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Goa History, India

Goa has a very rich history which starts as early as the 3rd century B.C. This was the time when Goa became an important part of the Mauryan Empire. Later on Satavahanas of Kolhapur overtook Goa and then Chalukya Dynasty took control after some years of Kolhapur rule. Chalukya Dynasty overtook Goa some 2000 years ago and then they ruled Goa for around 200 years. With the passing time many different dynasties like Silharas, Chalukyas of Kalyani, Kadambas, and the Deccan India ruled in Goa for short periods.

It was the year 1312 when the Delhi Sultanate took control of Goa. Soon they lost Goa to the Vijayanagara Empire’s ruler Harihara I by the year 1370. The Vijayanagara Empire lost Goa to Adil Shahis who were from Bijapur. Adil Shahis called Velha Goa their alternate capital. Before the Vijayanagara Empire it was the Muslims who were ruling Goa. Later the ports of Goa were immensely used by the Vijayanagara Empire for over 100 years as the place from where their Arabian Horses were transferred from one place to the other.

It was the year 1498 that marked the arrival of the European traveler Vasco da Gama. He used a sea route to land in Kozhikhode (Calicut) which is part of Kerala. Later, he moved to another land which is now famous by the name of Old Goa. Now the Portuguese started to land in Goa with the intentions of overtaking the spice business of Goa which was in those days under the control of European traders.

By 1510, the Portuguese had defeated the Bijapur rulers that were ruling Goa and finally settled down in Velha Goa which is now known as Old Goa. The Portuguese had full plans of using Goa as their naval base for the future.

By the 16th century, the land held by the Portuguese was surrounded by Dutch and British rulers. This made Goa an important land for the Portuguese and hence they granted all rights, that were enjoyed by Lisbon, to Goa. Portuguese decided to change their capital from the old capital of Velha Goa to Panjim

After India became independent, the Portuguese weren’t ready to give up Goa and hence at the end of 1961the Indian army fought against the Portuguese army and gaining control over Goa after twenty - six years.

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