The decline of the Mughal Empire and the discovery of the new sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498 opened the way for European powers to establish themselves in India. The Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, and Danes came with the motive of trade, but their presence eventually led to colonial domination.
Table of Contents
Portuguese
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Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498, welcomed by the Zamorin.
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Francisco de Almeida introduced the Blue Water Policy to establish naval supremacy.
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Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509–1515): Consolidated power, captured Goa (1510), and made it the capital.
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Introduced cartaz system (naval passes for Indian traders).
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Monopoly in trade of spices, horses, and slaves.
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Declined by the 17th century due to competition from other Europeans.
Dutch (Netherlands)
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Established Dutch East India Company (1602).
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Captured trading posts at Masulipatnam, Pulicat, Surat, Nagapattinam, Cochin.
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Mainly interested in the spice trade of the Malabar and Coromandel coasts.
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Defeated by the English at the Battle of Colachel (1741) and gradually declined in India, focusing on Indonesia.
English (British)
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The English East India Company was founded in 1600.
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First factory at Surat (1613) with permission of Mughal emperor Jahangir.
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Expanded to Bombay, Madras, Calcutta.
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By the mid-18th century, the English emerged as the strongest European power in India due to naval superiority and efficient organization.
French
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The French East India Company was founded in 1664.
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Important settlements: Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Mahe, Karikal.
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Governors like Dupleix tried to establish French political influence in South India.
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Engaged in Carnatic Wars (1746–1763) against the British, eventually defeated.
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British dominance forced the French to remain confined to a few trading posts.
Danes (Denmark)
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Established settlements at Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu) and Serampore (Bengal).
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Mainly engaged in missionary and limited trade activities.
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Eventually sold their possessions to the British in the 19th century.
Key Takeaway
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The coming of Europeans began with the Portuguese and was followed by the Dutch, English, French, and Danes.
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Initially, their interest was purely commercial — trade in spices, textiles, indigo, and other goods.
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Over time, rivalry among them led to wars, with the British defeating the French and emerging as the dominant colonial power in India.
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This marked the beginning of the colonial era, which eventually resulted in British rule over India.