Final answer:
The Dutch East India Company played a crucial role in overthrowing Portuguese control in Ceylon through strategic alliances and military campaigns, aiming to dominate the spice trade and reduce Portuguese and Spanish influence in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dutch Expulsion of the Portuguese from Ceylon
The struggle for control over trade and territories among European powers led to various conflicts around the world. In the case of Ceylon, modern-day Sri Lanka, it was the Dutch East India Company (DEIC) that eventually managed to expel the Portuguese. Building upon their victories in other regions like Brazil and the Caribbean, the Dutch turned their attention to the lucrative spice trade in Asia. Notably, they established a powerful presence in the Indian Ocean, aided by the formation of the first multinational company, the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), known in English as the Dutch East India Company.
Apart from economic pursuits, the Dutch aimed to weaken Portuguese and Spanish influence. This resulted in the capture of key Portuguese holdings, as with their assistance to the sultan of Johor to defeat the Portuguese in Malacca in 1641. Subsequent to their international rivalry and navigation prowess, the Dutch managed to dominate the spice trade and undermine Portuguese authority in various regions, including Ceylon. Their varied efforts, marked by alliances with local forces and strategic maritime campaigns, culminated in the eventual control over Ceylon, dethroning Portuguese power in the region.