The Impact of Trade on Relationship Between Portugal and Indian Counties

...

The pursuits of economic interest from different states can either serve as a tool to facilitate the relationship between two states, or, on the other hand, leads to a war that undermine their relationships. In fact, it is the conflict of different economic interests from merchandises from Mecca, Calecut, and Portugal that causes the outbreak of war between Calecut and Portugal unexpected and yet reasonable. Specifically, while king of Calecut wants to capture a large ship belongs to his enemy, he “[begs] [Cabral] to order it to be captured.”[5] Moreover, as Portugal wants to develop friendly trade relationship with every Kingdom to pursue their economic interest, Cabral “[agrees] to do it” in order to “confirm further peace and friendship.”[6] Since the advanced technologies from Portugal provides advantage for Cabral to fight against Calecut’s enemy, Cabral easily “[overtakes] [people in ships] within the harbor of another king, his neighbor” and “[gives] [the ship] to [king of Calecut] with everything which [comes] in it.”[7] Originally, the victory of this battle would bring benefits to Portugal and Calecut mutually, which would further bond the two states together. However, the reciprocal trade relationship between Calecut and Portugal will hinder the further development of trade relationship between merchandises from Mecca and Calecut. As a result, it is reasonable for the merchandises from Mecca to “[sight] all the means that they could to put discord between [his] factor and the king” and trigger the war.[8] In the end, the trade relationship between Portugal and Calecut is undermined by the war. It is, indeed, the merchandises’ jealousy as well as their fear of their deprivation of economic interest that leads to the war.

Nevertheless, this battle acts as a lubricant to the development of the trade relationship between Portugal and Calecut’s adjacent states. Actually, it’s not hard to infer from the primary document that Calecut has developed trading relationship with adjacent states, yet some of them have become Calecut’s enemies, such as the kingdom with “very large and well-armed ship” mentioned in the document.[9] Surprisingly, according to the primary document, after the war Cabral “[reaches] Cochim,” which we can infer is not far away from Calecut, and “[informs] the king of what […] happened in Calecut,” Cabral is not only “very well received by [the king of Cochim]” but also “[makes] an agreement with him in the same manner which [Cabral] [has] done in Calecut.”[10] More surprisingly, Cabral finds out that “the merchandise [Cochim] brings to him in their boats [is] brought with so much greater friendliness” and “the harbour [of Cochim] is much better and of much more extensive trade.”[11] Cochim’s action not only proves that its trade with Portugal can indeed bring large amount of profits, but also infers that at that time when establishing trade relationship with other states is the crucial element for one state’s development, adjacent states can easily become economical rivals against one another as they have similar resources to export. Cochim, for example, is trying hard to compete against Calecut by presenting better goods to Portugal. Similarly, King of another adjacent state of Calecut: Cananor also invites Cabral and “[orders] so much spicery to be brought to the ships that he might have entirely filled them,” yet this is only “a present to win [Portugal’s] friendship.”[12] Actually, establishing trade relationship with Portugal well represents Cochim and Cananor’s pursuits of economic interest. Even though there is no way to confirm if Cochim or Cananor is the enemy of Calecut, it is clear that the battle between Portugal and Calecut acts as a lubricant to the development of the trade relationship between Portugal and these states, as the battle itself gives Cochim and Cananor better chance to establish trade relationship with Portugal. Most importantly, Portugal makes tactical use of the competitive relationship between these states, and have gained large amount of profit from it.

Ever since the Treaty of Tordesillas, Portugal and Spain divided and occupied the world through competition. The fact that finding the new route can help the states have a head start on controlling and even monopolizing the trade of goods leads to Portugal’s brave expedition on the sea. Furthermore, Portugal’s expedition speeds up the wealth flow from India to Europe and builds up the foundation of overseas trading networks. Most importantly, Portugal sees its conflict with Calecut not as an obstacle but as a threshold for Portugal to further control the gold trade and spice trade between Portugal and India. Thus, Portugal’s accurate usage of strategy according to different state’s pursuit of economic interest not only smoothens, but also enhances the trade relationship between Portugal and Calecut’s rivals.

---------------------------------------------------------------