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Country Guide
History & CultureGoa, India
History
Goa became a Portuguese colony in 1510 following the urges of trade and demand of spices, cotton and indigo. Goa became an independent union territory of India in 1961 after its liberation from Portuguese imperialism for around 450 years. Goa was ruled by a great number of Indian kingdoms and dynasties from the 4th century onwards. The first kingdom to rule Goa and Konkan were Bhojas,ruled consecutively by Prince Chandraditya, son of Chalukya King Pulakesin from 566 to 597 A.D.; Silahara Dynasty ,Kadamba Dynasty, and finally Hoysalas from 1022 to 1342 A.D.
From the 14th century onwards, Goa became a great trading center on the west coast, especially in the vast trade of horses imported from the Middle East. In 1503, the Portuguese nobleman Alfonso de Albuquerque and his cousin Francisco de Albuquerque accompanied with a powerful fleet invaded India Goa abiding by the orders of King Dom Manuel I.The purpose of invasion was to defend the cargoes of spices ,mostly pepper, against Arab Muslim raiders.
It was in 1506-08 that an opportunistic pirate, Timoja, persuaded Albuquerque to attack Goa making it the Portugal’s first territorial acquisition in Asia. After that India Goa was recaptured briefly by the Muslims, succeeded by the final colonial acquisition by Albuquerque in 1510.
The inquisition of Goa in 1540 inverted the previous liberal policy of Albuquerque and imposed restrictions on literature and stringent laws to forbade non-Christians from professions. As a result, there were forced conversions, censorship on literature, and destruction of temples and unjustified eviction of non-Christian priests, holy men, and teachers. For this reason the non-Christians continuously fled from Goa to other parts of India.
The above scenario hints only the darker side of the annexation. Portuguese also renovated Goa by erecting one of the great churches like the church of St.Cajetan and Bom Jesus basilica in Old Goa, which is a pilgrimage site for the Christians all over the world. That is why Goa continues to be a fascinating blend of the Latin and the Oriental.
The Early History Of Goa Is Obscure And Full Of Mythological Legends And Flok Lores. Goa Was Earlier Referred By Various Names like Gomanchal, Gopakapattam ,Govapuri etc .It was ruled by powerful Mauryas in 3rd century B.C .After the discovery of a sea route to India by vasco da Gama in 1498 ,many Portuguese expeditions came to india. Even after Indian independence Goa continued to be in the hands of Portuguese.
Goa became a Portuguese colony in 1510 following the urges of trade and demand of spices, cotton and indigo. Goa became an independent union territory of India in 1961 after its liberation from Portuguese imperialism for around 450 years. Goa was ruled by a great number of Indian kingdoms and dynasties from the 4th century onwards. The first kingdom to rule Goa and Konkan were Bhojas,ruled consecutively by Prince Chandraditya, son of Chalukya King Pulakesin from 566 to 597 A.D.; Silahara Dynasty ,Kadamba Dynasty, and finally Hoysalas from 1022 to 1342 A.D.
From the 14th century onwards, Goa became a great trading center on the west coast, especially in the vast trade of horses imported from the Middle East. In 1503, the Portuguese nobleman Alfonso de Albuquerque and his cousin Francisco de Albuquerque accompanied with a powerful fleet invaded India Goa abiding by the orders of King Dom Manuel I.The purpose of invasion was to defend the cargoes of spices ,mostly pepper, against Arab Muslim raiders.
It was in 1506-08 that an opportunistic pirate, Timoja, persuaded Albuquerque to attack Goa making it the Portugal’s first territorial acquisition in Asia. After that India Goa was recaptured briefly by the Muslims, succeeded by the final colonial acquisition by Albuquerque in 1510.
The inquisition of Goa in 1540 inverted the previous liberal policy of Albuquerque and imposed restrictions on literature and stringent laws to forbade non-Christians from professions. As a result, there were forced conversions, censorship on literature, and destruction of temples and unjustified eviction of non-Christian priests, holy men, and teachers. For this reason the non-Christians continuously fled from Goa to other parts of India.
The above scenario hints only the darker side of the annexation. Portuguese also renovated Goa by erecting one of the great churches like the church of St.Cajetan and Bom Jesus basilica in Old Goa, which is a pilgrimage site for the Christians all over the world. That is why Goa continues to be a fascinating blend of the Latin and the Oriental.
The Early History Of Goa Is Obscure And Full Of Mythological Legends And Flok Lores. Goa Was Earlier Referred By Various Names like Gomanchal, Gopakapattam ,Govapuri etc .It was ruled by powerful Mauryas in 3rd century B.C .After the discovery of a sea route to India by vasco da Gama in 1498 ,many Portuguese expeditions came to india. Even after Indian independence Goa continued to be in the hands of Portuguese.
