UPSC Prelims 2005 Q36: Medieval History – European Powers & Early Colonial Contacts
Which one of the following is the correct statement?
- (a) The modern Kochi was a Dutch colony till India’s independence.
- (b) The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.
- (c) The modern Kochi was first a Dutch colony before the Portuguese took over from them.
- (d) The modern Kochi never became a part of the British colony.
Answer: (b) The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.
Explanation
Colonial history of Kochi
| Phase | Power |
|---|---|
| 1503 onwards | Portuguese fort Immanuel; first Europeans at Kochi |
| 1663 | Dutch defeated the Portuguese and took Kochi |
| 1795 | British took Kochi from the Dutch |
| Independence | Kochi was a princely state under British suzerainty |
The Dutch defeated the Portuguese in 1663 and built Fort Williams in modern Kochi; the city later came under the British.
Answer: (b) The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Kochi was not Dutch colony until independence.
- (b) CORRECT. The Dutch ousted the Portuguese and built Fort Williams.
- (c) Incorrect. The Portuguese came first, then the Dutch.
- (d) Incorrect. Kochi did come under British control.
Key point
Kochi: Portuguese 1503, Dutch 1663, British 1795.
Remember
The Dutch defeated the Portuguese at Kochi in 1663.
Common mistakes
- Reversing the order of the Portuguese and Dutch.
- Assuming Kochi was never under the British.
- Confusing Dutch Fort Williams with Fort William at Calcutta.
Exam tip
Order of Europeans at Kochi: Portuguese, Dutch, British.
Sources
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Kochi