Figure 1.--Portugal after gaining control of the Indian Ocean began setting up trading posts. Spices were an important part of the trade which Portugal sought. This including Sri Lanka which was a rich source cinnamon. Gradually the Portuguese began to actually seize control. They made considerable progress, but the Kingdom of Kandy resisted. The Portuguese also sought to Christianze the island and supress the dominat religion--Buddhism. This is a depiction of the Portugese attack on Kelaniya Viharaya Temple. The Catholic powers (Portugal and Spain) siught to Cgristianize people in the lands thaey conquered. The Protestant powers were less concerned with spreading their faith.

The Portuguese led the European maritime outreach -- the historic European voyages of discovery. The Portuguese began with voyages south along the Atlantic coast of Africa. The primary interest at this time was to establish outpodts for trade and to provide secure ports to support voyages further south. The ultimate goal was to establish a sea route to trade with the East--India and China. At the time trade with the East passed through Arab and Ottoman lands, giving them highly advantageous control over this emenselly valuable commerce. It was the Portuguese who first rounded the Cape of Good Hope and established trade with first India and eventually China and Japan. There were more than commercial consequences. The character of Islam was changing from an emlighted outlook promoting enquiry and learning to a closed theocratic society that supressed secular learning. Portugal was one of two tiny European countries that were able to establish vast trading and colonial empire. The Portugese eventually built one of longest-lived empires in history, enduring nearly 6 centuries. The Portugese Kingsom was fouded during the Reconquista (1139). The Kingdom's Empire began with the seizure of Ceuta in North Africa (1415), but this was more an extension of the Reconquista. The creation of an empire beagn as part of Age of Discovery. The foundation of the Empire began in the 15th century and from the early 16th century it stretched across the globe, with possessions in the Americas, Africa, Asia, amd extending into Oceania, mearly encircling the globe. Fired with the Catholic spirit of the Reconquista and the knowlwdge acquired by Prince Henry the Navigator and his School of Navigation, Portuguese sailors began temtatively exploring the coast of Africa and Atlantic Atlantic islands (1418-19). They benefitted from developments in navigation, cartography and maritime technology in which they played an important role. This led to the famed caravel which the Portuguese used to find a sea route to the East seeking spices, silks, porrcelin and other valuable products. As Portuhguese navigators moved south along the African Atlanric coast, they set up trading posts which eventually became colonies. As Brazil bulges out into the Atalantic, they also discovered the Americas at about the same time Columbus made his famous voyage, perhaps earlier. After Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope (1498) the Portuguese began to expand east. The destruction of Arab sea power at the Battle of Diu left Portugal in control of the India Ocean (1509). Bartolomeu Dias finally reached the Cape of Good Hope (1488). Vasco da Gama reached India (1498). Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil (1500). Some believe Brazil was actually discovered earlier. It was tiny Portugal that first reached China and first dominated the Oriental trade (16th and 17th century). Portugal ammased a huge empire, but in the long run it could not match the power of the other European maritime countries. This was in part becuause Portugal was a small country, but size was not the only factor. Portugal was first displaced in many areas by the eqaually small, embattled Dutch Republic. The Porthugese Empire essetially ended with the indeprndence of Angola and Mozambique (1970s). The final outpost, Macau, was returned to China (1999).

