Religion, trade and the sea

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Book Review: The Mughals, the Portuguese and the Indian Ocean: Changing imageries of maritime India. Author: Pius Malekandathil

May 6, 2013
K. R. A. Narasiah

The Indian Ocean was the theatre where important events took place for commercial exploitation and spatial power grab during the early modern period starting from 15 century, especially after the Papal Bull was issued by Pope Alexander VI on May 4, 1493. While almost all the Western powers had set their eyes on India for trade, Portuguese preceded all. The Mughals, then ruling India from the North, had much say in the matter of trade.

The author, by putting together 10 of his earlier writings that have a common connecting thread through the Indian Ocean, Mughals and Portuguese has effectively brought about an integrated study of land-centric activities and maritime developments of the period. Five of them deal with a variety of historical processes that helps to understand the state of economy and politics of the Mughals, while the others dwell on socio-economic processes of maritime India. All the articles have another important common link — that of Christianity as a religion in India and its establishment as an entity away from European control.

Akbar knew the commercial importance of accommodating multiculturalism; the Portuguese understood the emerging potential of Mughal power after the defeat of Vijayanagar ruler in 1565; both knew the importance of trade. This aspect is explained in the first chapter as the politics of religious dialogue when Akbar invited Jesuit missionaries for dialogue as they had sizable followers in trading and who were of use both politically and economically. This chapter sets the pace for the rest of the articles in the book. That religious conversions took place for sustained trade is brought out in the chapter, “Fishing the pearl and the soul”. When the Marakkars started attacking the inhabitants of the Peral Fishery coast, Christianity was introduced in the pretext of protecting the locals. In the process large scale conversions took place and import of horses also played an important role. In 1537 Joao de Cruz, convinced the King of Travancore of the advantage of being a Christian to get horses from the Portuguese; Due to his persuasion about 50,000 people were converted which later increased. Here the author effectively argues how this helped in trade.

Goan history

Goa occupied an important place in the maritime history of that time and in a chapter “City in metaphor”, almost 200 years of Goan history is told. Goa, originally known as Gopakapattanam, became the stronghold of Portuguese after the city was taken over by the latter from Bijapuris in 1510, and by 1520 became a major trading centre. To beat the Muslims and the Banias in trade, the Portuguese launched many innovative schemes luring the trader community. This brought about a process of urbanisation and building of the city opened more opportunities for trade. More political and religious mechanisms were used to augment the ability of Portuguese to use the space as a social base for perpetual control. This point is well brought out in this chapter and looks at the history of Goa in a fresh light.

http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/religion-trade-and-the-sea/article4689813.ece