Controlling Commerce

Just when one thought that the theme of Europeans in India during Mughal rule had been nearly exhausted, Pius Malekanda-thil’s book came for review. The author, how-ever, seems to have produced new wine from an old bottle exploring various dimensions of Portuguese activities in India. The author’s main objective is to present an integrated history of the coast and the hinterland, of ‘maritime developments’ and ‘land-centric processes’ in the ten articles which are republished in this book. Basically, the main focus of the book is on these recurrent themes: Portuguese policy of enforcing cultural and religious homogeneity in Goa through various decrees; their attempts to control commerce, especially sea-borne traffic with Europe; the expansion of Portuguese private trade along the East coast of India; and, Portuguese interactions with local merchants.