Advent of European Commerce
The Portuguese
Vasco-da-Gama Discovers Sea Route to India : India had commerical relations with the countries of the west from time immemorial. But from the seventh century AD, her sea borne trade passed into the hands of the Arabs, who began to dominate the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It was from then that the enterprising merchants of Venice and Genos purchased Indian Goods. The geographical discoveries of the last quarter of the fifteenth century deeply affectd the commerical relations of the different countries of the world and produced far-reaching consequences in their history. Bartholomew Diaz doubled the Cape of Good Hope, or the Stormy Cape, as he called it, in 1487; and Vasco de Gama found out a new route to India and reached the famous port of Calicut on the 17th May, 1498.
On his arrival at Calicat, Vasco de Gama was received by its Hindu ruler, known by the title of Zamorin. The arrival of Vasco de Gama led to the establishment of trading stations at Calicat.
| Portuguese Chronology |
| 1498 |
Vasco de Gama found a new roue to India and reached the port of Calicut. |
| 1502 |
Vasco de Gama established a factory at Cochin |
| 1505 |
Francis co de Almeida became the first Portuguese governor in India |
| 1510 |
Albuquerque succeeded Almeida as governor. Defeat of the combined fleet of Gujarat, Egypt and Zamorin at the hands of Almeida |
| 1530 |
Governor Nino da Cunha transferred his capital from Cochin to Goa. |
| 1534 |
Diu and Bassein were acquired from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. |
| 1535 |
Subjugation of Diu |
| 1542 |
Martin Alfonso de Souza became new governor during his governorship. The famous Jesuit Saint Franciso Xaveir arrived in India |
| 1559 |
Subjugation of Diu |
| 1612 |
Loss of Surat to the English |
| 1631 |
Loss of Hugli to Qasim Khan, a Mughal role |
| 1661 |
Portuguese King presents Bombay to his |
| 1739 |
Salsethte and Bassein are lost to the Marathas |
Vasco-de-Gama estblished a factory at Cochin in 1502. He was followed by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1503. In 1505, th portuguese decided to appoint a governor to look after their Indian affairs. Franicsco de Almeida became the first governor. Albuquerque succeeded him in 1509. Albuquerque was the real founder of the Portuguese empire in the east.
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History of India 
