The Renaissance in Europe PDF

The Renaissance in Europe 03 Introduction T he term ‘renaissance’ can simply be defined as a revival of something. The reawakening that developed in the ancient Greco–Roman ci...

The Renaissance in Europe 03 Introduction T he term ‘renaissance’ can simply be defined as a revival of something. The reawakening that developed in the ancient Greco–Roman civilization in a certain era of the European history is called the revival or ‘the renaissance’. Wherever the term ‘renaissance’ is used in this chapter, it refers to the said revival. Similarly, the term ‘renaissance’ is also used to refer to the dramatic transformation that took place in the fields of art, religion and science in Europe during the period from 14th to 16th centuries. This chapter focuses on the contributory factors that brought about the renaissance; the development that took place in the fields of literature; the progress achieved in art, sculpture and architecture; and the reawakening that occurred in fields of science, medicine, and philosophy. 51  Towards the end of the medieval period, the 3.1 The Background of the Europeans began to develop a great interest Renaissance in the ancient Greco-Roman civilization. Accordingly they began to study the writings Historians use the term ‘the Renaissance’ to belonging to that civilization and also to refer to the revolutionary transformation learn Greek and Latin languages that had that took place in the fields of arts and science been used in the ancient civilization. It was in Europe during the period from 14th to a significant feature that in-depth studies 16th centuries. The Renaissance originated were carried out into the Greco-Roman in Italy and it had a huge impact in shaping civilization and that the cultural trends the history of the modern world. When that had prevailed during that civilization you were in Grade 07, you learnt about the were becoming popular once again in highly developed Greco-Roman civilization Europe. Because of this transformation that of ancient Europe. With the collapse of the underwent in philosophical and practical Roman civilization in the 5th century AD, terms, Greco-Roman civilization seemed to the thriving period that had so far existed have reawakened. This situation was indeed in Europe came to an end. The succeeding a renaissance or revival in the European period of about 1000 years (500-1500 AD) is history. called the medieval era of Europe. This broad transformation that took place in the fields of arts and science from 14th to 16th centuries affected to mould the present history of the world. This transformation started from Italy. Fig: 3.1 A city in Italy 52  Fig: 3.2 A painting which portrays Johannes Gutenberg and his printing press Contributory Factors that brought By this time, there had erupted a dispute about the Renaissance between the Christians in Europe and Muslims outside. As Muslim Turks captured 1. City of Constantinople becoming under the city of Constantinople, the Christian Turkish power traders in Europe could no longer use that city for their trade activities. Consequently, There had been trade relationships between the scholars who lived in Constantinople Asia and Europe since ancient times. City fled the city to their countries carrying with of Constantinople became very significant them the valuable Greek and Roman books as a commercial centre where the goods that were kept in the libraries of the city, and that were brought from Asia to Europe they also took measures to promote in their through traditional trade routes were traded. cities Greek and Latin languages that were Traders from European countries came to required for studying those books. Those Constantinople, bought goods and sold them books were studied extensively in institutes in the European countries. such as University of Bologna in Italy and this resulted in a revitalization of the ancient The trade in Europe suffered a crippling blow Greek and Roman civilizations. consequent to the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by the Muslim Turks. 53  2. Expansion of Trade and Creation of a These universities produced many modern Wealthy Class scholars since various subjects such as classical literature, history and drama were Growth that had occurred in the field of trade taught there. Further, Greek and Roman in Europe since 12th century AD was a major books were used in research activities of factor that contributed to the Renaissance. those universities and study of classical Well-developed commercial cities such as literature was given a prominent place. This Venice, Genoa and Florence in Italy came up resulted in a revival of the science and arts because of the trade that increased between knowledge that had sunk. countries in the East and the West during that period. The rich who lived in those cities had Up to that time, even at universities the not only enough leisure to pay attention to books that were necessary for studies had various fields of art, but also enough wealth