Question map
Consider the following fruits : I. Papaya II. Pineapple III. Guava How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
Explanation
All three fruits—pineapple (Ananas comosus), papaya (Carica papaya), and guava (Psidium guajava)—were introduced by the Portuguese and became part of Indian food culture.[1] These fruit plants were introduced and cultivated during the 16th and 17th centuries CE.[1] Pineapple, a crop found in the Americas, was brought by the Portuguese to India during the sixteenth century.[2] While the pineapple and papaya were introduced during the course of the sixteenth century, the guava, also an American species,[2] was similarly brought during this period. The Portuguese played a crucial role in the Columbian Exchange, introducing these American fruit species to India through their trading networks and colonial presence. All three fruits successfully adapted to Indian conditions and became integrated into local agriculture and cuisine.
Sources- [1] https://www.academia.edu/71688829/The_Portuguese_and_the_introduction_of_American_Fruit_Plants_Into_India
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Columbian Exchange' question directly traceable to NCERT Themes in Indian History Part II. It sits at the intersection of History (Mughal economy) and Geography (Agriculture). If you skipped the single paragraph on 'New World crops' in the History NCERT, you missed a sitter.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Explicitly lists pineapple, papaya and guava as New World fruits introduced and accepted in India.
- States the article examines their introduction and cultivation during the 16th and 17th centuries CE, tying those fruits to the Portuguese period.
- States that the pineapple was brought by the Portuguese to India in the sixteenth century.
- Says 'the pineapple, papaya ... were introduced during the course of the sixteenth century', and also references the guava as an American species in the same discussion.
- Specifically documents 16th-century transfers of pineapple (ananás) from Brazil to Indian territories under Portuguese influence.
- Supports the timing and Portuguese role for pineapple introduction in the 16th century.
States that vegetables from the New World were introduced 'at this time', and explicitly names fruits 'like the pineapple and the papaya' as introduced from the New World.
A student could combine this with the fact that Portuguese were the main New World-to-India maritime traders in the 16th–17th centuries to infer these two likely arrived via Portuguese contacts.
Explicitly says 'Pineapple was introduced in the sixteenth century' and mentions Portuguese elsewhere in context of introductions (grafted mango varieties by the Portuguese).
A student can link the 16th-century introduction date with Portuguese activity in India in that century to suspect Portuguese role in bringing pineapple.
Lists pineapple, papaya and guava among India’s tropical/subtropical fruits, confirming all three were established in India by the time of these sources.
A student could note that while papaya and pineapple are identified elsewhere as New World introductions, guava's inclusion without an origin note leaves its introduction route ambiguous and worth further checking.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly sourced from **NCERT Themes in Indian History Part II, Chapter 8 (Peasants, Zamindars and the State), Page 201**.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The **Columbian Exchange** and the transformation of the Indian agrarian basket during the 16th–17th centuries (Mughal Era).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the full 'Portuguese Package': **Tobacco, Cashew, Potato, Tomato, Chilli, Maize, Sapota (Chikoo), Custard Apple (Sitaphal), Pumpkin**. Contrast this with Coffee (Baba Budan, Yemen, pre-European) and Tea (Wild in Assam, commercialized by British).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When a History NCERT mentions specific biological items (crops, animals), treat them as high-value facts. Do not gloss over '...fruits like pineapple and papaya were introduced'. Stop and ask: 'What else came with them?'
Several tropical fruits, including pineapple and papaya, reached India from the New World during the 16th–17th centuries.
High-yield for questions on the Columbian Exchange and agrarian change in early modern India; connects history of crops to demographic and economic shifts. Enables answering questions about origins and timelines of major crops and their impact on Indian agriculture.
- THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Agricultural prosperity and population growth > p. 201
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > 14.10 Economy > p. 215
The Portuguese were active in India in the 16th–17th centuries and influenced horticulture, including development of grafted mango varieties and introduction of new crops.
Important for exam items on European colonial impact beyond trade—covers technology transfer, crop diffusion, and cultural exchange. Links to topics on European settlements, agricultural change, and regional economies.
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > 14.10 Economy > p. 215
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Capture of Hooghly > p. 31
Indian fruits are categorised into tropical/subtropical, temperate and arid groups, which frames where introduced crops could spread.
Useful for geography and agriculture questions about crop distribution, agro-climatic zones, and production patterns; helps connect crop origin to regional suitability and policy implications.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Fruit Crops > p. 59
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Fruits > p. 99
Tobacco. It was introduced by the Portuguese in 1605. The logical sibling fact is the political reaction: Emperor Jahangir attempted to ban Tobacco in 1617 due to its addictive nature, just a decade after its arrival.
The 'Vedic Litmus Test'. Ask yourself: Is this fruit mentioned in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, or Charaka Samhita? Mango (Amra), Banana (Kadali), and Jackfruit (Panasa) are ancient. Papaya, Pineapple, and Guava have no ancient Sanskrit names and often carry names linked to their origin (e.g., 'Ananas' is global, Guava is sometimes called 'Peru' in Marathi/Hindi indicating origin). No Vedic mention = Likely Introduced.
Mains GS-1 (Globalization): Use these fruits as evidence of 'Early Modern Globalization'. Indian cuisine (Aloo-Gobi, Spicy Curry) is a fusion product of the 16th-century global trade network, proving that Indian culture has always been assimilative.