Description
Manohar Publishers and Distributors The Portuguese in India Being a History of the Rise and Decline of their Eastern Empire (2 vols set) by Frederick Charles Danvers
This two-volume series covers the history of Portuguese colonialism in India. It covers the background of Iberian history and the emergence of Portugal as a colonial power, controlling most parts of the world. Besides covering the expedition of Vasco da Gama in Calicut, and Afonso de Albuquerque in the Goa region, this book also covers the political conquests of Pedro Alvarez Cabral in the Brazilian mainland. This volume largely covers the political and military aspects, which include the relationship with the Zamorin king in the Malabar region, expeditions against the Adil Shahi Sultanate in Goa and Konkan region, and military confrontations with the Muzaffarid dynasty of Gujarat. This volume also covers the conquest of Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu, and their expeditions held at Aden, Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Macau, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and other Asian regions in a thematic manner. This second volume is the continuation discussing the emergence of the Portuguese as a powerful political agent. This volume covers the relationship and the conflict between the Portuguese with the Mughals. Following the decline and defeat of the Muzaffarids of Gujarat in 1583, the Mughals after taking over the trading routes on the Gujarat coast confronted the Portuguese in Surat and other port cities. The expedition of Portuguese in Hormuz during the Safavid rule, African regions, especially in Mombasa, conflict with Adil Shahis in Goa, trade with Malacca, etc., are all included in this volume. The volume also covers the advent of Britain and the Dutch as the new emerging colonial powers of India, and as a competitor to the Portuguese. The relationship of Portuguese with the English, Dutch, and Marathas and the emergence of the Mysore Sultans under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan form the latter part of the volume, as there is a change in the political scenario in the late sixteenth century. This chapter ends with the decline of Portuguese power in India, as Goa became the last stronghold for Portuguese colonists, followed by the emergence of the English East India Company. About the Author Frederick Charles Danvers (1832-1906) was a British civil servant, historian, and superintendent of India Office Records from 1884-1898. He conducted his research on Torre de Tombo on his visit to Lisbon in 1891. He published books such as, Letters received by the East India Company from its Servants in the East, Information for Colonial Engineers, Coal Economy, and List of Marine Records of the late East India Company. He was the recipient of the Order of Christ for his works in Portuguese history and records.