to be hand copied. Having to hand copy to sponsor such activities. The creation of manuscripts, and limiting of education only this wealthy class was a causative factor for to a particular social group restricted the the Renaissance to originate in Italy. The expansion of knowledge. In such context, wealthy family named the Medici in the city invention of the printing press by Johannes of Florence was an example for a family who Gutenberg during the Renaissance era gave patronage for arts activities of the city. brought about a revolution in the expansion of knowledge. Making of thousands of copies 3. Intellectual Revival of a book within a short period of time was a great achievement. The invention of this During the period that succeeded the printing press was a key causative factor that collapse of the Roman civilization, there contributed to the Renaissance of Europe. existed an education system that was centred on the Christian Church of Europe and the priests. Only a few subjects such as the scriptures, philosophy and law were taught 3.2 Coming of the Renaissance under that system. However, after 12th century, universities began to be established in Europe. Creation of new scholars Universities that were established in Before the Renaissance period, the languages Europe towards the end of the Medieval that were used in the European countries era. were limited to a particular group of countries Country University or areas. During the Renaissance era there Italy Bologna, Padua was an increase in the use of books written France Paris in Greek and Latin languages resulting in a England Oxford, Cambridge revival of those languages. Further, learning 54 of Greek and Latin languages had also more attention was drawn towards the become a fashion during that period. As a path man had taken so far in world history result, there was a wide expansion not only and also towards the artistic skills of man. in learning of those languages, but also in Consequently, a number of new subjects learning of literature, too, due to which many such as history and arts emerged. In this way, modern scholars were created. The following education was not limited merely to the study table gives the names of some of the writers of religion, it transformed into studying of that belong to the Renaissance period. man and man’s living. Writer Country Dante Italy Arts and Crafts William Shakespeare England Erasmus France The dramatic transformation that took place Coming up of Humanism in the Renaissance era was remarkable. In the preceding period, the artistic creations Before the Renaissance era the concept that that received the patronage of the church ‘god is supreme’ reigned which is called were shaped based on religious philosophy. ‘theism’, but during the Renaissance more The objective of such creations was to inspire and more studies began to be carried into people’s devotion to religion. In contrast, the the affairs of humans. Thereby the concept artistic creations of the Renaissance era that of humanism became popular. As a result, received the Roman and Greek influence Nature of arts and crafts before the Renaissance Arts and crafts of the Renaissance period Having religious features Giving prominence to worldly affairs The theme of artistic creations had been the Jesus Making kings, queens, princes and princesses, Christ, Mother Mary or popular saints. too, the theme of creations. Artists had been organized into ranks and their Works of arts were identified by the name of the creations were identified by the name of the artist. relevant rank. Only the church had given patronage for creating The rich gave their patronage. works of art. The main objective had been to inspire devotion The main objective was to inspire appreciation. to religion. It had not been allowed to do works of art Works of art were done independently displaying independently the skills of the individuals. 55  Fig: 3.3 The Last Supper Fig:Fig: 3.33.3 TheThe Last Last Supper Supper gave gave prominence prominence to aesthetic to aesthetic feeling. feeling. ThisThisis is using using themes themes such such as Jesus as Jesus Christ Christ or Mother or Mother evident evident fromfromthethefactfact thatthat thethe paintings paintings or or Mary Mary which which hadhad a religious a religious significance. significance. images images thatthat werewere donedone during during thisthis period period contained contained nude nude or half-nude or half-nude figures. figures. Further, Further, YouYoumaymay have have already already seenseenthethe painting painting giving named named ‘Mona ‘Mona Lisa’ Lisa’ shown shown here. here. It was It was during during giving to to thethe artists artists of of thethe Renaissance Renaissance eraera thethe patronage patronage of the of the richrich who who valued valued worldly worldly thethe Renaissance Renaissance eraera thatthat artists artists who who created created such such masterpieces masterpieces emerged. emerged. LetLet us us learn learn pleasures, pleasures, too,too, helped