Arrival of European Companies MCQ: Portuguese Arrival, Vasco da Gama & Calcutta's Founding

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Who was the first Portuguese Viceroy in India?

   • A.Alfonso de Albuquerque
   • B.Francisco de Almeida✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Nino da Cunha
   • D.Vasco da Gama

   Explanation: In 1505, Francisco de Almeida arrived in India as the first Portuguese Governor and Viceroy. He rendered the Blue Water Policy.

2. Q2.When did Vasco da Gama arrive at Calicut?

   • A.1492
   • B.1498✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1502
   • D.1510

   Explanation: Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut on 20 May 1498 led by a Gujarati guide named Abdul Majid.

3. Q3.Which ruler welcomed Vasco da Gama at Calicut?

   • A.Zamorin✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Adil Shah
   • C.Tipu Sultan
   • D.Hyder Ali

   Explanation: Zamorin, the then ruler of Calicut, welcomed Vasco da Gama.

4. Q4.Who is considered the real founder of Portuguese power in India?

   • A.Francisco de Almeida
   • B.Vasco da Gama
   • C.Alfonso de Albuquerque✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Nino da Cunha

   Explanation: Alfonso de Albuquerque is known as the real founder of Portuguese power in India. He captured Goa in 1510.

5. Q5.From whom did Albuquerque capture Goa in 1510?

   • A.Ruler of Golconda
   • B.Yusuf Adil Shah of Bijapur✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Zamorin of Calicut
   • D.Sultan of Gujarat

   Explanation: In 1510, Albuquerque snatched Goa from Yusuf Adil Shah, the ruler of Bijapur.

6. Q6.Who introduced the 'Blue Water Policy'?

   • A.Alfonso de Albuquerque
   • B.Robert Clive
   • C.Francisco de Almeida✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Dupleix

   Explanation: Francisco de Almeida rendered the Blue Water Policy to establish Portuguese authority in the Indian Ocean.

7. Q7.Where was the first Portuguese fort constructed in India?

   • A.Goa
   • B.Cochin✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Kannur
   • D.Calicut

   Explanation: In 1503, at Cochin, the first Portuguese Fort (first European Fort in India) was constructed by Alfonso de Albuquerque.

8. Q8.Who founded Calcutta (Kolkata)?

   • A.Job Charnock✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Sir Thomas Roe
   • C.Robert Clive
   • D.Warren Hastings

   Explanation: Job Charnock, head of the factory of Qasim Bazar, selected Sutanuti and established Calcutta as a base in 1690.

9. Q9.Which English officer defeated the Portuguese at Sowlley?

   • A.Thomas Best✓ Correct Answer
   • B.William Hawkins
   • C.Thomas Roe
   • D.Job Charnock

   Explanation: Thomas Best was the English officer who defeated the Portuguese at a place named Sowlley.

10. Q10.When was the English East India Company established?

    • A.1498
    • B.1599✓ Correct Answer
    • C.1602
    • D.1664

    Explanation: In 1599, a group named 'Merchant Adventurers' founded the English East India Company.

11. Q11.Who was the Mughal Emperor when the English East India Company was formed?

    • A.Akbar✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Jahangir
    • C.Shah Jahan
    • D.Aurangzeb

    Explanation: Akbar was the King of India (1556-1605) when the English East India Company was granted the Charter in 1600.

12. Q12.Which was the first European power to arrive in India?

    • A.Dutch
    • B.English
    • C.French
    • D.Portuguese✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Portuguese were the first to arrive in India (1498) and were the last to leave (1961).

13. Q13.In which year did the Dutch establish their factory at Surat?

    • A.1602
    • B.1613
    • C.1616✓ Correct Answer
    • D.1664

    Explanation: Dutch established their factory at Surat in 1616.

14. Q14.Who founded the French East India Company?

    • A.Louis XIV
    • B.Colbert✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Francois Caron
    • D.Dupleix

    Explanation: Colbert, a minister of Louis XIV, founded the French East India Company in 1664.

15. Q15.Which treaty ended the First Carnatic War?

    • A.Treaty of Pondicherry
    • B.Treaty of Paris
    • C.Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Treaty of Madras

    Explanation: The First Carnatic War ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.

16. Q16.Who was the Portuguese Governor-General of Goa when India got independence in 1947?

    • A.Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva
    • B.Jose Ferreira Bossa✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Nino da Cunha
    • D.Albuquerque

    Explanation: Jose Ferreira Bossa was the Governor-General of Goa when India got Independence in 1947.

17. Q17.Which English Governor was expelled from India by Aurangzeb in 1688?

    • A.John Child✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Job Charnock
    • C.William Hawkins
    • D.Thomas Roe

    Explanation: English Governor of Bombay John Child was expelled by Aurangzeb in 1688 for surrounding Mughal ports.

18. Q18.Where did the Dutch establish their first factory in Bengal?

    • A.Chinsura
    • B.Pipali✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Hooghly
    • D.Satgaon

    Explanation: In Bengal, the Dutch established their first factory at Pipali.

19. Q19.Who discovered the sea route to Australia?

    • A.Vasco da Gama
    • B.Columbus
    • C.Captain Cook✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Tasman

    Explanation: Captain Cook of Britain discovered the route to Australia.

20. Q20.Which place was selected by Job Charnock for the English trade center instead of Hooghly?

    • A.Sutanuti✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Govindpur
    • C.Kalikata
    • D.Chandranagar

    Explanation: Job Charnock selected Sutanuti (a place in Calcutta) instead of Hooghly for the English Trading Centre.