Who among the following did not bring trading ships to the port of Surat in pre-British times?

During the pre-British and early colonial era, Surat was the premier port of the Mughal Empire, attracting diverse international traders. Historical records confirm that the Portuguese were trading there by 1540. The English East India Company established its first permanent factory in Surat in 1612 after defeating Portuguese naval forces [4]. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) also maintained a significant presence, establishing a directorate in 1616. The French arrived later, setting up their first Indian factory at Surat in 1668 [1]. Additionally, Arab and local Muslim merchants historically dominated the maritime trade routes connecting Surat to the Red Sea and Yemen for both commerce and pilgrimage. There is no historical evidence of Russian or German trading ships establishing commercial operations or factories at the port of Surat during this pre-British period, making them the correct answer.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > European Factories/Settlements during Mughal Rule > p. 209
2. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 3: The Beginnings of European Settlements > The Beginnings of European Settlements > p. 52
3. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Suratte