Synopsis The aim of the fieldwork, on which this book is based, was to explore the possibility of conducting archaeological excavations in Surat where the Europeans including the British were most likely to have left behind the material traces of their presence between 16th and 18th centuries. However, before undertaking such excavations, one should have an understanding of the historical framework within which the relevant archaeological issues can be contextualized. The purpose of this book is to put forward this framework and advance the general concept of the ‘the Archaeology of European Expansion’ in South Asian Archaeology.