Discover the impact of the arrival of Europeans in the Subcontinent on trade, politics, and society. These MCQs cover major colonial influences.
European colonization in South Asia MCQs
Who was the first European to reach the Indian subcontinent by sea?
a) Vasco da Gama
b) Christopher Columbus
c) Marco Polo
d) Ferdinand Magellan
Vasco da Gama’s historic voyage to the Indian subcontinent took place in which year?
a) 1492
b) 1498
c) 1500
d) 1521
Which European power was the first to establish direct sea trade with India in the late 15th century?
a) Portugal
b) Spain
c) England
d) France
Who was the Portuguese explorer and navigator who reached the western coast of India in 1498?
a) Ferdinand Magellan
b) Christopher Columbus
c) Vasco da Gama
d) Amerigo Vespucci
Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India opened up a sea route to which famous spice-producing region?
a) Indonesia
b) Malabar Coast
c) Sri Lanka
d) Sumatra
The Portuguese established their first permanent factory for trade in the Indian subcontinent in which city?
a) Bombay (Mumbai)
b) Calcutta (Kolkata)
c) Goa
d) Madras (Chennai)
What was the primary motivation for the European exploration and trade with the Indian subcontinent in the Age of Discovery?
a) Religious conversion
b) Silk trade
c) Spices and other valuable commodities
d) Quest for scientific knowledge
The Portuguese established a trade monopoly on which spice, which was highly sought after in Europe?
a) Cinnamon
b) Saffron
c) Black pepper
d) Paprika
Who was the first British explorer to reach the Indian subcontinent by sea in the early 17th century?
a) Sir Walter Raleigh
b) Sir Francis Drake
c) Sir John Hawkins
d) Sir Thomas Roe
The Mughal Emperor Akbar granted trading rights to the British East India Company in the early 17th century. In which year did this event take place?
a) 1600
b) 1617
c) 1624
d) 1632
The Dutch East India Company was established for the purpose of trading with Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. What was the primary Dutch interest in the subcontinent?
a) Textiles
b) Spices
c) Precious metals
d) Gemstones
Which European power established the town of Pondicherry on the southeastern coast of India as a trading post and later a colony?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Spain
The British East India Company established the first British trading post in India in which city in the early 17th century?
a) Madras (Chennai)
b) Bombay (Mumbai)
c) Calcutta (Kolkata)
d) Goa
The city of Calcutta (Kolkata) was founded by the British East India Company in which century?
a) 15th century
b) 16th century
c) 17th century
d) 18th century
Which European power established the city of Bombay (Mumbai) as a trading post on the western coast of India?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is known for being the first to circumnavigate the globe. What was the year of Magellan’s historic voyage?
a) 1492
b) 1498
c) 1519
d) 1534
Which European explorer, sailing for Portugal, reached the eastern coast of Africa and established the sea route to India in 1497-1498?
a) Vasco da Gama
b) Ferdinand Magellan
c) Christopher Columbus
d) Marco Polo
The Portuguese established a colony in the Indian subcontinent in the mid-16th century. What was the name of this colony?
a) Goa
b) Pondicherry
c) Bombay
d) Madras
Who was the British monarch when the English East India Company was founded in 1600?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King Henry VIII
c) King James I
d) Queen Anne
What was the primary commodity that attracted European traders to the Indian subcontinent during the Age of Discovery?
a) Tea
b) Opium
c) Spices
d) Gemstones
The city of Madras (Chennai) was established as a British trading post in the early 17th century in the region known as the Coromandel Coast. Which European power originally controlled this region?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
Which European colonial power established the town of Surat as an important trading post in the 17th century?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
The Portuguese navigator and explorer who is credited with establishing the sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope is:
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Marco Polo
The British East India Company established its first factory and trading post in India in the city of:
a) Calcutta (Kolkata)
b) Madras (Chennai)
c) Bombay (Mumbai)
d) Goa
The city of Pondicherry, on the southeastern coast of India, was established as a trading post by which European colonial power?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
The establishment of Calcutta (Kolkata) as a British trading post marked the beginning of British presence in which part of India?
a) Northern India
b) Western India
c) Southern India
d) Eastern India
What was the primary motivation for European exploration and expansion into the Indian subcontinent during the Age of Discovery?
