a. One continuity is the presence of long‑standing, multicultural merchant hubs. For centuries Arab, Persian, and Indian traders ran ports and sea routes, and Pires still finds Gujaratis, Persians, and Arabs active in Gujarat. This shows the older pattern of diverse merchant communities and busy seaport towns continued.
b. First, Portuguese merchants used armed ships and built forts to control ports and sea lanes, which changed trade by adding force and military power. Second, they tried to trade more directly with Asia and cut out some local middlemen, linking Asian goods more tightly to European markets. Together these steps show Europeans shifted the system from largely independent local networks to trade run with guns and royal support.
c. Pires was a Portuguese merchant writing for his countrymen, so he wanted to teach and encourage Portuguese traders. That purpose made him highlight trade skills and business chances while ignoring some local problems or politics. His merchant viewpoint thus makes his tone practical and often positive about Gujarat merchants.