World of Industries

INDUSTRY, TRADE AND COLONIZATION


VASCO-DA-GAMA a Portuguese sailor discovered te sea route to India in 1498 A.D. Trading Companies from different European companies viz,Portugal, Denmark, HollND, France and england were formed to trade with India and other parts of Asia. These companies came to India and established rheir trade centers whichwere called " Factories " that is places where factors or officials of their companies worked. In costal region later these factories were fortified to protect hemselves from the attacks of their rivals and for fortification they require the permission of the then Emperors if India.

These companies purchased Spices, Cotton and silk Clothe, Muslin, Indigo etc., from our country. When they sold these things
in their countries they earned huge profits. These gave impetus to trade, and to have full control over it, they established
colonies in India and other Asian and African countries.

At this period, the Asian countries including India had neither strong army nor worth wile navy. So it was very easy for
thr Europeans to conquere India and to establish their political authority. Very soon India became a supplier of rew materials at cheaper rates and a market to sell finished goods to Europeans. Thus fro, the latter half of 19th century, colonisation started not only in India but also in other Asian, African and American countries by Europeans.








DECLINE OF INDEGENOUS TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Before modern methods of production were introduced in India, in villages, village artisans i.e, carpenters, potters, smiths, weavers etc., produced the goods to meet the local needs. In the towns, craftsmen made goods of high quality and luxury which had markets in India and abroad.

The chief luxury goods were Calico, and Muslin silk cloth, metal works of Gold, Silver, brass and Copper which were famous in Europen countries. The Ship building industry of India earned fame in 17th and 18th centuries. Upto the end of 18th century these industries occupied an important position in Indian economy.

Due to industrialisation of britan and establishment of their political power in India they reduced a country to the level of mere supplier of raw-material. To promote markets for their Industrial goods, britan passed Laws in 1700 and 1720 prohibiting the entry of Indian goods into their country which had a very great demand so far. The British workmen improved their workmenship to compete with Indian workmenship. More ever Industrial revolution and mechanisation of english textile industry, supplied machine-made cloth to India at compareable very cheap rate. No taxes were levied on British goods coming to India and heavy taxes were imposed on the export of Indian goods to other country. This brought the decline of Indians trade and Industries.