Arrival of European Companies MCQ: French East India Company, Pondicherry & Carnatic Wars

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

1. Q1.What was the immediate reason for the First Carnatic War?

   • A.Capture of French ships by English✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Capture of Madras by French
   • C.Death of Nizam of Hyderabad
   • D.Attack on Arcot

   Explanation: English army under the leadership of Captain Bernett seized French Ships, this was the immediate reason for the First Carnatic War.

2. Q2.Who led the French forces in the Battle of St. Thome (Adyar River)?

   • A.Dupleix
   • B.Captain Paradise✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Count de Lally
   • D.Bussy

   Explanation: Under the leadership of Captain Paradise, the French defeated the Force of Nawab at a place called Sainthome at Adyar River.

3. Q3.The French East India Company was also known as:

   • A.Estado da India
   • B.Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie
   • C.Compagnie des Indes Orientales✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Levant Company

   Explanation: French East India Company founded in 1664 is also known as Compagnie des Indes Orientales.

4. Q4.Who headed the French expedition to India in 1667?

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

   Explanation: In 1667, Francois Caron headed an expedition to India setting up a factory in Surat in 1668.

5. Q5.In which year was the Dutch factory established at Nagappattinam?

   • A.1605
   • B.1616
   • C.1653
   • D.1658✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Trading centres established by Dutch in India included Nagappattinam in 1658 AD.

6. Q6.Which Dutch factory was established in 1632 but closed in the same year?

   • A.Patna✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Agra
   • C.Surat
   • D.Chinsura

   Explanation: Dutch East India Company established its factory at Patna in 1632 while it was closed in the same year.

7. Q7.When did William Hawkins arrive in Surat?

   • A.1600
   • B.1608✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1611
   • D.1615

   Explanation: William Hawkins arrived in Surat in August 1608.

8. Q8.With a letter from which King did Sir Thomas Roe arrive at Surat in 1615?

   • A.King George I
   • B.King James I✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Queen Elizabeth I
   • D.King Charles I

   Explanation: Sir Thomas Roe arrived at the port of Surat in September 1615 with a letter from King James I to the then reigning Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

9. Q9.Who was the Portuguese Governor-General of Goa in 1961 when India annexed Goa?

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

   Explanation: In 1961, the Portuguese Governor-General of Goa was Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva (1958-61).

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

    • A.1600
    • B.1602
    • C.1616✓ Correct Answer
    • D.1664

    Explanation: The Danish East India Company was established in 1616.

11. Q11.Match the following voyagers with the countries they represented: 1. Vasco da Gama 2. Christopher Columbus 3. Captain Cook 4. Tasman

    • A.1-Spain, 2-Portugal, 3-Holland, 4-Britain
    • B.1-Portugal, 2-Spain, 3-Britain, 4-Holland✓ Correct Answer
    • C.1-Portugal, 2-Holland, 3-Britain, 4-Spain
    • D.1-Spain, 2-Britain, 3-Holland, 4-Portugal

    Explanation: Vasco da Gama was from Portugal, Christopher Columbus from Spain, Captain Cook from Britain, and Tasman from Holland.

12. Q12.Which of the following visitors to India did NOT belong to Portugal?

    • A.Duarte Barbosa
    • B.Domingo Paes
    • C.Fernao Nuniz
    • D.Peter Mundy✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Peter Mundy was a 17th-century British traveller who came to India during the Mughal rule (Shah Jahan). The others were Portuguese.

13. Q13.Which European power was the first to occupy Pondicherry?

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

    Explanation: The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese. The second were the Dutch.

14. Q14.Who was the first European to initiate the policy of taking part in the quarrels of Indian princes with a view to acquire territories?

    • A.Clive
    • B.Dupleix✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Albuquerque
    • D.Warren Hastings

    Explanation: Dupleix was the first to use the tactic of intervening in the internal conflicts of Indian kingdoms to advance European interests.

15. Q15.Which company was the first to start a Joint Stock Company to trade with India?

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

    Explanation: The Dutch were the first to start a Joint Stock Company to trade with India in 1602.

16. Q16.In which of the following places did the Dutch establish their trading centres in India?

    • A.Surat, Bharuch, Agra
    • B.Nagappattinam, Chinsura, Machilipatnam
    • C.Cochin, Ahmedabad, Patna
    • D.All of the above✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Dutch established trading centres in all these locations: Nagappattinam (1658), Chinsura (1653), Machilipatnam (1605), Surat (1616), Agra (1621), Cochin (1663), and Patna (1632).

17. Q17.Which statement regarding Kochi is correct?

    • A.Kochi was a Dutch colony till India's independence.
    • B.The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in Kochi.✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Kochi never became part of the British colony.
    • D.The Portuguese took over Kochi from the Dutch.

    Explanation: The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in modern Kochi in 1663.

18. Q18.Which British company got the first charter permitting them to trade in India by land route?

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

    Explanation: The Levant Company got the charter for land trade with India in 1593.

19. Q19.What was the main secret of the success of the East India Company in India?

    • A.Absence of Nationalism in India
    • B.Western training and modern arms of the company army
    • C.Lack of fidelity in Indian soldiers
    • D.All of the above✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The success was due to the absence of nationalism in India, the company's superior military training and arms, and the ability to hire Indian soldiers who lacked fidelity to local rulers.

20. Q20.Which French officer founded the French factory at Masulipatnam in 1669?

    • A.Francois Caron
    • B.Marcara✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Dupleix
    • D.Count de Lally

    Explanation: Marcara, a Persian who accompanied Caron, founded the French factory in Masulipatnam in 1669.