capt Thomas Best defeated Portuguese in the sea off Surat; impressed Jahangir granted permission to set up factory at Surat in 1613.
- 1615: Sir Thomas Roe came as ambassador of james I to Jehangir’s court; successful in seeking permission to set up factories at Agra, Ahmedabad and Broach as well as succeded in obtaining 2 firmans confirming free trade with exemption frm inland tolls.
- 1632: Golden Farman issued to them by Sultan of Golconda to trade freely. plus received permission, frm ruler of Chandragiri in 1639, to build a fortified factory at Madras, which became Fort St. george and replaced Masulipatam as hqrs in South India.
- Bombay given to King Chrales II by Portugal as dowry in 1662, that was given to EIC on lease. Seat of western Presidency shifted frm Surat to Bombay in 1687. Thus tacit peace with Portuguese.
- 1667: deal with Dutch.
Progress of English in east and bengal?
- started factories at hariharpur (first English factory in east India) in Mahanadi delta and at Balasore in 1633
- 1651: Shah Shuja allowed them to trade freely for one time annual fee of rs 3K
- factories in Bengal were started at Hooghly (1651), Ksimbazar, patna and Rajmahal.
- English desire to fortify their factories led to hostilities and Hooghly was sacked by imperial Mughals in 1686 and they were forced to leave Hooghly.
- Job Charnock, a company agent, negotiated for a return to a place called Sutanuti in 1690 nd established a factory there nxt yr. And earlier system of free trade for 3000rs re-established. Also fortified factory at Sutanuti under pretext of threat frm Sobha Singh. The fortified settlement became Fort Williams in 1700.
- 1698, bought zamindari of 3 villages- Sutanuti, Gobindpur and Kalikata
- Farukhsayar’s farman in 1717
Formation of East India Company?
English revolution of 1688-> whigs opposed monopoly of EIC -> rival company formed -> UNder pressure frm Crown and Parliament, the two companies amalgamated in 1708 as ‘UNited company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies’.
This was the EIC that ruled India.
Farrukhsayar’s Firman?
- secured by an English mission led by John Surman in 1717
- provisions of firman:
- bengal:
- no additinal custom duties on Comapny’s trade; jst the annual payment of 3000Rs
- Company permitted to issue dastaks fr such goods
- Company permitted to rent more land around Calcutta
- Hyderabad: retained privilege of freedom frm duties in trade and only had to pay the rent for Madras
- Surat: exempted frm all duties fr annual levy of 10000Rs
- Bombay: coind of Company minted at Bombay to hv currency throughout the Mughal empire
- bengal:
- These firmans were regarded as the magna carta of the company.
french power in India?
- Louis XIV, with his minister Colbert laid the foundation of French East India Company in 1664. It was granted a 50 yr monopoly for french trade in Indian and Pacific Oceans
- 1667: Francois Caron headed an expedition to India, setting up a factory at Surat.
- Another French factory at Masulipatam in 1669
- 1673: obtained permission frm Shaista Khan, Mughal Subehdar of bengal, to establish a township at Chandernagore near calcutta
- Pondicherry was founded in 1674 by Francois Martin, who replaced Francois caron as French guv
- Also established factories at Mahe, Karaikal, balasore and Qasim bazar
- Early setbacks : conflict with Dutch and later effects of Spanish war of succession in India that led to loss of Surat and Masulipatam
- reorganisation of french power in India after 1720 under Lenoir and Dumas.
Anglo-french Rivalry in india?
Began with outbreak of austrian war of succession and ended with conclusion of Seven years war, and played out in the form of the three Carnatic wars.
Carnatic wars: background?
- Carnatic was the name given to the Coromandal coast
- in 1740,
- Nizam Asaf Jah of Hyderabad old and battling Marathas
- south of his kingdom, no strong ruler, instead remnants of old Vijaynagara empire like Mysore, Cochin and Travancore.
First Carnatic war:
- yrs?
- immediate cause?
- result?
- importance/comments?
- 1740-48
- English navy seized some French ships; france seized Madras in 1746
- ended with Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle (1748) which brought austrian wars of succession to an end; madras was handed back to english and french got their territories in NA back
- famous battle of St. Thome (madras): revealed that an even a small disciplined European army (French) cud defeat a larger Indian army (forces of Anwar-ud-Din, Nawab of Carnatic)