a) Religious conversion
b) Trade and commerce
c) Scientific inquiry
d) Humanitarian efforts
Which European colonial power established the city of Madras (Chennai) as a significant trading post on the southeastern coast of India?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
In the 16th century, the Portuguese established control over the coastal region of Malabar. Which present-day Indian state is part of this historic region?
a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh
The Mughal Emperor Akbar granted a royal farman (decree) to the British East India Company, allowing them to establish trading posts. What was the primary purpose of this royal decree?
a) Promoting religious conversion
b) Encouraging diplomatic relations
c) Facilitating trade and commerce
d) Promoting scientific collaboration
The Dutch East India Company was primarily interested in the trade of:
a) Textiles
b) Spices
c) Gemstones
d) Silk
The establishment of the city of Surat as a major trading post was a significant step in the expansion of which European colonial power in India?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
The French established the town of Chandannagar as a trading post on the banks of the Hooghly River. In which present-day Indian state is Chandannagar located?
a) West Bengal
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Maharashtra
d) Andhra Pradesh
Which European power established the town of Tranquebar as a trading post on the southeastern coast of India in the 17th century?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Denmark
The Mughal Emperor Jahangir granted a royal farman to which European trading company, allowing them to establish a factory at Surat?
a) Portuguese
b) French
c) Dutch
d) English
The Dutch East India Company was interested in the trade of spices, including:
a) Black pepper
b) Saffron
c) Cinnamon
d) Saffron
The British East India Company was initially granted trading rights in India by which Mughal Emperor?
a) Akbar
b) Shah Jahan
c) Aurangzeb
d) Jahangir
The British East India Company’s establishment of a trading post in Calcutta marked the beginning of British presence in the region known as:
a) Malabar Coast
b) Coromandel Coast
c) Bengal
d) Malabar Coast
The city of Bombay (Mumbai) was transferred from Portuguese to British control as part of the dowry of which Portuguese princess?
a) Catherine of Braganza
b) Maria Theresa
c) Isabella of Castile
d) Queen Nzinga
In the 17th century, the city of Madras (Chennai) was initially established as a British factory by:
a) Sir Thomas Roe
b) Sir Walter Raleigh
c) Sir Francis Drake
d) Sir John Hawkins
The Portuguese navigator who established the sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope is known as:
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Marco Polo
Which of the following European powers established the town of Nagapattinam as a trading post on the southeastern coast of India?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Denmark
Which British monarch granted the British East India Company a royal charter in 1600, allowing them to trade with the Indian subcontinent?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King Henry VIII
c) King James I
d) Queen Anne
The primary motivation for European exploration and expansion into the Indian subcontinent during the Age of Discovery was to gain access to:
a) Textiles
b) Spices
c) Precious metals
d) Gemstones
Which European colonial power established the town of Tranquebar as a trading post on the southeastern coast of India in the 17th century?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Denmark
In the 16th century, the Portuguese established control over the coastal region of Goa. Which present-day Indian state is part of this historic region?
a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Goa
The British East India Company’s establishment of a trading post in Calcutta marked the beginning of British presence in the region known as:
a) Malabar Coast
b) Coromandel Coast
c) Bengal
d) Malabar Coast
The Dutch East India Company was interested in the trade of spices, including:
a) Black pepper
b) Saffron
c) Cinnamon
d) Saffron
The British East India Company was initially granted trading rights in India by which Mughal Emperor?
a) Akbar
b) Shah Jahan
c) Aurangzeb
d) Jahangir
The city of Bombay (Mumbai) was transferred from Portuguese to British control as part of the dowry of which Portuguese princess?
a) Catherine of Braganza
b) Maria Theresa
c) Isabella of Castile
d) Queen Nzinga
In the 17th century, the city of Madras (Chennai) was initially established as a British factory by:
a) Sir Thomas Roe
b) Sir Walter Raleigh
c) Sir Francis Drake
d) Sir John Hawkins
The Portuguese navigator who established the sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope is known as:
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) Marco Polo
Which of the following European powers established the town of Nagapattinam as a trading post on the southeastern coast of India?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Denmark
Which British monarch granted the British East India Company a royal charter in 1600, allowing them to trade with the Indian subcontinent?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King Henry VIII
c) King James I
d) Queen Anne
The primary motivation for European exploration and expansion into the Indian subcontinent was to gain access to:
a) Textiles
b) Spices
c) Precious metals
d) Gemstones
Who was the first European to reach the Indian subcontinent by sea?
