Portuguese Bassein & Bombay

Colonial settlement Level 2
1534 – 1739

Bassein (Vasai); Bombay passed to England in 1661.

🗺 See on map in 1637
Region
Coastal
Duration
205 years
Main period
European Maritime Powers
Part of
Portuguese Estado da Índia

Approximate extent.

Key events

YearEventPlace
1661 Bombay passes to England
Part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry.
Mumbai

📚 Recommended reading on the Portuguese Bassein & Bombay

Textbook

Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)

NCERT · NCERT

The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims SSC State PSC
Textbook

Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)

NCERT · NCERT

Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.

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Textbook

An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)

NCERT · NCERT

The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.

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Textbook

History of Medieval India

Satish Chandra · Orient BlackSwan

The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.

UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains SSC State PSC

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Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Portuguese Bassein & Bombay for a significant part of its history.

Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Portuguese Hooghly
Coastal · 1579 – 1632
Portuguese Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1597 – 1658
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825