First European powers in India and their trade relations

Abstract

The arrival of Europeans and the establishment of the British empire are generally regarded as the events that signal the beginning of modern history in India. The beginning of a lengthy period of colonialism in India coincided with the discovery of sea routes for the purpose of trade and the advent of Europeans such as the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British in India during the middle of the 15th century. This marked the beginning of a period in which events such as Company Rule Expands and Conflict among Trading Powers took place. Other coastal powers from the empires of the European subcontinent made their way to India as a result of the commercial competition that existed between the seafaring European powers. At the beginning of the 17th century, trading outposts were established in India by the Danish–Norwegian Commonwealth, the English Empire, the French Republic, and the Dutch Republic.