FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY
1) Why India became an easy trading destination for the Europeans powers? What were their main purpose of
coming to India?
Ans – The Mughal Emperors had failed to guard their sea coasts due to lack of strong navy. Thus, it became an easy
trading destination for the Europeans powers.
Their main purpose was to get control of Indian trade and rich natural resources.
2) Who was the First European to reach India by sea route and when and where did he came? Who welcomed him in
India?
Ans – Vasco-da-Gama, a Portugese navigator reached the port of Calicut on 20th May 1498 with a fleet of four ships
and 17 sailors on board.
He was given a warm welcome from the Hindu king, Zamorin.
3) Who set out to discover India? Which place he actually discovered and when?
Ans – Cristopher Columbus. He set out to discover India, but end up discovering America 1492.
4) Where did Portuguese established their trading centres and till when?
Ans – Cochin, Goa, Daman and Diu till 1961.
5) By what were the Dutch attracted towards South India?
Ans – They were attracted by the spice markets of South and East Asia.
6) When was the Dutch East India Company formed?
Ans - 1602
7) Name the places where Dutch had their trading centres.
Ans – Masulipatam, Pulicat, Surat, Karaikal, Patna, Balasore and Cochin.
8) What did Dutch used to export from India?
Ans – They exported cotton clothes, raw silk, molasses, opium and indigo from India.
9) Name the following
a) The trading centres – Factories
b) Officials working in the company – Factors
10) How did Dutch able to establish monopoly in the spice trade from 17th century?
Ans –
They established a trading link between India and the islands of the Far East.
They further established their command on the pepper and spice trade in the islands of Sumatra, Java and
Moluccas.
11) What encouraged people of England to undertake voyages to the Eastern world?
Ans – The completion of the voyage of Sir Francis Drake, a British navigator around the world in 1579 and the
victory of the English over the Spanish Armada in 1588 encouraged the people of England to undertake voyages to
the Eastern World.
12) When did East India Company got the grants and from whom?
Ans – East India Company got the grants on 31st December from Queen Elizabeth I giving them the sole right to
trade with the East.
13) What was earlier name of the East India Company?
Ans – The Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies.
14) What was the importance of Royal Charter?
Ans –
Royal Charter meant that no other trading group in England could now compete with the East India
Company.
They had the right to undertake voyages to new and unknown markets from where it could buy goods at a
cheaper price and sell them back in Europe at higher prices.
15) Name some early voyages of The East India Company.
Ans – Sumatra, Java and Moluccas.
16) When did East India Company made its first attempt to build factories?
Ans – In 1608
17) Who gave the Farman to the East India Company and when? What was the importance of it?
Ans – Jahangir, the Mughal Emperor gave Farman in 1613 giving permission to establish their first factory
permanently in India.
18) Where was the first permanent factory set up by East India Company and when?
Ans – 1st Factory at Surat in 1613.
19) Where were the other factories made by the East India Company?
Ans – Madras (Chennai), Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata).
20) Name the company established by French and in which year?
Ans – Compagnie des Indes Orientales in 1664.
21) Name the first factory made by French, by whom and in which year?
Ans – The first French factory was made by Francois Caron at Surat in 1668.
22) Name the other places where factories were made by the French?
