Synthesizing the Map Alongside the Historical Narrative of 17th Century Bombay
The map (pictured in full to the right) functions as a visual argument for why Bombay's role as a port was so crucial to the city's identity and developement. Since the port's role is so complicated and multifaceted, our study of it will seperate and individually explore the cultural, political, and economic reasons for its importance. Using the visual tool of the map to guide and inform these topics, we will come to understand why Bombay is so intrinsically defined by its location on the harbor.
Cultural:
While most major cities are built near water, Bombay seems to have been built within the water through the process of weaving multiple independent islands together to form, what is now, the modern metropolis of Mumbai <1>. In this way, the city that exists now is innately and forever connected to its roots as a port-city. The British thought of the port as the entrance to India, a role that allowed Bombay to become a cultural melting pot for all of India's eclectic visitors. Alternatively, the port can be seen as an exit or window for Indians to explore the rest of the world. From the latter view, it can be understood how the global hub of Bombay formed as a center for traditional Indian culture as well. This dual role of entrance and exit for such a big subcontinent is what has lead Bombay to feel like multiple cities superimposed atop one another <1>. As people enter or exit, they leave behind a part of themselves within the cultural fabric of the port and through this process Bombay has formed into the eclectic urban center that it is today.
From this close-up of the map, which portrays the beautiful houses and palm-trees along the city's coastline, the viewer can begin to gauge the sheer visual power of Bombay, which, at the time of the mapping was just a series of impeccable islands. Home to some of the rarest dyes in the world, these islands quickly rose to beauty during the hundred years of Portuguese rule <1>. The natural geographical beauty and the elegant but modest Portuguese infrastructure was only a preview of the gleaming aesthetic that would come from Bombay's role as a cultural melting pot under British rule.
Political:
The yellow dotted line in the close-up (pictured to the right) portrays the British plans for expanding the Island's of Bombay. This expansion, as well as the British acquisition of the land holistically, portrays the political power of the port. The British decided to take over Bombay in response to the growing power of the Dutch East Indies <2>. This decision was tied to the need for greater naval power around the Indian subcontinent but was more so, a nuanced demonstration of British strength to the Eastern nations <3>. In taking this land from the Portuguese and then turning it into the "gateway to India", the British created a stronghold to the East, militarily and symbolically.
In this close-up of the map (pictured to the left) you can see how the different colors denote different occupying nations, with red being Bombay, owned at the time by the British. From the fact that so many imperial nations were stationed nearby and the fact that the English built such a large fort to protect the Island (pictured in the drawing to the left), it is clear that many nations desired control over Bombay <1> <2>. In fact, this map was created at the height of British imperialism and marks a sentinel turning point in Britain becoming the dominant world power <2>. Britain's occupation of Bombay, the premier port city of the Indian subcontinent, lead to an increase in expansion to the east and sent a message of British power around the world.
Economic:
While the political and cultural powers of the port are very essential to understanding Bombay, the economic importance of the port was far and away the pivotal factor in the city's development during British rule. The Dutch East India Company, Britain's main trading competitor, was dependent on Dutch control of the major ports and international trading routes <3>. After taking control over Bombay harbor, the British completely reshaped the channels of commerce throughout South Asia <3>. The Dutch East India Company, which had seemingly been a monopoly throughout the early 17th century, became one of many competing trading companies as the British and other imperial nations expanded East acquiring ports <3>.
While the political and cultural powers of the port are very essential to understanding Bombay, the economic importance of the port was far and away the pivotal factor in the city's development during British rule. The Dutch East India Company, Britain's main trading competitor, was dependent on Dutch control of the major ports and international trading routes <3>. After taking control over Bombay harbor, the British completely reshaped the channels of commerce throughout South Asia <3>. The Dutch East India Company, which had seemingly been a monopoly throughout the early 17th century, became one of many competing trading companies as the British and other imperial nations expanded East acquiring ports <3>.
These details on this map show very clearly that it is made for the purpose of visualizing future trade. From the measure of longitude to the depth makers to even the large size of the map, this map is made primarily for understanding how seafarers would manuever their cargo ships. As mentioned earlier, this map was made for William Blathwayt, Secretary to the Lords of Trade during the period of British imperialism. In fact, Blathwayt was one of the major proponents of the British Empire aquiring ports and considered the profitability of an area the only incentive for expansion. Through the map's visuals and the context it was created in, it is clear that the economic value of Bombay's port was the most integral factor in the city's procurement and developement by the British
2. Cain, P. J., and Hopkins, A. G. British Imperialism : Innovation and Expansion, 1688-1914. London ; New York: Longman, 1993. Print.
3. Renneville, Renneville, Constantin De, and Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie. A Collection of Voyages Undertaken by the Dutch East-India Company : For the Improvement of Trade and Navigation ... : Together with an Historical Introduction, Giving an Account of the Rise, Establishment and Progress of That Great Body. London: 1703. Print.
These details on this map show very clearly that it is made for the purpose of visualizing future trade. From the measure of longitude to the depth makers to even the large size of the map, this map is made primarily for understanding how seafarers would manuever their cargo ships. As mentioned earlier, this map was made for William Blathwayt, Secretary to the Lords of Trade during the period of British imperialism. In fact, Blathwayt was one of the major proponents of the British Empire aquiring ports and considered the profitability of an area the only incentive for expansion. Through the map's visuals and the context it was created in, it is clear that the economic value of Bombay's port was the most integral factor in the city's procurement and developement by the British
2. Cain, P. J., and Hopkins, A. G. British Imperialism : Innovation and Expansion, 1688-1914. London ; New York: Longman, 1993. Print.
3. Renneville, Renneville, Constantin De, and Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie. A Collection of Voyages Undertaken by the Dutch East-India Company : For the Improvement of Trade and Navigation ... : Together with an Historical Introduction, Giving an Account of the Rise, Establishment and Progress of That Great Body. London: 1703. Print.