Important Questions on Portuguese Empire

Here we have discussed most important questions on the topic of the Portuguese Empire. It may help those candidates who are preparing for the STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION GRADUATE LEVEL EXAM. It may also help in SSC Metric Level exams etc. 

Que 1. Who among the following helped Vasco da Gama on his arrival in India?

(a) Abdul Majid
(b) Abdul Hameed
(c) Bartholomeus
(d) Mahmud Shah

Ans. (a) Abdul Majid
Explanation – A person named Abdul Majid helped Vasco da Gama in discovering the way to India. Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese traveller.

Que 2. Who was the ruler of Calicut at the time of the arrival of Vasco da Gama?

(a) Zamorin
(b) Prince Henry
(c) Manuel I
(d) Almeida

Ans. (a) Zamorin
Explanation – The ruler of Calicut was the Zamorin at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese traveller Vasco da Gama. This was a Hindu ruler whose ancestral title was Zamorin. Zamorin welcomed Vasco da Gama.

Que 3. Which of the following rulers assumed the title of “head of commerce”?

(a) Zamorin
(b) Prince Henry
(c) Manuel I
(d) Alvares Cabral

Ans. (c) Manuel I
Explanation – Manuel I assumed the title of “head of commerce”. It was a Portuguese ruler. During this time Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, had become the centre of all European trade.

Que 4. what numbers did Vasco da Gama visit India?

(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) four

Ans. (b) Two
Explanation – Portuguese traveller Vasco da Gama visited India twice. He visited India for the first time in 1498 AD. Vasco da Gama revisited India in 1502 AD.

Que 5. Who among the following was made the first Portuguese Viceroy?

(a) Afonso de Albuquerque
(b) Francisco de Almeida
(c) Nuno da Cunha
(d) Vasco da Gama

Ans. (b) Francisco de Almeida
Explanation – Francisco de Almeida was made the first Portuguese Viceroy.

Que 6. Who led the second Portuguese expedition?

(a) Vasco da Gama
(b) Pedro Alvarez Cabral
(c) Afonso de Albuquerque
(d) Francisco de Almeida

Ans. (b) Pedro Alvarez Cabral
Explanation – The second Portuguese expedition was led by Pedro Alvarez Cabral. In 1500 AD, this expedition reached the Calicut coast.

Que 7. What was the reaction of the ruler of Zamorin there when Vasco da Gama reached Calicut?

(a) He opposed Vasco da Gama
(b) He welcomed Vasco da Gama
(c) He did not allow Vasco da Gama to enter Calicut
(d) None of the above

Ans. (b) He welcomed Vasco da Gama
Explanation – When Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, the ruler Zamorin welcomed him and allowed Vasco da Gama to take spices and herbs etc.

Que 8. Who is called the real founder of the Portuguese Empire in India?

(a) Charles Iyer
(b) Job Charnock
(c) Francisco de Almeida
(d) Francisco de Albuquerque

Ans. (d) Francisco de Albuquerque
Explanation – The real founder of the Portuguese Empire in India was Francisco de Albuquerque. It was the governor of the Portuguese Empire in India from 1509-1515 AD.

Que 9. Which of the following companies was related to the Portuguese Empire?

(a) Estado da India
(b) Company Des Indes Orientales
(c) Den East India Company
(d) English East India Company

Ans. (a) Estado da India
Explanation – Estado India belonged to the Portuguese Empire. It was established in 1498 AD.

Que 10. During the reign of which Portuguese governor, Goa joined the Portuguese Empire.

(a) Nuno da Cunha
(b) Francisco de Almeida
(c) Francisco de Albuquerque
(d) Pedro Alvares Cabral

Ans. (c) Francisco de Albuquerque
Explanation – Goa joined the Portuguese Empire during the reign of Francisco de Albuquerque, Portuguese governor. It annexed Goa to the Portuguese Empire in 1510 AD from the Adilshahi Sultan of Bijapur.

Que 11. Who among the following European merchants came to India first?

(a) British
(b) Dutch
(c) Den
(d) French

Ans. (b) Dutch
Explanation – Dutch merchants came to India first among the options given in the question. In 1595-96 AD, the first expedition team led by Cornelius Haute Man arrived in Bharat.

Que 12. Who among the following European traders came to India last?

(a) British
(b) Dutch
(c) Den
(d) French

Ans. (d) French
Explanation – The French came last among the Europeans who came to India.

Que 13. In which year was the Portuguese trading company “Estado da India” established?

(a) 1490
(b) 1495
(c) 1498
(d) 1485

Ans. (c) 1498
Explanation –  Portuguese trading company “Estado the India”  was established in 1498.

Que 14. Which port of India was called Portogrande during the time of the Portuguese?

(a) Surat
(b) Hooghly
(c) Chittagong
(d) Satgaon

Ans. (c) Chittagong
Explanation – The port of Chittagong was called Portogrande during the time of the Portuguese.
It was a major port on the east coast.

Que 15. Which Mughal ruler defeated the Portuguese at the port of Hooghly?

(a) Akbar
(b) Shah Jahan
(c) Jahangir
(d) Aurangzeb

Ans. (b) Shah Jahan
Explanation – In 1632 AD, during the reign of Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, Qasim Khan defeated the Portuguese at the Hooghly port.

Que 16. Which among the following European power is related to the “Blue Water Policy”?

(a) British
(b) Portuguese
(c) French
(d) Dutch

Ans. (b) Portuguese
Explanation – The “Blue Water Policy” was related to the Portuguese. By this, the Portuguese wanted to establish control over the trade of the Indian Ocean.

Que 17. At which of the following places did the Portuguese set up their first factory?

(a) Cochin
(b) Kannur
(c) Goa
(d) Surat

Ans. (a) Cochin
Explanation – The Portuguese established their first factory in Cochin in 1503 AD.

Que 18. When did the Portuguese make Goa their official capital?

(a) 1510
(b) 1535
(c) 1520
(d) 1530

Ans. (d) 1530
Explanation – The Portuguese made Goa their official capital in 1530 AD.

Que 19. In which of the following year Goa become free from Portuguese occupation?

(a) 1948
(b) 1947
(c) 1950
(d) 1961

Ans. (d) 1961
Explanation – The Government of India freed three regions of Goa, Daman and Diu from Portuguese control in 1961.

Que 20. In which year did the Portuguese establish their authority over Daman?

(a) 1555
(b) 1560
(c) 1559
(d) 1539

Ans. (c) 1559
Explanation – The Portuguese established their authority over Daman in 1559.
The Portuguese established their settlements in Diu, Daman, Sashti, Basai, Chaul, Bombay, Santhome and Hooghly.