1. In the Middle Ages trade between east and west was carried on through how many routes?

In the middle ages trade between east and west was carried on through three routes.One was through Central Asia which was a land route and the other two were through the Persian Gulf and the Red-sea.

2. Who controlled most of the Euro-Asian trade during the middle ages?

The Arab merchants and sailors on one side and Italians on the other controlled most of the Euro-Asian trade during the middle ages.The commodities from the East were spices, silk, cotton fabrics, jewels, porcelain and other precious stones.

3. Which factor forced the merchants to concentrate more on overseas trade during the middle ages?

Stories about the fabulous wealth of east thrilled the merchants.  This was confirmed by Marco Polo’s travelogue.The disruption of the Central Asian route as a result of the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453 forced them to concentrate more on overseas trade.

4. What were the main contributions of Alfonso de Albuquerque for India?

Alfonso de Albuquerque encouraged mixed marriages of the Portuguese with the Indians.  He thought that the children born out of mixed marriages would be loyal to the Portuguese.He established educational institutions to educate the Hindus.Sati was abolished.Hindus were enrolled in the army.He butchered several Arab merchants and seamen.

5.  Write a paragraph on Kunjali Marakkars?      

Kunjali Marakkars were the Admirals of the Zamorin of Kozhikode.  They helped the Zamorin in the fight against the Portuguese. 

The title of Marakkar was given by the Zamorin. There were four persons associated with the name Kunjali Marakkar:

Kutti Ahmed Ali – Kunjali Marakkar I

Kutti Pokker Ali – Kunjali Marakkar II

Pattu Marakkar – Kunjali Marakkar III

Mohammed Ali – Kunjali Marakkar IV

Kunjali I led the Zamorin’s fleet against the Portuguese.  He resorted to guerilla warfare against the enemies.

Kutti Ali became the head of Zamorin’s navy after Kunjali I.    The Kozhikode fleet under Kutti Ali inflicted heavy damages on the Portuguese. 

Pattu Marakkar had taken command of the Zamorin’s fleet as Kunjali III.

When Kunjali III died, his nephew Kunjali IV became the Zamorin’s Admiral.

6. Which factor adversely affected the fortunes of the Portuguese?

The consolidation of Mughal Empire in India and the rise of Maratha power adversely affected the fortunes of the Portuguese.Shah Jahan ended their power in Bengal.

7. What is known as the Coonan Cross Oath?

A rumour spread that Ahatalla, a Syrian Bishop, was drowned by the Portuguese.The Syrian Christians soon assembled in front of the Mattancheri Church and tied a rope on the cross and took the oath that they would no more accept the Latin rite.This is known as the Coonan Cross Oath.

8. What is known as the Coonan Cross Oath?

A rumour spread that Ahatalla, a Syrian Bishop, was drowned by the Portuguese.The Syrian Christians soon assembled in front of the Mattancheri Church and tied a rope on the cross and took the oath that they would no more accept the Latin rite.This is known as the Coonan Cross Oath.

9. Write short note on Hortus Malabaricus?

Hortus Malabaricus is a renowned work on Indian Botany.It was composed under the drive and initiative of Van Rheede, the Commander of Kochi.  He was assisted by three Konkani Brahmins-Ranga Bhatter, Appu Bhatter and Vinayaga Bhatter and a physician Itty Achuthan. The names of plants are mentioned in Latin, Portuguese, Nagari, Malayalam and Arabic.It is also famous as the first printed work of Malayalam.  The book containing twelve volumes was printed in Amsterdam.

10. Which factor adversely affected the fortunes of the Dutch in Kerala?

The rise of Thiruvithamkur under Marthanda Varma adversely affected the fortunes of the Dutch in Kerala.  The introduction of economy measures in the military expenditure of the Dutch Company too hastened their decline further.

11. Write a paragraph on French East India Company?

Among the Europeans , the French were the last to enter India for trade.The French East India Company was a commercial enterprise, founded in 1664 to compete with the British and Dutch East India companies in the East Indies.The French established their factories at Surat and Masulipattanam.In 1673, the French occupied Pondicherry, which later became the nerve centre of the French political and commercial activities in India.

12. Write a paragraph on Danes?

Encouraged by the other European merchants, the Danes from Denmark came to India in 1616.In 1620, they founded a settlement at Tranquebar in the Tanjore district.In 1676, they occupied Serampore in Bengal.The Danes could not carry on lucrative trade nor establish political power.  So they sold their establishments to the British in 1845.

13. Why the French failed in India?

The French Company was a department of the French Government and hence had no freedom of action.

The French Company was not financially as sound as the English Company.

The French forces, both naval and land, proved to be inferior to the British.

The French officers lacked unity and quarrelled at the time of crisis.

The French settlements in the Deccan were comparatively poor and lacking in resources.  Pondicherry was their only major trade centre.