Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach Calicut, by the sea route on May 20, 1498. He had to face the hostility of Muslim merchants at Calicut.
He returned with the message that sword was a must for the Eastern trade. In 1500, Portuguese under Cabral attacked Zamorin.
When news of his failure reached Portugal, Vasco da Gama was sent in 1502, to avenge the act. After arriving in Calicut, Vasco da Gama subdued the inhabitants and forced the ruler to make peace.
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In 1509, Alfonso dā Albuquerque came to India as the Portuguese Governor. He captured Goa from Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur in 1510 and developed it as Portuguese capital in India and used it for expanding their trading interests.
For about the first two centuries after Europeans arrived in India, their activities were restricted to trade and evangelism, their presence protected by naval forces.
During the early Mughal period, European traders were confined to trading posts along the coast.
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In the 16th century the Portuguese navy controlled the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean, protecting the traders settled in Goa, Daman, and Diu on the Western Coast.