Portuguese Voyages of Discovery

The Portuguese led the European maritime outreach -- the historic European voyages of discovery. The Portuguese began with voyages south along the Atlantic coast of Africa. The primary interest at this time was to establish outpodts for trade and to provide secure ports to support voyages further south. The ultimate goal was to establish a sea route to trade with the East--India and China. At the time trade with the East passed through Arab and Ottoman lands, giving them highly advantageous control over this emenselly valuable commerce. It was the Portuguese who first rounded the Cape of Good Hope and established trade with first India and eventually China and Japan. There were more than commercial consequences. The character of Islam was changing from an emlighted outlook promoting enquiry and learning to a closed theocratic society that supressed secular learning. Fired with the Catholic spirit of the Reconquista and the knowlwdge acquired by Prince Henry the Navigator and his School of Navigation, Portuguese sailors began temtatively exploring the coast of Africa and Atlantic Atlantic islands (1418-19). The first sea captains were severely handicapped by the lack of knmowlegfs and experience in their endeavours, but this grafually change. In the course of their ventures, knowlefge and experience finest hour of Portuguese maritime history was achueved. Knowledge ans a mesure of luck brought greater riches than the purities of science and logic. The Portugiese benefitted from developments in navigation, cartography and maritime technology in which they played annimportant role. This led to the famed caravel which the Portuguese used to find a sea route to the East seeking spices, silks, porrcelin and other valuable products.

Portuguese Kingdom

Portugal was one of two tiny European countries that were able to establish vast trading and colonial empire. The Portugese eventually built one of longest-lived empires in history, enduring nearly 6 centuries. The Portugese Kingsom was fouded during the Reconquista (1139). The Kingdom's Empire began with the seizure of Ceuta in North Africa (1415), but this was more an extension of the Reconquista. The creation of an empire beagn as part of Age of Discovery.

Imperial Rivals

The best known imperial rivbbals were England and Spain. Spain established a world-wide empire, inclusing thw America when they foujnd vast quantities of gold and siver. The english wanted part of it and began raiding Spanish ports and trasure galleons. We have the colordfl story of the Sea Dogs, eventually leading to the Spanish Armada. In contrast, England and Portugal have a long history of amicable relations. This was complicated when Spain invaded Portugal during the War of the Poetuguese Sucession (1580). This led to the union of Portuguese and Spanish Crown. Itbwould have enormous conseqiences for the Portuguese Empire, but not much as a result of the English. It resulted in an extebded war with the Dutch. The Dutch had launched a war of indepndence from Catholic Spain (1568-1648). This meant that Dutch traders no longer has access to trade within the Spanish Empire. In fact, Sapmish King Philip II prohibited trade with the Dutch (1581). The War also provuded a powerful incentive for the Duch to seize Portuguese colonies, major sources for valuable trade goods -- especially spices. The result was the six decade Dutch-Portuguese War (1602-61).

The Empire

The foundation of the Empire began in the 15th century and from the early 16th century it stretched across the globe, with possessions in the Americas, Africa, Asia, amd extending into Oceania, nearly encircling the globe. As Portuhguese navigators moved south along the African Atlanric coast, they set up trading posts which eventually became colonies. As Brazil bulges out into the Atalantic, they also discovered the Americas at about the same time Columbus made his famous voyage, perhaps earlier. After Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope (1498) the Portuguese began to expand east. The destruction of Arab sea power at the Battle of Diu left Portugal in control of the India Ocean (1509). Bartolomeu Dias finally reached the Cape of Good Hope (1488). Vasco da Gama reached India (1498). Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil (1500). Some believe Brazil was actually discovered earlier. It was tiny Portugal that first reached China and first dominated the Oriental trade (16th and 17th century). Portugal ammased a huge empire as it was the first European country to nreach Sub-Saharan Africa, India, the Spice Islands (Indinesia), and China. In the long run it could not match the power of the other European maritime countries. This was in part because Portugal was a small country, but size was not the only factor. Portugal was first displaced in many areas by the eqaually small, embattled Dutch Republic. The Dutch-Portuguese War was a war forced upon the Prtuguese by Spain and the Iberian Union (1580). The War had a disaterous impact as the Dutgh seizxed Ceylon , te Spice Islands , and for a time Brazil. The Porthugese Empire essetially ended with the indeprndence of Angola and Mozambique (1970s). The final outpost, Macau, was returned to China (1999).

Maderia and the Azores

One of the first outpost they established was Madeira, but only by chance. Two youthful captains (João Gonçalves Zarcoo and Tristão Vaz Teixeira ) were blown off course as they followed the West African coast south. After many days at sea and much further from the coast than they desired, they chanced upon a small island which they named Porto Santo (1419). This was the first important discovery of Prince Henry's school of navigation. Prince Henry ordered them back to the island and to colonize it. The folowing year they found Madeira (1520).

