Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s1.42
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s1.42
- Language
- English
v1.c5.s1.42
The major trading companies of western powers such as those of Portugal, Holland and Britain gradually penetrated the intra-Asian trade and also came to control the silk trade between India and China. Western merchants regarded India as an intermediate station, through which they transported large amounts of raw silk from China to Europe for sale there. For example, the quantity of raw silk transported by Portuguese colonists from Macao to Goa was more than 3,000 piculs each year during 1580 to 1590, and was up to 6000 piculs in 1636.