Recapping Goa's History (Part I) I read Frederick's article with interest on the 500th anniversary of Albuquerque's victory for Goa. The exhortation to know our history (or repeat it) is valid. Knowing history is also to understand and expand our knowledge of the period. Most of what we repeatedly read about the early (and later) Portuguese history in Goa is the same old ... same old ... "The Inquisition" (1560-1812), with its usual distortions. Very little else is written (and talked about on goanet and else where) about changes the fateful year of 1510 brought to Goa.
Muslim rule in Goa started in 1356 when the Delhi sultanate defeated the Goan Kadambas. For the next 200 years, Goa and it vital / strategic port, (providing access to who ever rule the Deccan plateau), passed through several Muslim and Hindu rulers' hands. Each victorious army devastated the native population to become the new landowners - a military practice since Alexander the Great. The last 70-100 years, Goa (Tiswadi, Bardez and Salcette) was under continuous sultanate rule before Portuguese acquired them in 1510 and 1543. Tiswadi was the largest west coast sea-port (from Surat to Calicut) for the Deccan kingdoms to access the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Yet most of Tiswadi was marshland and hills, with garrison-forts to protect the kingdom's most prized possession (after the capital at Bijapur or Hampi). Prior to 1510, Goa's native population was sparse with life-expectancy of 40 years. The natives were Muslim. Displacing the natives and acquiring their land was the hope of Timoja and his men who volunteered to fight and support Albuquerque. After- all Portuguese only need a safe trading port ... so Timoja thought. What transpired in Goa after 1510, for the next few decades, was a massive urbanization of the small island of Tiswadi (and Old Goa). We know 'the good' of this Goan urbanization, often called "Golden period" of Goa; with its new and grand architectures, (some still existing), wealth, economic activity and military success. Yet very little is written about 'the bad' and 'the ugly' of urbanization of the period. Old Goa joined major cities of Europe (in Portugal, Spain and Italy) and capitals in India. England and France at this time were still waiting to get out of the starting gate; with London and Paris being mere villages. These and other major European cities only got urbanized in the 19th century with the industrial revolution. Urbanization in Goa, Lisbon and Barcelona in the 16th century had similar challenges as London, Paris and Amsterdam in the 19th century; and Bombay in the 20th century. (Part II to follow) Regards, GL