helped immensely immensely in bringing in bringing about a few of such artists and about a few of such artists and about theirabout their about about a revival a revival in in artistic artistic creations. creations. TheThe creations. creations. following following table table describes describes thethe features features of the of the artistic artistic creations creations of ofthethe preceding preceding period period andandhow howtheythey differed differed from from those those of of thethe Renaissance Renaissance era.era. Painting Painting Painting Painting waswas a form a form of art of art thatthat waswas subject subject to atodramatic a dramatic change change during during thethe Renaissance Renaissance era.era. City City of Florence of Florence in Italy in Italy waswas thethe centre centre in in which which a new a new formform of painting of painting waswas introduced. introduced. In In thisthis period, period, paintings paintings werewere donedone giving giving prominence prominence to to worldly worldly matters matters instead instead of of Fig:Fig: 3.43.4 Mona Mona Lisa Lisa 5656  Leonardo da Vinci is an Italian. He was an artist, architecture, engineer, poet and musician as well. The paintings titled ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘The Last Supper’ are widely regarded as his masterpieces. Fig: 3.5 Leonardo da Vinci Fig: 3.6 Another painting by Leonardo da Vinci 57  Michelangelo was a great painter. He was also a renowned sculptor and architecture. Ceiling paintings of the Sistine Chapel in Rome are widely known as Michelangelo’s masterworks. The painting titled ‘Last Judgment’ is one of his great works. Fig: 3.7 Michelangelo Fig: 3.8 Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings at Sistine Chapel 58  Fig: 3.9 The Pieta Fig: 3.10 The David Statue sculptured by Michelangelo Architecture Sculpture Imitating certain features of ancient Roman architecture was a special feature of the Sculpture is another art that flourished during buildings constructed in the Renaissance the Renaissance era. Creating sculptures out era. Accordingly, the buildings constructed of marble was a special feature of this period. during this period included round arches, Michelangelo was an accomplished sculptor tall pillars and hemispherical domes which of the Renaissance era. His works ‘The Pieta’, were used in the buildings that had been ‘David’ and ‘Moses’ are among the world’s constructed in ancient Rome. St Peter’s greatest sculptures. Donatello was another Basilica in Rome can be described as one of great sculptor of the Renaissance era. The the greatest works that features the elements statue of St. John in the City of Florence of Greek and Roman architecture of the displays Donatello’s extraordinary skill. Renaissance era. Many works created by Michelangelo and the great architect Raphael can be seen here. 59  New scientific inventions of the Renaissance Activity era. Complete the following grid using The remarkable development in thought information about artists of the Renaissance achieved during the Renaissance era was not era. just limited to the field of arts. As European scholars studied in depth subjects such as Title of the Name of the ancient history, literature and philosophy, Field of art creation artist there occurred a great development Painting in judgment in society. Through this Sculpture development people were encouraged to Architecture reason everything rather than following the convention. It contributed to the advancement of the field of science paving the way for a number of new scientific inventions. New theories presented about the universe Copernicus discovered that the Earth is spherical and that the Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun. Accordingly, the belief that had been established earlier which said that the earth is flat was given up. These discoveries of Copernicus paved the way for scientific studies of stars and planets. Because of the invaluable service he rendered to the field of astronomy he is called the ‘father of astronomy’. Fig: 3.11 Nicolaus Copernicus 60  Johannes Kepler further established the theories presented by Copernicus and went on to work on them. The fact that had been established by that time was that the earth and the other planets move around the sun along a circular path. However, Kepler discovered that all the planets in the solar system move around the sun not along a circular path, but Fig: 3.12 Johannes Kepler along an elliptical path. Galileo Galilei, who was a university professor, invented the telescope and observed celestial bodies. Because of this great invention, craters and mountains on the Moon, sunspots and the moons of Jupiter could be observed. Fig: 3.13 Galileo Galilei 61  The Renaissance reform movement that was launched against the Christian Church grew Development in Medicine further under the leadership of protestant leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. William Harvey – He discovered important facts about the blood circulatory