MODERN INDIA GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

MODERN INDIA GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

1.Shakespeare termed India as a land of ‘great opportunities’. Hegel called India as the ‘land of desires’. Until 15th Century there were three trade routes only. First route to Caspian and Black Seas through Central Asia; Second to Mediterranean Sea through Syria. Third route to Egypt via Red Sea. But in 1453 with the conquest of Constantinople by Turkish all the routes were closed.
2.Portugese: Vasco da Gama reached Calicut on 20.5.1498 and Zamorin King welcomed him. This new Sea route via ‘Cape of Good Hope’ and discovery of America were termed as two greatest by Adam Smith. He again came in 1502. First Governor was Fransiscl Almedia. In 1509 Alfonso d’ Albuyquerque came to India as Portuguese Governor and captured Goa from Bijapur in 1510. Capital transferred from Cochin to Goa in 1530 by by Nino- da cuncha,. Lost Hoogli in 1631 to Shajahan.1661 Bombay given Royal dowry toCharles II for marrying Catherine. But they could not continue in India due to religious intolerance and piracy. They taught us tobacco cultivation. Goa freed in 1961
3.Dutch – In 1595 Dutch merchants started going to India They formed Dutch East India Company(VOC) in 1602. They established a few trading depots at Surat, Cambay, Ahmedabad.Lost to British in 1759 in the battle of Bedara 1759.
4.East India Company - It was originally known as Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies and Queen Elizabeth I granted royal charter on 31.12.1600. The first Governor was Thomas Smith and Groups were known as ‘Merchant Adventurers’. Hawkins was given 400 manasabs by Jahangir. In 1615 James I sent his Ambassador Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of Jahangir. First they started factory at Surat, in 1633 at Musulipattam. Fort St. George was constructed in 1640 and a factory was opened at Bangalore in 1642.
a) Got madras in 1639 from Raja of Chandagiri and Fort St George
b). In 1661 Bombay was received as royal dowry from Portuguese for marrying their Princess Catherine Braganza with Charles II. The Company got it from the King in 1668 for an annual rent of 10pounds.
c) In 1715 three villages Sutanati, Kalikota and Govindpur got by Hamiltongained firman in 1717 called magna carta of the company.
5) Danes: Came in 1616 Coy- Tarangampadi- Serambore capital.Sold all settlements to British in 1845.
6) French: 1664 company- First factory at Suratr and machilipattinam- First governor wasFrancois Martin- Dupliex powerful and Carnatic Wars.
7.Carnatic War French were the last to come – a.First war 1745 to 1748 – due to capture of French ship by Barmett and Duplleix opposed it . Fought at St, Thome and French won. However end of war of Austria also ended this war and Madras was given to English.
b.Second war 1749-54. French supported Muzaffar Jung and Chanda Sahib. French lost and Arcot was captured by Clive. Chanda Sahib executed.
c.Third War – Outbreak of seven years war in Europe and Capture of Chandra Nagoor by Clive led to the War.
8.Battle of Plassey 1757 – Between Siraj-ud-daula and British – British won and it paved a way for British Monarchy of Bengal – marked beginning of drain of wealth from India to Britain.
9.Battle of Buxar 1764 – Between Munro and Mir Quasim, Shuja-ud-daula and Shah Alam II. British won and became defacto rulers of Bengal.
10.Anglo Maratha War. a.First 1775-1782 – defeated of Britain. b.Second – 1803-1805c.Third – 1817-1818.