Samacheer Class 8 Social Science - Advent of the Europeans

The National Archives of India (NAI) is located in New Delhi. Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese sailor, was patronized by King John II of Portugal. The printing press in India was set up by the Portuguese at Goa in 1556. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir permitted the English to trade in India through the granting of trading rights and establishing factories. The French East India Company was formed by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the finance minister of France, who recognized the commercial potential of Indian trade. King Christian IV of Denmark issued a charter to create the Danish East India Company, establishing Denmark as another European power seeking to participate in Asian trade.

True

True

False

True

Vasco da Gama came to India for the second time in 1501 with 20 ships is False, as he arrived with a larger fleet. King Zamorin was defeated by the Portuguese is True, as the Portuguese naval forces under Vasco da Gama and later commanders defeated the Zamorin's forces in naval battles. The wealth of India attracted Americans by the accounts of foreign writers is False, as it was primarily European nations like Portugal, Spain, and England that were attracted by accounts of Indian wealth. Albuquerque maintained friendly relations with the Vijayanagar Empire is False, as his relations were often hostile and competitive. The Catholic religion spread in certain regions in India's western and eastern coasts is True, as Portuguese missionaries successfully converted populations in coastal areas like Goa, Kerala, and parts of the eastern coast.

Archives is the place where historical documents are preserved. The National Archives of India (NAI) is located in New Delhi. It is the chief storehouse of the records of the government of India.

Coins are a good source to know about administrative history.

Prince Henry of Portugal, who is commonly known as the “Navigator”, encouraged his countrymen to take up the adventurous life of exploring the unknown regions of the world.

Masulipatnam, Pulicat, Surat, Patna, Chinsura, Kasim bazaar, Nagapatnam, Balasore and Cochin.

The English had established their trading centres at Surat, Agra, Ahmadabad, and Broach.

Written sources include literature Travel accounts, Diaries, Auto Biographies, pamphlets, Government Documents, and Manuscripts.

In 1905, Francisco de Almeida was sent as the first Governor for the Portuguese possessions in India.
His policy was known as the ” Bluewater policy”
Almeida had the aim of developing the naval Portuguese in India.

The comparative success of the British over the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Danish, and the French was Largely due to their commercial competitiveness, Spirit of supreme sacrifice, government support, naval superiority, national character and their ascendency in Europe.

1. The sources for the history of modem India help us to know the political, socio-economic and cultural developments in the country.
2. The Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, the Danes, and the English recorded their official transactions in India on state papers.
3. History can be written with the help of written sources and material sources.
4. Written Sources:
After the advent of the printing press, books were published in different languages people began to acquire knowledge easily in the fields like art, literature, history, and science.
5. Written sources include Literatures, Travel Accounts, Diaries, Auto Biographies, Pamphlets, Government Documents and Manuscripts.
6. Archives:
It has a main source of information for understanding past administrative machinery as well as a guide to the present and future generations related to all matters.
7. Material Sources:
Paintings and statues are the main sources of modem Indian history which provide information about national leaders and historical personalities and their achievements.
8. Historical buildings and museums preserve and promote our cultural heritage,
9. Coins are a good source to know about administrative history.
2. How did the Portuguese establish their trading centres in India?
During the 16th century, Portuguese succeeded in capturing Goa, Daman, Diu, Salsette, Bassein, Chaul and Bombay on the western coast, Hooghly on the Bengal coast and Santhome on the Madras coast and enjoyed good trade benefits.
The Portuguese brought the cultivation of tobacco to India. Due to the influence of Portuguese spread Catholic religion spread on India’s western and eastern coasts.
The printing press was set up by the Portuguese at Goa in 1556.
A scientific work on the Indian medicinal plants by a European writer was printed at Goa in 1563.
3. How did the British establish their trading centres in India?
1. In 1600, Elizabeth, the Queen of England granted a charter to the governor and company of Merchants of London to trade with the East Indies.
2. The Company was headed by a Governor and a court of 24 directors.
3. Captain Hawkins visited Jahangir’s court and secured permission to raise a settlement at Surat which was cancelled later.
4. In 1612, the English Captain Thomas Best, inflicted a severe defeat over the Portuguese in a naval battle near Surat.
5. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir permitted the English to establish their factory in 1613 at Surat, which became the headquarters of the English in western India.
6. Captain Nicholas Downton won another decisive victory over the Portuguese in 1614.
7. This enhanced the British prestige at the Mughal court.
8. In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe was sent to Jahangir’s court by King James I of England, who succeeded in concluding a commercial treaty with the emperor
9. Before the departure of Sir Thomas Roe, the English had established their trading centres at Surat, Agra, Ahmadabad, and Broach.

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 had profound effects on European nations and their approach to global trade. When the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, they gained control of the traditional land routes between Europe and Asia, effectively closing off the overland trade routes that European merchants had relied upon for centuries. This disruption severely hurt European traders who depended on the spice trade and other valuable goods from India and the East. The Turks also expanded their control into North Africa and the Balkan Peninsula, further threatening European interests and security. These developments made it imperative for European nations to discover alternative sea routes to reach India and the East directly by ocean. This necessity drove the Age of Exploration, spurring nations like Portugal, Spain, and later England to invest in maritime expeditions and naval technology, ultimately leading to the arrival of Europeans in India and the establishment of colonial trade networks.

The Madras Record Office which is presently known as Tamil Nadu Archives (TNA) is located in Chennai. It is one of the oldest and the largest document repositories in southern India. Most of the records are in English. Few documents are in French, Portuguese, Tamil, and Urdu.
Tamil Nadu Archives has 1642 volumes of Dutch records which relate to the Cochin and Coromandal coast. These records cover the period from 1657-1845. The Danian records cover the periods from 1777-1845.
Dodwell prepared with great effort and issued the first calendar of Madras records which was published in 1917. He was highly interested in encouraging historical researches. He opened a new chapter in the history of Tamil Nadu Archives.