system of Martin Luther who was born in Germany the human body. became a professor at the University of Wittenberg. He realized that the teachings Dr Paracelsus – He carried out experiments of the Church contained many things that on the causes of diseases and treatment were contrary to the teachings of the Bible. for diseases. His discoveries contributed During this period he met a priest who was a lot towards the development of modern engaged in selling indulgences in the City pharmacology, too. of Wittenberg in Germany. Father Martin Luther was shocked to see indulgences being Michael Sertex - Michael Sertex discovered sold and pasted on the door of the church facts about how blood is pumped from the in Wittenberg a leaflet containing his views right ventricle into the lungs, purified there about selling of indulgences. and travels back to the heart, and finally circulates through the body. As a result of Martin Luther’s action, he was removed from the Catholic Church. Then he began to further express views against the teachings of the church. After the invention Reforms in Religion of the printing press in the 15th century, the views of Luther began to spread not only in Germany, but in the entire Europe. The Consequent to the scientific advancement reformation movement which contained and new inventions of the Renaissance era the views of such leaders was called the that led to a revolution in thought, people Protestant Reform Movement. began to reason things in every field. Accordingly, people also began to critically look at religious teachings and the unlimited Activity powers enjoyed by the Catholic Church. The groups that rose against the powers of the church are called Protestants. 1. Prepare a booklet containing questions on the Renaissance in Europe. From the latter part of the medieval period, severe criticism was leveled against 2. Collect information about the arts of corruption of certain priests. Among those painting, sculpture and architecture, and who expressed such criticism, John Wycliffe new inventions of the Renaissance era. of England and Erasmus of France were prominent. 62  Before explorations began, most of the 4.1 Background of Explorations world trade was limited to areas around the Mediterranean. Commercial cities such as Genoa, Alexandria and Venice which were Before starting explorations that took place located around the Mediterranean, and towards the end of the 15th century, the Constantinople located close to the Black Europeans did not know about many parts Sea had flourished because of trade. There of the world and countries in them except were three main routes along which trade for Europe and a small part of North Africa relationships were maintained between Asia and Asia. Europeans had only a limited and Europe during this period: knowledge that was gained from traders and heroic authors such as Marcopolo about 1. Silk route; i.e., the route from the city of countries in Asia such as India and China; Constantinople to China through Persia and and little was known about the other parts Central Asia, of the Asian region. Further, they had little understanding about the continents of 2. Arriving in Misra (Egypt) from America and Australia and most parts of Constantinople through the Mediterranean Africa. and reaching the Indian Ocean sailing through the Red Sea, and Fig: 4.1 An imaginary painting depicting Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India. 64 3. Reaching the western coast of India from supplying essential items in time by the Turks Constantinople through the Persian Gulf. who captured the city of Constantinople. As the traditional trade routes were blocked in The goods that were transported on land this manner, the Europeans had to come to along the Silk Route were sent to the city of Asia in search of spices. By this time, the Constantinople. Pack animals were used to trade dominance in Asia was in the hands transport goods along overland routes that of Muslims and therefore, Europeans had had to be taken while transporting goods the intention of gaining that dominance for along the sea routes which lay through the themselves. Accordingly, there seem to have Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The goods that been economic interests or intentions of were transported through the Persian Gulf gaining profits behind the search of new sea were traded in Constantinople while those routes to Asia. that were transported through the Red Sea and through Misra were bought at Alexandria by traders from Venice and Genoa. Having a fitting background formed in Europe for explorations Factors that influenced carrying out of explorations New scientific inventions and the transformation that took place in thought during the Renaissance era gave rise to Conquest of Constantinople by Turks and the formation of a fitting environment in blocking of the traditional trade routes of Europe for explorations. During this period Europeans mathematicians and astronomers such as Nicolaus Copernicus proved that