The correct answer is: a) Portuguese.
The Portuguese were the first European power to establish a trading post in Surat during the Sultanate period. They arrived in Surat in 1512, and soon after established a factory there. The Portuguese were interested in Surat because it was a major trading center, and they hoped to control the trade between India and the Middle East.
The Dutch were the second European power to establish a trading post in Surat, in 1608. The British arrived in Surat in 1612, and the French in 1668. However, the Portuguese remained the dominant European power in Surat until the early 18th century.
The Portuguese were eventually driven out of Surat by the Mughals in 1739. However, they had a significant impact on the city’s history, and their legacy can still be seen in the city’s architecture and culture.
The Portuguese were a maritime power from Portugal that began to explore the world in the 15th century. They were the first Europeans to reach India, and they established a number of trading posts along the Indian coast. Surat was one of the most important of these trading posts, and it became a major center for Portuguese trade with India.
The Portuguese were interested in Surat because it was a major trading center. Surat was located on the Arabian Sea, and it was a major port for trade between India and the Middle East. The Portuguese hoped to control the trade between India and the Middle East, and they established a trading post in Surat in order to do so.
The Portuguese were also interested in Surat because it was a major center for Islam. Surat was home to a large Muslim population, and the Portuguese hoped to convert the Muslims to Christianity. The Portuguese established a number of churches in Surat, and they tried to convert the Muslims to Christianity.
The Portuguese were eventually driven out of Surat by the Mughals in 1739. The Mughals were a Muslim empire that ruled over much of India in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Mughals were opposed to the Portuguese presence in Surat, and they drove the Portuguese out of the city.
The Portuguese had a significant impact on the history of Surat. They established a number of trading posts in the city, and they converted a number of Muslims to Christianity. The Portuguese also built a number of churches in Surat, and their legacy can still be seen in the city’s architecture and culture.