IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History India From 8th to Mid 15th Century

The Trading World of Asia and the Coming of the Portuguese

Structure

4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Factories, Fortresses and Commercial Arrangements
4.3 Commodi!ies of Export and Import
4.3.1 Malabar and Konkan Coasts
4.3.2 North-western India
4.3.3 Eastern Coast
4.3.4. Sout hEast Asia
4.4 Finances of the Portuguese Trade
4.4.1 European Merchant-Financiers
4.4.2 Indian. Merchants and Rulers
4..5 Nature of the Portuguese Trade with India
4.5.1 Monopoly Trade.
4.5.2 Trade of the Indim Rulers and Merchants
4.5.3 Trade and Production
4.6 Let Us Sum Up
4.7 Key Words
4.8 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

4.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit you will be able to know that:

• the opening of the sea-route between Europe and Asia marked a period of great importance,
• mon~poly over sea-borne trade was introduced by the Portuguese during this period,
• the system of trade and commerce introduced by the Portuguese showed the way to other European powers for trade, and
• the major items of export and import during this period,

4.1 INTRODUCTION

In the previous Units (nos. 2 and 3) we learned about the polity and economy in the
two broad divisions of India namely, North as well as that of Deccan and South
India. This Unit goes on to discuss the nature of trading activities through maritime
trade. There was long distance trade connecting India with various parts of the
South East Asian countries and West Asia. However, direct maritime trade relations
with Europe, especially with the countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, were not in
existence. The Portuguese emerged as an important naval power in Indian waters
especially after their occupation of Goa in 1510. (see Course EHI43, Block 7 for 

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