the Earth Conquest of Constantinople by Turks is spherical and Ptolemy’s map of the world can be considered as the leading cause helped expand the knowledge that people for the beginning of explorations. City of possessed about the position of the world. Constantinople was the main commercial Use of the compass and measuring of the centre at which the European traders bought angle of the North Star in long voyages the goods that were transported to Europe helped explorers carry out their long voyages. through the trade routes mentioned above. Further, the knowledge gained during the However, this city was conquered by Muslim Renaissance era enabled explorers to build Turks in 1453 and it became difficult for huge ships that had the capacity to sail in the European traders, who were Christians, to high seas. use the traditional trade routes that they had used earlier. Further, the trade activities of the European traders were disturbed due to several actions such as increasing of prices of goods, raising of duty on goods and not 65  l Map 4.1 – Ancient sea routes through which trade relationships between Asia and Europe were carried out Fig : 4:2 – Ruins of the ancient overland trade route (Silk Route) 66  eceiving state patronage for explorations When going in search of countries in various parts of the world, a large amount of money had to be spent on long voyages that took several months to complete and such voyages also involved certain risks. Further, it was uncertain that profits could be gained through such voyages. Because of such reasons, individuals did not have the capacity to spend money that was required for explorations. However, several emerging national governments in Europe gave their patronage for explorations and it resulted in a progress of such activities. Portugal, Spain and England are examples for countries which gave patronage for explorations. Fig: 4.3 Vasco da Gama eligious intentions of the Europeans he leading countries that ere involved The Europeans expected through explorations in explorations to gain for themselves the trade dominance that the Muslims had already established in Asia and also to spread Christianity in Portugal countries that they newly discovered. Vasco da Gama, after arriving in India, is said to Portugal, the motherland of the Portuguese, have stated, “We have come here in search of is situated in the Iberian Peninsula. Christians and spices”. Therefore, the Portuguese had to handle their relationships with foreign countries through The economic and religious intentions the sea routes. Further, the Portuguese naturally Europeans had in carrying out explorations were good navigators. Therefore they had are evident from this statement, too. Some been keen on explorations even before the Europeans believed a myth about a Christian conquest of Constantinople by Turks. state in the East under the leadership of a ruler named Prester John. Therefore they had the hope of finding that ruler in order to get his support to spread Christianity. 67  Henry the Navigator Storms’ as ‘Cape of Good Hope’. Later, a group of navigators led by Vasco da Gama followed this route and reached the City of Calicut in India in 1498 fulfilling the expectations of the Europeans in finding a new sea route to Asia. Fig: 4.4 Henry the Navigator Henry the Navigator who was a Portuguese started a school of oceanic navigation in the Fig 4.5 Christopher Columbus 15th century to train people in navigation. At this school, people were trained in subjects Spain such as navigation, ship building, studying maps and astronomy. Spain which is situated to the east of Portugal is the largest country in the Iberian Because of the efforts of Henry the Navigator, Peninsula. The Spanish, too, had been the Portuguese succeeded in achieving great interested in navigation since ancient times. victories in the field of navigation. By the latter half of the 15th century, Spain In 1488, a team of Portuguese navigators led had been emerging as a strong state under by Bartolomeu Dias sailed to the western the leadership of the royal couple named coast of Africa and then they reached Ferdinand and Isabella. As Spain had a strong the Southern end of Africa. There, these economy, the Spanish government came navigators were caught up in a storm and forward to give patronage for explorations. therefore they named that place as ‘Cape of While the Portuguese were finding a sea Storms’ and returned to Portugal. The King route to Asia by way of sailing around Africa, of Portugal who considered this to be a good Spanish navigators were engaged in finding a indication as well as a great victory achieved route to Asia by travelling to the west of the by the Portuguese renamed the ‘Cape of Atlantic Ocean. 