Question map
Consider the following statements about the Dutch trade in Mughal period: 1. The Dutch transported silk goods from Bengal through Hooghly 2. Cloves and nutmegs were collected at Surat by the Dutch and exported to Europe Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a significant presence in Bengal during the 17th century, maintaining a major factory at Hooghly. Bengal was a vital source for high-demand commodities like silk and textiles, which the Dutch transported to Europe and other Asian markets [2][3]. Statement 1 is therefore correct. Regarding statement 2, while the Dutch did maintain a factory at Surat from 1621, Surat was primarily a center for textiles, indigo, and as a gateway to the Mughal heartland. Cloves and nutmegs were 'Spice Island' products from the Indonesian archipelago (Moluccas) [2][4]. While the Dutch sent these spices to Europe from their Coromandel headquarters at Pulicat [3], they were not 'collected' at Surat for export; rather, Surat was a destination where the Dutch sold spices to the Indian market in exchange for textiles. Thus, statement 2 is incorrect.
Sources
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Dutch in Tamil Nadu > p. 251
- [3] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 3: The Beginnings of European Settlements > The Beginnings of European Settlements > p. 51
- [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Bengal on the Eve of British Conquest > p. 86