This book is an attempt to go deep into the history of European interaction with Malabar, concentrating on the Portuguese period from the end of the fifteenth century to present times, exploring their commercial and religious interventions in Malabar and the resultant political polarization and social changes. The Portuguese found it necessary to create a social group faithful to them for the protection of their trade centres and in the bargain there occurred the inevitable creation of an ethnic social group of Portuguese descendants. The blockade of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, practically prevented Europeans from trading with Asian countries. So, it became a necessity for Europeans to find a new sea-route to India. Several European powers tried for this, especially Spain and Portugal. Finally, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese navigator reached Calicut in 1498. Vasco da Gama was followed by Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500 and the creation of the so called Estado da India