a) Vasco da Gama
b) Christopher Columbus
c) Marco Polo
d) Ferdinand Magellan
Vasco da Gama’s historic voyage to the Indian subcontinent took place in which year?
a) 1492
b) 1498
c) 1500
d) 1521
Which European power was the first to establish direct sea trade with India in the late 15th century?
a) Portugal
b) Spain
c) England
d) France
Who was the Portuguese explorer and navigator who reached the western coast of India in 1498?
a) Ferdinand Magellan
b) Christopher Columbus
c) Vasco da Gama
d) Amerigo Vespucci
Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India opened up a sea route to which famous spice-producing region?
a) Indonesia
b) Malabar Coast
c) Sri Lanka
d) Sumatra
The Portuguese established their first permanent factory for trade in the Indian subcontinent in which city?
a) Bombay (Mumbai)
b) Calcutta (Kolkata)
c) Goa
d) Madras (Chennai)
What was the primary motivation for the European exploration and trade with the Indian subcontinent in the Age of Discovery?
a) Religious conversion
b) Silk trade
c) Spices and other valuable commodities
d) Quest for scientific knowledge
The Portuguese established a trade monopoly on which spice, which was highly sought after in Europe?
a) Cinnamon
b) Saffron
c) Black pepper
d) Paprika
Who was the first British explorer to reach the Indian subcontinent by sea in the early 17th century?
a) Sir Walter Raleigh
b) Sir Francis Drake
c) Sir John Hawkins
d) Sir Thomas Roe
The Mughal Emperor Akbar granted trading rights to the British East India Company in the early 17th century. In which year did this event take place?
a) 1600
b) 1617
c) 1624
d) 1632
The Dutch East India Company was established for the purpose of trading with Asia, including the Indian subcontinent. What was the primary Dutch interest in the subcontinent?
a) Textiles
b) Spices
c) Precious metals
d) Gemstones
Which European power established the town of Pondicherry on the southeastern coast of India as a trading post and later a colony?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Spain
The British East India Company established the first British trading post in India in which city in the early 17th century?
a) Madras (Chennai)
b) Bombay (Mumbai)
c) Calcutta (Kolkata)
d) Goa
The city of Calcutta (Kolkata) was founded by the British East India Company in which century?
a) 15th century
b) 16th century
c) 17th century
d) 18th century
Which European power established the city of Bombay (Mumbai) as a trading post on the western coast of India?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is known for being the first to circumnavigate the globe. What was the year of Magellan’s historic voyage?
a) 1492
b) 1498
c) 1519
d) 1534
Which Portuguese explorer, sailing for Portugal, reached the eastern coast of Africa and established the sea route to India in 1497-1498?
a) Vasco da Gama
b) Ferdinand Magellan
c) Christopher Columbus
d) Marco Polo
The Portuguese established a colony in the Indian subcontinent in the mid-16th century. What was the name of this colony?
a) Goa
b) Pondicherry
c) Bombay
d) Madras
Who was the British monarch when the English East India Company was founded in 1600?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King Henry VIII
c) King James I
d) Queen Anne
What was the primary commodity that attracted European traders to the Indian subcontinent during the Age of Discovery?
a) Tea
b) Opium
c) Spices
d) Gemstones
The city of Madras (Chennai) was established as a British trading post in the early 17th century in the region known as the Coromandel Coast. Which European power originally controlled this region?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
Which European colonial power established the town of Surat as an important trading post in the 17th century?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Netherlands
The French established the town of Chandannagar as a trading post on the banks of the Hooghly River. In which present-day Indian state is Chandannagar located?
a) West Bengal
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Maharashtra
d) Andhra Pradesh
Which European colonial power established the town of Tranquebar as a trading post on the southeastern coast of India in the 17th century?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) England
d) Denmark
The Mughal Emperor Jahangir granted a royal farman to which European trading company, allowing them to establish a factory at Surat?
a) Portuguese
b) French
c) Dutch
d) English