Domination, resistance, and trade: The Portuguese, Oman, and Kanara on the Indian Ocean

Abstract

Did the Portuguese always dominate the Asian powers in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? Colonial historians used to be confident that the West consistently dominated the East, with that domination culminating in the conquest of Asia. This paper argues that the Europeans faced significant resistance from the eastern powers, with the three-way relationship of Portugal, Kanara, and Oman examined as a case in point. The countries' dealings with each other date to the region's Age of Partnership, when no single power could dominate the other. In the sixteenth century, the Portuguese obtained the upper hand over the East, particularly Kanara and Oman. But in the seventeenth century, the Portuguese lost their upper hand and the Asian powers staged a resurgence. The Omanis, indeed, imitated the Portuguese by establishing factories in India. This article draws on sources such as Filmotheca Ultramarina Portuguesa, Assentos Conselho do Estado, Cartas, Patentes e Alvaras, and Documentos Remittodos India.