Cultural Heritage of India | Handicraft | Art of Weaving, Embroidery and Leather Industry

By Emperor Of Skills -
Art of  Weaving and Embroidery           Ancient India had a unique place in the fields of hand weaving, embroidery and knitting. It was said that the whole piece of cloth of a particular size (Taka) of fine muslin of Dhaka could easily pass through a ring and could be adjusted in a matchbox. Moreover 'Galicha' (carpet of several regions), knitting work on attires and artistry etc. occupied a prominent place. Amongst them are Patola of Patan (Gujarat), Bandhani of Rajasthan, kanjivaram saree and kashmiri cloth having 'Kasab' work .           During the golden period of Solanki era, Gujarat had progressed in this field. During the reign of Siddhraj Jaisingh many artisans (weavers) came and settled in Patan and made the town world famous, especially for its Patola. Some weavers of Patan were the best artists particularly of Patola of Patan. This art of Patan is more than 850 years old. Only a handful people have the skill for such a complicated and time consuming art o
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What efforts were made in exploring a new sea-route to India and who succeeded?

By Emperor Of Skills -

Contemporary Streams Of World History

        Historians call the period between 1757 (Onset of the British Empire in India) and 1947 (Departure of the British from India) as the 'British Era'. These two events, separated by nearly two hundred years are crucial to understanding the Contemporary History of India.

The Effort to find out a New Sea route to India

        Established of trade relations with India was always important to the nations of Europe as India was well known for many commodities, which they needed. The land route used for this purpose was under the sole dominance of the Arabs. There was a great demand for the Indian commodities like spices, cloth and indigo throughout Europe. The seizure of Constantinople (Istanbul), which connected Europe and Asia through the land route, in 1453 A.D, changed the situation. The Europeans were now compelled to find a new sea route to the Eastern countries in place of the land route. Explorers from Portugal and Spain often took leadership in these adventures. Christopher Columbus, originally a resident of Italy, set out to find a new sea route with financial help of the king of Spain. His adventurous journey stopped at a group of islands, presently knowns as West Indies (1942). Afterwards, an Italian sailor named Amerigo Vespucci discovered the mainland near West Indies and named it 'America'.

The Arrival of the Portuguese to India

        Vasco-da-Gama, a Portuguese sailor, was finally successful in finding the sea route to India (1498). Sailing around the tip of South Africa, he reached Calicut (Kozhikode) on the western coast of India. The Hindu King (Samudrika) Zamorin warmly welcomed these foreign traders. He also permitted them (the Portuguese) to establish a trade Centre at Calicut (1500). Thereafter they erected fortified trade centers at Cochin and Goa (1506). Later on, they established their Headquarter at Goa and appointed a Governor. The Governor Albuquerque allowed the Portuguese to plunder the natives; to convert and to enslave people. They became very unpopular among the local people. However, their increasing economic prosperity became the Centre of attraction for other nations of Europe. This encouraged the people of other nations of Europe to come to India.
Location: India

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