68 Christopher Columbus who carried out an Apart from Portugal and Spain, countries exploration in 1492 under the auspices of the such as England, France and Holland, royal couple Ferdinand and Isabella landed too, contributed towards carrying out on the Hispaniola Island in the Bahamas explorations. The following table contains a situated in the west of the Atlantic Ocean. brief account of the countries and persons He thought that island to be India and that were involved in explorations and of the therefore those islands are called West Indies parts of the world they explored. even today. Later Spain gave patronage for the voyages of Amerigo Vespucci and for Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage around the world. Sponsor Explorer Parts of the world explored and countries discovered countries Sailing up to the cape in the southern end of Africa and naming Bartolomeu Dias it as Cape of Storms. (Renaming of the Cape of Storms as “Cape Portugal of Good Hope” by King of Portugal.) Sailing further along the route taken by Bartolomeu and landing Vasco da Gama on India. Sailing to the west of the Atlantic Ocean and landing on the Christopher Caribbean Island (Hispaniola). His explorations helped Columbus discover the route to America. Amerigo He followed the route that Columbus had taken and discovered Vespucci America. (The continent he discovered was named after him.) Spain Ferdinand Sailing around the world for the first time. Landing on the Phil- Magellan ippines. This voyage proved the fact that the earth is spherical. Ferdinando Mexico Cortes Francisco Pizarro Peru England Cabot Brothers Coastal areas of Canada France Jacques Cartier St. Lawrence area in North America Area around the Hudson river and Hudson’s Bay in North Holland Henry Hudson America. 69  Map 4.2 Explorations in 14th and 15th centuries Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal in about 1480. He became a navigator by the age of about 25 years. Because of his curiosity to find a new route to Asia by travelling towards the west from Europe, he made arrangements for a long voyage. He received the patronage of the King of Spain for his voyage. In 1519, Magellan launched his voyage from Spain Fig: 4.6 – Ferdinand Magellan together with several other ships. After arriving in the Atlantic Ocean, this fleet of ships discovered at the southern end of the North American Continent the strait through which the Pacific Ocean can be reached. This strait was named after Magellan as ‘Strait of Magellan’. Then these navigators who travelled across the Pacific Ocean experienced severe hardships. However, after a very long voyage across the Pacific Ocean, Magellan was able to reach the Philippines. Although Magellan died in a fight that broke out with the native people of the Philippines, the rest of the crew in the fleet of ships sailed around the west of Africa and returned to Spain. Magellan’s voyage helped prove the idea that the earth is spherical. 70  Map 4.3 – The route of Magellan’s voyage Fig: 4.7 – Ancient explorers carried out their explorations using sailing vessels like these 71  parts of Asia. As a result of that, Muslim rrival of the Europeans in sia traders who came from countries such as Arab, Persia and Misra acted as middlemen of the trade activities that took place between Asia and Europe. These traders travelled from country to country on sailing vessels There had been trade relationships between collecting necessary commodities and took Asia and Europe even during times as ancient those commodities to Constantinople along as Greco-Roman civilization of Europe. the sea routes mentioned above. As Greek ruler Alexander the Great, together The most prominent among the commodities with a very strong army, invaded countries up that were taken from Asia to Europe were to India, and then went towards the lands in silk, perfumes and ceramic ware from Arab, the trade relationships that had existed China, silver from Japan, and pearl, gems, between Asia and Europe further flourished. spices, elephants and ivory from Sri Lanka. After the collapse of the Greek Civilization, Further, commodities such as pepper, the Roman Civilization developed centred cinnamon, opium, and cotton clothes from around the City of Rome in Italy. Rome later India and spices such as clove, cardamom became a very powerful empire in Europe. and nutmeg from East Indian islands such Even during the Roman Civilization, there as Java, Sumatra and Borneo were taken to were trade relationships between Europe and Europe. There was a big demand in Europe Asia. for the spices that were brought from Asia as the Europeans needed those spices to make The collapse of the Roman Civilization their food tasty. paved the way for a number of changes in the political arena of Europe. In place of In this way, Muslims made hefty profits the empire that had existed up to that time, by acting as middlemen in trade that separate regional states were established took place between Asia and Europe and centred around various cities. The rulers of became powerful. While the Muslims these states carried out administrative affairs were spreading their political power after with the support of the nobility or the elites becoming financially stable, the City of who were holding powerful positions in Constantinople