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A history of Goa could be unfinished without an outline of its Portuguese heritage. The Portuguese invasion of Goa occurred around the year 1503. Since then it has been a chaotic history- culminating in the freedom of the land during the year 1961. During the year 1503 Alfonso -de- Albuquerque laid the foundation of the Portuguese rule in the state when he came to India as the head of a squadron. Once he was anointed the in- charge for Portuguese affairs in Goa, he laid a siege on the state in the year1510. Goa was then under Sultan Adil Shah. However, Albuquerque was defeated and sent back. Albuquerque returned in a few months with the demise of the sultan. This time, he was accompanied by Timoja, a Hindu chieftain. He captured Goa and declared it the head of the Portuguese empire in India. This was the year 1510. Albuquerque made quite a lot of contributions into the Goan culture in his five years of rule- notable among these was the abolition of the Hindu practice of Sati. At the time of his death, Portugal was the supreme naval power in India by virtue of its control over Goa! The Portuguese sustained its plan of expansion and by 1543 had added places like Salcette and Bardez under its control. The areas that were originally occupied were known as "Velhas Coquistas" that roughly translates into 'old conquests'! The history of Goa marked its 'golden era' towards the end of the sixteenth century. This plundering continued with the adding up of new areas like Daman, Diu and Bombay. Portugal's overwhelming interest in India was commercial. However, a number of weak successors subsequent to Albuquerque didn't strengthen the gains made at this time. Yet then- Portugal occupies a big 450 years in the history of Goa. The Portuguese ruling marks a stage of trade and industry prosperity in the history of Goa. Before the arrival of the Portuguese, Goa was only referred to as a transit point for the Arabian horses to regions in the subcontinent and also like a port for transporting Muslims to Mecca. The Portuguese law changed the land into a thriving and modern seaport to the point that Goa came to be referred to as 'The Rome of the east'! There were significant additions in the area of art and music during this period. The Christian missionaries spread education in the state and contributed to its literacy. Goa also evolved into the destination of choice for a number of goldsmiths as well as silversmiths. This contributed to the progress of the exquisite filigree work- a complex work of foliage and jewels on metal. With the establishment of Portuguese as the language of choice for all official work the tongue of the people also underwent a transformation-. However, the history of Goa was once again struggling with an turmoil - the rich and economically booming period was not to last- and this time it was to be in the form of the Dutch and English colonizers!
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