Representations of Maritime Interactions. Interpretative Mapping of Hormuz and Chennai During Early Modern Asian-European Encounters

The Indian Ocean is currently a significant centre of geopolitical tensions, crude oil transportation, and evolving alliances. In the context of port cluster studies, we investigate when maritime trade in this region first emerged as a global phenomenon. Early modern port cities in this part of the world attracted the interest of European powers, starting with the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch, British, and French. This historical context highlights the significance of ports as sites for cultural exchange and colonial enterprise. This text summarises our work on the PORTofCALL research project (see Acknowledgments), which examines the impact of encounters among African, Asian, and European cultures during the early modern period. We emphasise how these interactions influenced the cultural heritage of the port settlements in the Indian Ocean where there was a Portuguese presence. The project explores how cultural exchanges and negotiations shaped the built environments and landscapes of the Estado da India's network of port settlements and their respective hinterlands