Contribution of Portuguese to India

Causes for the Downfall of Portuguese Power

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Rise of Portuguese in India

King Henry of Portugal promoted marine navigation by establishing training and research organizations. The Portuguese were the first to sail all of Africa’s coastlines. Vasco da Gama set off in 1497 guided by a Gujarati pilot Abdul Majid with King Emmanuel’s support, and on May 21, 1498, landed in Calicut, and the maritime route to India was discovered. They were among the first Europeans to arrive in India and the last to leave. The Zamorin of Calicut, Mana Vikrama, greeted Vasco-da-Gama warmly. The entry of three ships under the Portuguese significantly impacted Indian history. The Portuguese lasted in India from 1505 until 1961....

Contribution of Portuguese to India

The Portuguese established trading posts along the western coast of India, including Goa, Cochin, and Daman. In the 1510, Portuguese captured Goa, making it their headquarters in India. The capture of Goa solidified their hold on Indian territory. In 1511, they captured Malacca (now in Malaysia), establishing a strategic base in Southeast Asia. They captured Daman and Diu on the western coast of India. They had naval and military power that allowed them to expand their hold in the Indand in the Indian Ocean trade....

Conclusion

Several contribution made by Portuguese to India are as follows:...

FAQs on Causes For the Decline of Portuguese Power In India

From the above description, we can conclude that when the Portuguese came to India, they had focused on the fulfillment of business objectives, but later due to their policies and arrangements, they could not stand in front of other powers and failed miserably. The Portuguese continued to occupy their colonial posts in India after much of India obtained independence from the British. Local anti-Portuguese protests in Goa were violently put down. The Portuguese government, led by Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, denied handing over its colonial territories despite repeated appeals from the Indian government.From 1951 to 1961, the Indian government employed a “wait and watch” approach, exposing the subject of colonialism to the international community and imposing an economic boycott. Goa was invaded by the Indian army in December 1961. The Portuguese tried to fight, but the Indian army overpowered them. On December 19, 1961, the Governor of Portuguese India signed the deed of Surrender, liberating Goa after 450 years of Portuguese domination. Salazar’s government did not acknowledge India’s sovereignty until the 1970s, following which India and Portugal established amicable relations....