page_title: History of Thalassery
section_title: Arrival of the Europeans
hierarchical_section_title: History of Thalassery / Arrival of the Europeans
context_page_description: Thalassery was a trade hub where Chinese, Arab, and Jewish traders had considerable influence in the spice market before that the Greeks and Romans was in the trade. It was the European invasion that brought significant change as they enforced the trade with their military.
context_section_description: The first European power to enter the region was Portugal in 1498. The relationship between Vasco da Gama and Samuthiri deteriorated and Vasco entered into spice (pepper) trade with Kolathiri. Francisco de Almeida the first Portuguese Viceroy to India, established military barracks in Cannanore (~30 km north of Thalassery) in 1505. The Netherlands followed the Portuguese after the Dutch army defeated the Portuguese in Cochin in 1663. The French East India Company established military units in Thalassery in 1721 and later moved to Mahé (~5 km south of Thalassery).
caption: Vasco da Gama a painting- The trade alliance between Vasco da Gama and Kolathiri gave Portugal direct access to the spice trade market especially for pepper.
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