Coastal Ports and Maritime Trade in Early Modern Konkan: A Historical Survey

Abstract

The Konkan coast of western India occupied an important position in the maritime trading system of the Indian Ocean during the early modern period. Its geographical location between the Arabian Sea and the Deccan plateau enabled coastal ports to function as intermediaries between inland production centres and overseas markets. Ports such as Chaul, Dabhol, Rajapur and Vengurla played significant roles in the movement of agricultural commodities, textiles, spices, horses, metals and other commercial goods. Their maritime activities connected the Konkan with Gujarat, Malabar, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, East Africa and Southeast Asia. The arrival of the Portuguese in the sixteenth century introduced new forms of maritime control, including fortified settlements, naval intervention and the cartaz system. During the seventeenth century, Dutch and English competition further transformed the established commercial network. The decline of Dabhol and the temporary rise of Vengurla illustrate the process of commercial realignment on the western coast. The emergence of Maratha power under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also significantly influenced the political and economic environment of the Konkan. This paper examines the geographical foundations, commercial functions, political influences and changing fortunes of the major Konkan ports. It argues that the history of these ports cannot be explained exclusively through European intervention; indigenous merchants, regional rulers, inland markets and local maritime communities remained fundamental to the functioning of the trading system.