Decline of the Portuguese in India
1.
Loss of Commercial Influence (18th Century)
- By the 18th century, the Portuguese lost their commercial power in India.
- Some Portuguese
continued individual
trade, while others turned
to piracy and
robbery.
- Hooghly became a base for Portuguese piracy in the Bay of Bengal.
2.
Reasons for Decline
a.
Rise of Powerful Dynasties:
- Powerful
dynasties in Egypt,
Persia, and North India reduced
Portuguese influence.
- The Marathas became strong neighbors and captured Salsette and Bassein in 1739.
b.
Religious Policies:
- The Portuguese Jesuits and their conversion activities created political fears.
- Their hostility toward Muslims and forced conversions of Hindus made them unpopular.
c.
Dishonest Trade Practices:
- The Portuguese
were known for dishonest
trade and sea piracy.
- Their arrogance and violence angered both local rulers and the Mughals.
d.
Discovery of Brazil:
- Portugal
shifted its focus to colonizing Brazil,
reducing its interest in India.
e.
Union with Spain (1580-81):
- Portugal merged
with Spain, which dragged it into wars with England and Holland.
- This weakened
Portugal’s trade
monopoly in India.
f.
Competition from Dutch and English:
- The Dutch and English learned
sea navigation and challenged Portuguese dominance.
- They had more resources and were more aggressive, leading to the
decline of Portuguese power.
3.
Loss of Portuguese Territories
- The Dutch took
control of the spice trade.
- Goa, the last major Portuguese possession, lost
its importance after the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire.
- In 1683, the Marathas invaded Goa after
two naval assaults.
Key
Points to Remember:
- The Portuguese
declined due to:
- Rise of
powerful dynasties (Marathas, Mughals, etc.).
- Unpopular religious policies and forced conversions.
- Dishonest
trade and piracy.
- Focus on Brazil and union with Spain.
- Competition
from Dutch and English.
- By the 18th century, the Portuguese lost their influence, and
their territories fell to rivals.