Portuguese State in India
1.
Portuguese Control in India
- Extent of
Control:
- The Portuguese
controlled coastal
areas of India within
50 years of Vasco da Gama’s
arrival.
- Key regions
included:
- West
Coast: Goa, Mumbai,
Daman, Diu, and ports like Mangalore, Cannanore, Cochin, and Calicut.
- East
Coast: San Thome
(Chennai), Nagapatnam (Andhra), and Hooghly (West Bengal).
- Influence:
- They had military posts and trading settlements across
the coast.
- They
influenced local rulers in spice-growing regions of
Malabar.
- Diplomacy:
- The Portuguese
signed treaties with Deccan sultans and played a role in
power struggles between:
- Vijayanagara and Deccan sultans.
- Deccanis and Mughals.
- Mughals and Marathas.
- Last to
Leave:
- The Portuguese
were the first
Europeans to arrive in
India (1498) and the last to leave (1961).
- India
recaptured Goa, Daman,
and Diu from them in 1961.
2.
Portuguese Administration in India
- Head of
Administration:
- The Viceroy was the top official, serving a 3-year
term.
- He was
assisted by a secretary and later a council.
- Key
Officials:
- Vedor da
Fazenda: Managed
revenues, cargo, and fleets.
- Captains: Controlled fortresses from Africa to China.
- Factors: Assisted captains but often misused power
due to poor communication.
3.
Religious Policy of the Portuguese
- Attitude
Toward Muslims:
- The Portuguese
were hostile
toward Muslims due
to conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East.
- They aimed to promote Christianity and persecute Muslims.
- Attitude
Toward Hindus:
- Initially tolerant toward Hindus but became intolerant after the introduction of the Inquisition in Goa.
- Jesuits in
Mughal Courts:
- Akbar invited Jesuit priests to his court in 1579 and 1590 to
discuss theology.
- The Jesuits
hoped to convert Akbar but failed.
- A third mission in 1595 became
a permanent institution in the Mughal court.
- Jahangir initially neglected the Jesuits but later
renewed his support, allowing them to build churches and conduct
baptisms.
- Conflict
with Mughals:
- Arrogant
actions by Portuguese viceroys created tensions with the Mughal emperor.
Key
Points to Remember:
- The Portuguese
controlled coastal
regions of India,
including Goa, Daman, Diu, and key ports.
- They were the last Europeans to leave India (1961).
- Their
administration was led by a Viceroy, with
officials managing revenues and fortresses.
- They were hostile toward Muslims and initially tolerant toward Hindus, but later persecuted both.
- Jesuit missions
to the Mughal courts (Akbar and Jahangir) failed to convert the emperors
but influenced court politics.