In_______ the East India Company's ships defeated the Portuguese in the Swally estuary off Surat.

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) 1612.

In 1612, the East India Company’s ships defeated the Portuguese in the Swally estuary off Surat, India. This naval battle marked a significant turning point, as it established the British East India Company as a major maritime power in the region, weakening Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean and facilitating British trade and influence in India.

Additional Information:

Battle of Swally:
The Battle of Swally (also known as the Battle of Swally Estuary) took place in 1612 off the coast of Surat, India, between the British East India Company and the Portuguese forces. The battle occurred near the Swally estuary, a strategic point on the Gujarat coast, where the East India Company had established its trade interests.

Key Points:

• Date: 1612
• Combatants: British East India Company vs Portuguese Empire
• Outcome: The British won the battle, defeating the Portuguese fleet.

Significance:

• This victory marked a crucial step for the British in establishing their naval and trade dominance in India.
• The battle weakened Portuguese influence in the Indian Ocean, paving the way for the British to establish more trading posts along the Indian coastline.
• The East India Company secured the right to trade in the Gujarat region, marking a significant milestone in the British colonial expansion in India.
• This battle helped establish the British as a major maritime power in the Indian subcontinent, competing with other European colonial powers like the Portuguese and the Dutch.