REIGN OF THE WEST

EUROPEAN COLONIALISM BEGAN IN THE 15TH CENTURY WHEN THE PORTUGUESE LAUNCHED THE AGE OF DISCOVERY IN SEARCH OF ‘GOLD, GOD, AND GLORY’

Portugal, a major European power, explored the Atlantic Ocean and African coast, colonised select areas, and discovered an eastern route to Bharat via the Cape of Good Hope. However, they quickly came into conflict with Spain, the other naval powers in Europe. To avoid war they turned to the Pope for arbitration. In the ensuing negotiations, the Pope issued Papal Bulls (a grant of rights issued by the Catholic Church) which strengthened Spanish claims, offending the Portuguese.

THE PORTUGUESE

Bharat was famous for her wealth since Roman times in Europe. In the 15th century trade between Bharat and Europe was carried on by Venice through the Mediterranean. To break Venice’s stranglehold on this trade the Portuguese actively searched for an alternative trade route to Bharat. On 20 May 1498 Vasco da Gama found it when he landed on the beaches of Kappad, near the city of Kozhikode (presently in the state of Kerala).

The Portuguese were first welcomed for they were seen as another group of foreign merchants, in a long line of merchants, coming to Bharat for trade. However, the Portuguese were different as previously trade had been carried on by private traders but the Portuguese came with the active support of their national government, with not only economic but also religious motives. Soon the Hindu king, Zamorin came to understand the imperialist objectives of the Portuguese and embarked on steps to thwart the Portuguese attempts to expand their sphere of control. In 1510 Portugal defeated the BijapurSultans and Vijayanagara Empire with the help of the Mughals, resulting in Goa’s capture, which became the headquarters of the Portuguese Empire in Asia.