kochi was an important spice trading centre on the west coast of india from the 14th century onward, and maintained a trade network with arab merchants from the pre-islamic era. occupied by the portuguese in 1503, kochi was the first of the european colonies in colonial india. it remained the main seat of portuguese india until 1530, when goa was chosen instead. the city was later occupied by the dutch and the british, with the kingdom of cochin becoming a princely state.