First Europeans, who started trade with India, were

Q. First Europeans, who started trade with India, were

(a) The Portuguese

(b) The British

(c) The French

(d) The Dutch

Ans: (a) The Portuguese

Explanation: The first Europeans who started trade with India were (a) The Portuguese. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish direct trade links with India. In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) on the southwestern coast of India. This marked the beginning of direct European trade with India. The Portuguese were motivated by the desire to bypass the intermediaries in the lucrative spice trade and establish direct trade routes to India. They went on to establish several trading posts and forts along the western coast of India, including Goa, which became their main base. The Portuguese dominance in Indian trade lasted for several decades before other European powers, such as the Dutch, British, and French, also entered the scene and competed for trade and influence in the region.