The sixteenth century brought two new factors into Indian history – the Mughuls who came by land and began by establishing themselves in the north, and the Portuguese who came by sea to establish themselves in the south and the west. Both these new factors were to shape the course of Indian history – the Portuguese by striving to win a monopoly of the overseas trade of India, the Mughuls by founding an empire. Though the Portuguese failed the Mughuls succeeded, and between them they carried India into a new age.
