Page 49 - K M PANNIKAR and The Growth of a Maritime Consciousness in India

THE BEGINNING OF THE EPOCH
Portuguese Period in the Indian Ocean (1498-1660)
European colonisation was a disrupting force in the history of late medieval
and early modern Asia. It had a profound effect on regional politics, economy,
society and culture. The process of colonisation began with the arrival of
the Portuguese. The 450 years thereafter were described by K.M Panikkar as
a distinct epoch in Asian history. This paper would briefly cover the Indian
maritime tradition during the Hindu period and mainly focus on the period
of Portuguese presence in Asia as analysed by K.M. Panikkar. The Calicut-
Portuguese wars offer important military insights. The paper concludes that
maritime history of Asia offers significant lessons for the present and future.

23-24 March 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 49