Which European power were the first to arrive by sea and establish direct trade with India in the modern age of exploration?

Introduction / Context:
From the late fifteenth century onward, European powers searched for new sea routes to Asia in order to break the monopoly of overland trade. The question of which European nation first reached India by sea is fundamental for understanding the beginning of the colonial era in the Indian Ocean. This question asks you to identify that pioneering European power.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The question mentions first Europeans to come to India, which clearly refers to the period of sea voyages around the Cape of Good Hope. The options list major colonial powers: British, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Danes. We assume that the learner knows that Vasco da Gama's voyage was a landmark event and that different European companies arrived in a sequence, not all at once.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the chronological order of arrival. Vasco da Gama, sailing under the Portuguese flag, reached Calicut on the Malabar Coast in 1498. This voyage opened the way for Portuguese dominance in early Indian Ocean trade. The English (British) and Dutch arrived later in the early seventeenth century, followed by the French and the Danes. Therefore the first European power to establish direct maritime contact with India was Portugal, represented by its explorers and later by the Portuguese Estado da India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498, sailing from Portugal around the Cape of Good Hope. Step 2: Recognise that this voyage marked the first direct sea link between Europe and India. Step 3: Understand that Vasco da Gama sailed for the Portuguese Crown. Step 4: Remember that the English and Dutch East India companies were established later and reached India in the early seventeenth century, while the French and Danes came even after them. Step 5: Conclude that the Portuguese were the first Europeans to come to India by sea.

Verification / Alternative check:
Chronological tables in most history textbooks list the arrival dates of different European trading companies. They consistently place the Portuguese arrival at the end of the fifteenth century, with the British, Dutch, and French following in the seventeenth century. The early Portuguese settlements at Goa, Diu, and Daman are also well documented. These facts confirm that the Portuguese were the earliest Europeans to arrive in India in the modern era.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The British are wrong because the English East India Company was founded in 1600 and arrived in India after the Portuguese. The Dutch also reached India in the early seventeenth century and focused heavily on Southeast Asia. The French came even later, in the seventeenth century, and established trading posts such as Pondicherry. The Danes had a smaller presence and were not pioneers in this field. None of these powers predate the Portuguese voyages of the late fifteenth century.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may be influenced by the later political dominance of the British and wrongly assume that they were also the first to arrive. Another error is to confuse the time of European political control over India with the time of initial maritime contact. Keeping a simple sequence in mind Portuguese first, followed by Dutch and English, then French and others, can help prevent such mistakes in exams.

Final Answer:
The first Europeans to come to India by sea and establish direct trade were the Portuguese.