Medieval Goa A Socio Economic History

When Medieval Goa first appeared three decades ago, it represented a significant break in the tradition of Indo-Portuguese historiography, until then markedly Luso-Indian, even when Goan native historians were the authors. Medieval Goa represented an effort to question the biases of the colonial historiography, while avoiding to fall prey to equally questionable triumphs of nationalism. Medieval Goa covers a period which is generally regarded as the early Modern period in the West. However, we prefer to maintain the earlier designation, in common with the corresponding periodisation of the Indian historiography. Besides whatever semblance of modernity the Portuguese colonial regime brought to India, Goa had to wait for it until the 18th century or almost the 19th century, and that was largely due to the English intervention in the economy of Portuguese India through the Anglo-Portuguese treaty, the setting up of the railway link, and forcing the end of the Inquisition. It focuses the stage-lights upon the rural population as affected by the bustling urban and metropolitan politics. The main actors of Medieval Goa are the ordinary people of the city and the countryside. Their voice had been little heard, if it was heard at all, in the prestigious and magisterial works of the well-known historians of the Portuguese expansion. It includes: Rivals and Neighbours Rural Economy and Corporate Life The Goan Rural Heritage Agrarian Organisation and Praxis Rural Social Life Urban Economy and Municipal Organisation Urban Topography and Demography Municipal Organisation and Policies Urban Economic Life Bibliographical Essay Glossary Bibliography