Arrival of European Companies MCQ: Battle of Swally, Dutch Factories & EIC Charter

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

1. Q1.What was the name of the Dutch fort in Chinsura?

   • A.Fort William
   • B.Fort St. George
   • C.Fort Gustavus✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Fort Louis

   Explanation: In Chinsura, the Dutch fort was called Gustavus Fort.

2. Q2.Who was the first Englishman to visit Akbar's court?

   • A.Ralph Fitch✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Sir Thomas Roe
   • C.John Hawkins
   • D.Peter Mundy

   Explanation: Ralph Fitch (1583-86) was the first English merchant who visited Akbar's court.

3. Q3.The Battle of Swally was fought between the English and which other European power?

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

   Explanation: Thomas Best, an English officer, defeated the Portuguese at Sowlley (Swally).

4. Q4.Who successfully got permission from the ruler of Bengal to open factories at Satgaon and Chatgaon in 1534?

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

   Explanation: In 1534, Portuguese successfully got the permission from the ruler of Bengal, Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah, to open factories at Satgaon and Chatgaon.

5. Q5.Which of the following is the correct chronological order of the arrival of European powers in India?

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

   Explanation: The sequence of Arrival of European Companies to India is: Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes and French.

6. Q6.Who was the Gujarati guide who helped Vasco da Gama reach Calicut?

   • A.Abdul Majid✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Ibn Battuta
   • C.Al-Biruni
   • D.Manucci

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

7. Q7.How many times profit did Vasco da Gama make on the black pepper he took from India?

   • A.20 times
   • B.40 times
   • C.60 times✓ Correct Answer
   • D.100 times

   Explanation: Vasco da Gama made 60 times more profit in the business of Black Pepper which was enough to lure other merchants to India.

8. Q8.In which year did Albuquerque capture Malacca?

   • A.1509
   • B.1510
   • C.1511✓ Correct Answer
   • D.1515

   Explanation: Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Malacca, an important South-East Asian Market, in 1511.

9. Q9.Who captured Hormuz in 1515?

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

   Explanation: Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Hormuz situated at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in 1515.

10. Q10.Who discovered New Zealand?

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

    Explanation: Tasman of Holland discovered Van Diemen's Land (currently Tasmania) and New Zealand.

11. Q11.Where was the second Portuguese factory established in 1505?

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

    Explanation: Portuguese established their first factory at Cochin in 1503 whereas their second factory was established at Kannur in 1505.

12. Q12.Which place was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by the Portuguese?

    • A.Chinsura
    • B.Hooghly✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Balasore
    • D.Chandernagore

    Explanation: Hooghly was used as a base by the Portuguese for plundering activities in the Bay of Bengal.

13. Q13.Which Mughal Emperor completely destroyed the Portuguese settlements in Hooghly in 1632?

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

    Explanation: In 1632, Mughal king Shah Jahan completely destroyed all establishments of the Portuguese in Hooghly.

14. Q14.Where was the eastern headquarters of the Dutch East India Company located?

    • A.Surat
    • B.Batavia✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Malacca
    • D.Colombo

    Explanation: The eastern centre of the United East India Company (Dutch) was situated in Batavia (currently Jakarta).

15. Q15.Which fort was constructed by the Dutch at Modern Kochi in 1663?

    • A.Fort St. George
    • B.Fort William✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Fort Gustavus
    • D.Fort Louis

    Explanation: Dutch constructed Fort William at Modern Kochi in 1663 after defeating the Portuguese.

16. Q16.For how many years was the Charter granted to the East India Company by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600?

    • A.10 years
    • B.15 years✓ Correct Answer
    • C.20 years
    • D.Indefinite

    Explanation: In December 1600, Queen Elizabeth I of England granted East India Company the Charter for 15 years to trade with the east.

17. Q17.Which company got the Charter for land trade with India in 1593?

    • A.East India Company
    • B.Levant Company✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Muscovy Company
    • D.Ostend Company

    Explanation: Levant Company in 1593 got Charter for land trade with India.

18. Q18.Where did the East India Company establish their first temporary factory in 1611?

    • A.Surat
    • B.Masulipatnam✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Madras
    • D.Bombay

    Explanation: During the reign of Jahangir, in 1611, East India Company established their first temporary factory at Masulipatnam.

19. Q19.Which British King received Bombay as a dowry gift?

    • A.Charles I
    • B.Charles II✓ Correct Answer
    • C.James I
    • D.James II

    Explanation: In 1661, King of Britain Charles II married Portuguese Princess Catherine and received Bombay as a gift.

20. Q20.For what annual rent was Bombay leased to the East India Company in 1668?

    • A.10 Pounds✓ Correct Answer
    • B.50 Pounds
    • C.100 Pounds
    • D.500 Pounds

    Explanation: Bombay was leased to the East India Company by Charles II on payment of 10 Pounds annually.