Africa

As Portuhguese navigators moved south along the African Atlanric coast, they set up trading posts which eventually became colonies. These included Angola, Portuguese Guinea, and Mozambique. All three became areas exploited by the Portuguese before becoming actual colonies. The country's presence in Africaa can be dated by the steady presence made by Portuguese navigators sailing south along the Atlantic coast of Africa (15th century). These connctions were made before the slave trade was the focus of Portuguese activities. Gold and ivory were at first very important to the Portugese navigators. All three, however, became major centers of the Atlantic Slave Trade. This was the case even though Mozambique was on on the Indian Ocean. It also fed the Atantic Slave Trade, but into the Arab Indian Ocean Slave Trade as well. The fact that Brazil was also a Portuguese colony was a major factor in launching the Trans-Atlantic slave rade. This was because the Caribbean sugar industry had its origins in Brazil. And captive Africans would provide the labor for the labor-intensive plantations producing sugar. Portugal would as a result become a major problem for the British Royal Navy as it sought to end the slave trade.

Brazil

As Brazil bulges out into the Atalantic, they also discovered the Americas at about the same time Columbus made his famous voyage, perhaps earlier (1492). Pedro Álvares Cabral officially discovered Brazil (1500). Some believe Brazil was actually discovered earlier. Portugal at the time of the conquest was a country just emerging from feudalism with an impoverished peasantry. Brazil offered land. The Dutch, an important 17th century naval power, seized Bahia for a brief period. One impact of their presence was a boost to the sugar industry, a hugely valuable commodity at the time. The economics of sugar meant that it became the leading crop in Brazil. Dutch investors commited considerable funds. A succession crisis in Portugal led to a personal union under the Habsburg King Philip II of Spain--the Iberian Union (1580). This meant that Portugal and Brazil became involved in the Dutch-Portuguese War (1581-1648). Philip II prohibited trade with the Dutch (1581). The Dutch with investments in Brazil struck back by seizing coastal cities in the northeast. The principal result was that when the Dutch were finally expelled, they brought sugar industry technology to the Caribbean. The Native American population was desimated by European diseases. Portugal with trading posts all along the African coasts had access to a ready supply of labor which laubched the Atlantic slave trade. While slavery in Brazil was an extrodinarily brutal system, there were cultural differences with slavery in Hispanic America and subsequently the French and British colonies. There was a degree of intermarriage unprecedented in the other colonial empires. A range of factors seem to have been at play here. The Portuguese were more familiar with Africa, The Portugese settlers were mostly men with relatively few women. In addition, the Portuguese had a long historical expeience with Moors from North Africa. The Portugesre not only intermarried with the African slaves, but also Native Americams. There was also intermarriage between Africans and Native Americans. This has resulted to a much more racially mixed population than elsewhere in the America. This is not to say there was not racist ordering of society. It is to say that there was aoderation of racist thought in Brazil as aesult of a degree of mixing and the historical experience. The discovery of gold in south-central Brazil brough a movement into the interior for the first ime (1690s). The gold proved to be much more limited than at first thought and the settlment of Brazil continued to be mostly coastal (18th century). Asa result ofthe Naoleonic WArs, Brazil declared itsindependene from Portugal. Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo (1815). Dom Joao did not return to Portugal, however, until several years later (1821). Dom Joao left his son Dom Pedro in charge of Brazil when he returned to Portugal. Dom Joao attempted to resume the traditional system of colonial rule. Dom Pedro decided to declare Brazuil's independence from Portugal and his independence from his father (1822).

