The Portuguese Presence in India

The Portuguese mariners under Vasco da Gama in search of spices landed on the Malabar Coast at the fag end of the fifteenth century. Slowly they established factories, fortresses and other commercial establishments in places allotted to them by the local rulers, while their missionary zeal brought them in contact with people of the Malabar Coast, both non-Christians as well as St. Thomas Christians. The economic, social and cultural legacy of the Portuguese interaction with the Malabar Coast is clearly?discernible?in?the?geographic?segment?now?known?as?Kerala.

Once the Portuguese obtained territorial possessions outside the Malabar Coast, they commenced to establish political control and intro­duced European administrative apparatus in Asia. However, these colonies could not be kept under the Portuguese sway forever. They made attempts to liberate themselves from the colonial authority of the Portu­guese finally?leading?to?their?liberation.

During the Portuguese presence in India for over 450 years, innumer­able social transformations took place. This book is an attempt to explore the themes related to economy, trade, commercial ventures, urbanization, socio-cultural interactions as well as the various stages of movements connected?with?the?liberation?of?Portuguese?settlements?in?India.