Colonization of Indian

subcontinent
In this presentation I will be covering how the
colonization of the Indian subcontinent began
and the different trading rivalries until the time
when Muslim and Hindu communities became
separately independent on 14th August and 15th August
1947 respectively.
India’s Importance Regarding Trade

 Europeans were fascinated by India’s wealth and

prosperity and became one of the major reasons to why
Vasco de Gama was considered the first European
person to re-create trading links with India in 1499
since the Roman times.

 Vasco de Gama obtained permission to trade in the city from

Saamoothiri Rajah.

 Other Europeans like the British, Dutch, French were

also fascinated to attain trade links with India which
we will learn later on in this presentation.
Evolution of Portuguese possessions in India

 Portugal started looking for an alternative sea trade route to India because
the Ottoman Empire had closed off its trade route. The reason was both of
them were battling over control upon trade routes eventually leading to the
Ottoman Empire defeating the Portuguese.

 Portuguese Empire established the first European trading center at Kollam,

Kerala.

 In 1510, Albuquerque conquered the city of Goa from Muslims.

 Albuquerque also made a policy where local Indian girls could get married
to Portuguese soldiers and sailors. He even promoted Catholicism in India.

 Built forts to protect their prized possession of Goa and other settlements like
Mumbai, Daman and Diu etc.
 British India
 The British and Netherlands formed a joint stock company for financing the
voyages to India known as “East India Company” and “Dutch East India
Company”.

 Motive of the companies was to carry on the lucrative spice trade and maximum
area of production as possible.

 Rivalry started to occur between the British and the Dutch. This caused the
Dutch to leave India towards the East Indies(Indonesia) and settle their trade
there whereas the British continued trading in India.

 Betrayal by Mir Jafar in Battle of Plassey on 23 rd June, 1757 caused the British to
become more powerful in India and expanding their reign of control. Also, it
marked the beginning of the imperial or colonial era in South Asia.

 A Rebellion occurred by the soldiers in 1857 had caused many causalities which
resulted in EIC being dissolved in 1858 due to trying to expand through
resistance and the people in the EIC will living like princes. Now the British
ruled all over the Indian subcontinent with Queen Victoria taking the title as
the “Empress of India”.
Other European Communities which
came for trading in India
French
The French were in consistent conflict with the Dutch and later on
with the British as well. They occupied large areas in Southern India
and the clash for control was between 1744 till 1761. Eventually, the
French lost to the British at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and also at the
Battle of Wandiwash in 1761.

Norway-Denmark
They presented neither a military nor a mercantile threat towards the
British or any European communities in India. They had trading posts in
West Bengal, Calicut, Kerala and Nicobar Islands. However, they lost
economic and strategic importance and eventually their trading posts
were sold to the British.
 Conclusion
Although, slowly reforms started to occur as
time passed by. This lead to various
important movements for the Muslims and
Hindus which some of them were the Non-
cooperation Movement and Two Nation
Theory. Also, famous people like Mahatma
Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah were
highly important in gaining Independence on
14th August and 15th August 1947 respectively.