India

After Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope (1498) the Portuguese began to expand east. Bartolomeu Dias finally reached the Cape of Good Hope (1488). Vasco da Gama reached India (1498). Portuguese India was an important part of the Portuguese Empire. Ubdia at the time was a rich and prosperous area, producing goods vof vummense value in Europe and for the first time Europeans had direct access to those goods. Until the arrival of the Portuguese, the Arabs controlled the trade. , The Indian colony was founded to serve as the governing body of a string of Portuguese fortresses and colonies overseas. The first viceroy, Francisco de Almeida, set up his headquarters at Cochim (modern Cochin / Kochi). Later Portuguese governors were not always created at viceroy rank. The capital of the Portuguese viceroyalty was transferred to Velhas Conquistas -- Old Conquests area, meaning modern Goa and Damaon (1508). A Portuguese fleet defeated a combined fleet made up of Arab, Indian Muslim rulers, and Venetian ships at Diu (1509). This destoyed Arab sea power, leaving Portugal in control of the India Ocean. Portugal was the first European country to reach India. Amd they set up trading posts all along the eastern and western coast. Ober time the Portigiese lost most of those trading posts, mostly in the 17th century. The Dutch tried to uncuccessfully seuze Goa (1638). The had mnore success in Ceylon/Sri Lanka and the East Indies. Modern Bombay (Mumbai) Bom Baim was part of Portuguese India until it was ceded to the British Crown (1661). The English leased Bombay to the East India Company. The Portuguese governor in Goa had authority over all Portuguese possessions in the Indian Ocean (until the 18th century). This included an area from southern Africa to southeast Asia. Mozambique was assugnbed its own separate government (1752). Portuguese Indian authoriries ceased administering the territory of Macau, Solor and Timor (1844). From this point, Portuguese Indian aithoriries only administered colonial holdings on the Konkan and Malabar coasts of Western India. The British Raj was disolved and Indian became an indepedent country (1947). There were three districts, seized and annexed by India (1954-61).

Ceylon/Sri Lanka

Portugal athe first European countryinto the Indian Ocean not only established trading posts in Indua, but began colonizing Ceylon (Sri Lanka). As a result of the Dutch Portuguese Wr, hwever, the Dutch ousted the Portuguese and Ceylon for a time became a Dutch colony.

East Indies Spice Islands

One of the major reason for the Dutch maritime outreach was to obtain spices, very imprtant in the era before refrigeration. Arab control mof IndianOcean trade made them very expensive. Sone spces were available fromEast Africa, but the mstimprtant source was the Spice Islands-modern Indonesia. Te Portuguese were not only the first European country into the Induan Ocean, but also into the Pacific. And thus began to colobze the Spivce Islands and begin the hugely profitable trade. Again the Dutch-Portuhguese War resulted n the loss if the Islands to the Dutch Republic. The Dutch would hold on to the I until the Japanese invasion during the Pacific War and the subsequent bIndinesiuan Indeopendenve War (1940s).

China

It was tiny Portugal that first reached China and first dominated the Oriental trade (16th and 17th century). Portugal ammased a huge empire, but in the long run it could not match the power of the other European maritime countries. This was in part becuause Portugal was a small country, but size was not the only factor. Portugal was first displaced in many areas by the eqaually small, embattled Dutch Republic. The Porthugese Empire essetially ended with the indeprndence of Angola and Mozambique (1970s). The final outpost, Macau, was returned to China (1999).

Japan

The Portuguese were also the first European power to reach Japan (1543), five decadesafter rounding the Caoe of Good Hope. They landed on the island of Tanegashima. The Portuguese introduced new technologies, such as firearms, revolutionizing warfare in Japan. Gunpowdrthusmadethe full crckeafter being invented in China (9th century AD)--one of China's Four Great inventions. The Portuguese also introduced Christianity to Japan. Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier playing a key role in spreading the faith. The Portuguese established trade networks, cultural exchanges, and the introduction of various Western concepts. All of this prived unsettling totraditional Japanesesociety, especilly the rapid spread of Christianity. This led to persecution and eventual expulsion of the all Europeans and theeradication of Christinity. The Dutch were, however, allowed to maintain a small trading post in Nagasaki (1643-1843). The Dutch were chosen because they were at war wth Portugal and did not have the same missionary zeal as the Portuguese.