Comenius Project -2012/14

MONSERRATE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Viana do Castelo

Portuguese

Discoveries

COLONIALEMPIRE

beginning, rise and fall

MARITIME EXPANSION

Prince Henrique (1390-1460) was the patron and

inspirer of the first Portuguese navigation

voyages. He launch Portugal in an era of

discoveries between the fifteenth and sixteenth

centuries that would give the country an worldwide

empire.

MAP OF THE PORTUGUESE DISCOVERIES

This Empire spanned through three continents: Africa, Asia and South America.The faraway places reached by Portuguese navigators allowed contact with other civilizations and cultures, the establishment of trade routes and the huge contribution to the acquisition of new knowledge.

Impelled by their thirst of knowledge and the richness that they could conquer, the Portuguese spread around the world.

Let us make a brief "trip" through history, knowing the great moments in the maritime expansion.

CONQUEST OF CEUTA-1415

The achievement of this Muslim city in the North of Africais considered by most historians as the beginning of the Portuguese expansion.

Madeira

1419/20-REDISCOVERY OF PORTO SANTO AND MADEIRA ISLANDS

Rediscovery, since there were already knowledge about its existence.Navigators: João Gonçalves Zarco (Madeira), Tristão Vaz Teixeira (Porto Santo)Nowadays these islands are major tourist destinations – this because of its climate, exceptional landscape and several other attractions.

1427-AÇORES’S DISCOVERY

Volcanic origin archipelago composed of nine islands.Its discovery could have been casual during a return trip from Africa coast.As Madeira archipelago, it is now national territory and also a great tourist destination.

1434- CABO BOJADOR PASSING TROUGH

It was folded for the first time by Gil Eanes.The legends of the “Terrified Sea" hovered the sailors imagination.People believed that was the point of the African coast where lied the end of the known world. From there life was not possible, the sea was not deep enough for navigation and currents were very strong.When fears were broken, exploring the coast becomes "easier".

THE WESTERN COAST OF AFRICASlowly and methodically, Portuguese navigators were heading south of Cabo Bojador.Between 1435 and 1485, the better knowledge of the seas and navigation techniques, lead the way to new lands. Arguin becomes the first trading post on the African coast.Arriving to southernmost of Africa in 1487, Bartolomeu Dias reaches the great cape - Cape of Storms or Cape of the Good Hope. He demystify the legend of Adamastor giant.

Moçambique

Angola

Oceano Pacífico

OceanoAtlântico

Portugal

Diogo Cao arrives to Zaire in 1484 by starting the conquest of this region, including ANGOLA.Its occupation truly happens in the XVI century.

Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India, arrives Mozambican coast in 1498. Around the ear of 1505 starts the Portuguese penetration and fixation in MOZAMBIQUE.

These were the two largest Portuguese colonies in Africa.

1494-TORDESILHAS’S TREATY.The dispute and possession of the discovered and to discover lands led kings of Portugal and Castile (Spain) to a negotiating process. In this treaty, the world was divided into two parts by a meridian passing 370 leagues west of Cabo Verde: the lands to the east of this meridian would be Portuguese; lands to the west would Castilian.

1498 - DISCOVERY OF THE MARITIME WAY TO ÍNDIAVasco da Gama, after passing the legendary Cape of Good Hope and land in Mozambique, catches sight of Calicut. Was discovered the sea route to Índia, connecting the West to East!This was one of the great achievements of the Portugal "golden age".It was assured the transit to Europe of spices and other rare products.

1500 – BRASIL’S DISCOVERYIn a second expedition to India, Pedro Alvares Cabral, maybe becouse he took a wrong route, arrives into Brasil.Over three centuries, populating and braving the discovered lands, the Portuguese exploit the natural resources found there (gold, sugar, timber, coffee, etc.)

Brasil

PORTUGUESE ARRIVAL TO THE FAR EAST

From India, arrived into China. Were the first Europeans to reach JAPAN (1542). In 1557 Portuguese set-up in Macau.

The End Of The EmpireAfter many centurys of existency, whit the developments narrated here, the Portuguese Empirecomes to na end.

- The Islands of Madeira and Açores remained nacional territory.

- In 1822, Brazil, achieved it´s independence.

-In 1961 the India Unian Army invaded and anexed the territories of Goa, Damão e Diu.

- Portugal gave back Macau to China in 1999.

- The Democratic regime, instaured in Portugal in 1974, recognizes the indenpendency of the other colonies.