was conquered by Turkey regional areas. Under this system, these elites where Muslims were powerful. The conquest possessed the ownership of lands while the of Constantinople was a huge blow to the farmers who were common masses had to trade activities of the Europeans. As a result cultivate their lands which is called a feudal the Europeans started looking for a new sea system. Under the feudal system the power route to come to Asia as described at the of the Europeans did not spread beyond beginning of this chapter. Europe. While the political arena in Europe was of this nature, the power of Muslim traders spread in the Middle East and in several 72 Objectives of the Europeans’ coming to Asia Meanwhile, they captured several islands in South-Eastern Asia where spices grew Buying from Asia the spices and other and eventually built up a tremendous trade commodities produced in Asia, taking them power centred around the Indian Ocean. to Europe and generating profits by selling them in Europe. Gaining for Europeans the trade monopoly rrival of the utch in Asia that was in the hands of the Muslims. Spreading their religion in Asian countries. The Dutch was not able to come to Asia until a period of about one century had lapsed since Such were the primary objectives of the the arrival of the Portuguese in Asia. It was after Europeans in coming to Asia at the beginning 1595 that the Dutch began to come to Asia. of the 16th century, but those objectives seem From that time, several trading companies that to have changed from time to time with the were established in Holland came to Asia from political and economic changes that took time to time until about 1602. As several trading place in Europe with the passage of time. companies from the same country had come to Asia, they began to compete with one another. Further, since they came as small companies, they could neither capture areas in Asia nor overcome the threats posed by the Portuguese. rrival of the ortuguese in sia Having realized this situation, the ruler of Holland merged several companies in 1602 and established the Dutch East India Company or the The Portuguese were the first European ‘VOC’ company as a very strong organization. nation to arrive in Asia. The way for the Since then, the VOC company handled all matters relating to Asia on behalf the Dutch. Portuguese to come to Asia was opened up with the arrival of Vasco da Gama in At the beginning, the Dutch were more concerned Calicut in India in 1498. King of Portugal about a south-eastern island in Asia where spices had been delighted when Vasco da Gama were produced in large-scale. Moreover, they returned to Portugal with a huge amount established a number of warehouses along the of wealth. The King realized that they could coastal line of India and went on to drive away generate massive profits by developing trade the Portuguese from countries in South-East relationships with Asia. Accordingly, the Asia. The eastern headquarters of the Dutch was Portuguese first built up relationships with established in Batavia, an area in South-East Asia. the kingdoms in the coastal areas of India. In this way, by the middle of the 17th century, the Later they arrived in Lanka, too, and built Dutch had succeeded in gaining for themselves up relationships with Kotte Kingdom. As the dominance in trade in the East, which was previously in the hands of the Portuguese. they found it difficult to handle the affairs in Asia being in Portugal, the Portuguese captured the city of Goa in India and made it the Centre of the Portuguese in the East. 73  rrival of the ritish and the French Activity The Dutch, as well as the Portuguese, could not 1. Mark on a map of the world the following hold the trade dominance in Asia for too long. countries and places: The reason for that was the arrival of the British and the French. The English started coming Portugal, Holland, Spain, France, England, to Asia from the beginning of the 17th century Cape of Good Hope, Calicut Harbour, and established the British East India Company Constantinople, Rome, Genoa. setting up the monopoly of the Queen of England in trade in Asia. They first established several 2. Explain the reasons that led Europeans to warehouses in the coastal areas of India and take to explorations. began to gradually spread their power to other areas. As a result, India, Burma and Sri Lanka, too, became colonies of the British Empire. By the middle of 17th century, the French had established the French East India Company and had started coming to Asia. Initially they established their warehouses in Pondicherry, Karaikal and Chander Nagar in India and went on to spread their power. In this way, several European nations had arrived in Asia by the end of the 17th century and there arose disputes among themselves in their efforts to spread their political power and to gain dominance in trade in Asia. This opened up the opportunity for rulers of countries in Asia to get the support of one European nation against another. 74