1508 in India

In 1508, significant events shaped the political and cultural landscape of India during the early Mughal period. This year marked the onset of Portuguese influence in India, as Afonso de Albuquerque captured the strategic city of Goa, paving the way for European colonial interests in the region. The Mughal Empire, under the leadership of Emperor Babur, was beginning to establish its presence in northern India, though Babur himself was still engaged in consolidating his power following his victory at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. The year also witnessed cultural exchanges through trade routes, contributing to the fusion of Indian and Islamic art, while regional kingdoms, such as the Vijayanagara Empire, continued to assert their authority in the south.