The Portuguese Empire

Violet Yamashiro

A Period of Discovery for Portugal• Captains of Prince Henry the

Navigator, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeria, discover Porto Santo (1418), Madeia Island (1419), and most of the Azorean islands (1427 -1431). The Canary islands were also discovered but not colonized.

• Exploration of Africa began in 1434, yielding gold and the discovery of yet more islands.

• Bartolomeu Dias crossed the Cape of Good Hope in 1487, opening easier trade with India

• In 1500 Pedro Álvares Cabral discovers Brazil while trying to find new sea trade routes.

• Portugal became the first country to achieve “globalisation” with the conquering of India’s Goa.

Crisis, War, and Reformation

• After King Sebastian died without an heir, a scramble for a ruler followed, resulting in the Spanish and Portuguese Empires coming under the rule of one king.

• After the Thirty Years War, a war of independence was waged by Portugal and won, though the Spanish rule did not recognize Portugal as independent until 1668.

• Sebastião de Melo made significant refomation policies in slavery, wine production, and other financial and economic regulations.

• The Seven Years War was launched after Portugal refused to join the Bourbon Family Compact and Spanish troops invaded Portugal until Britain’s intervention.

Trade• Trading ports were established in India, which flourished after the

Battle of Diu which forced Turks and Egyptians, and later Ottomans, to withdraw from India.

• Goa was a key trade port and resulted in alliances.• Control of the Persian Gulf opened up the Spice Trade for Portugal,

contending with the Ottoman Empire.• Trade with Asia began with firearms from Japan, but the Chinese

banned and later executed Portuguese after pirating activities.• Portugal eventually controlled much of the trade between Europe

and many parts of Asia, including India, Indonesia, Japan and China.

Colonies

• Colonization of Brazil began in 1534.• Pernambuco and São Vicente were successful in sugar cane

production, using native American and African slavery.• Rivalry with France led to raids and destructio of colonies

on both sides.• Colonies were also established in trade port areas in Africa.

Colonization of Brazil

• The Treaty of Todesillas in 1494 effectively divided any discovered land between Portugal and Spain.

• Brazilwood sugar cane and gold and diamonds were the primary reasons for the colonization and later inland expansion of Brazil.

• The first Jesuit missionaries arrived in Brazil to spread the Catholic faith.

• There, the missionaries helped to found Rio de Janeiro and objected to the enslavement of the native people.

• However, the Jesuits did not oppose African slavery, and unfortunately contributed to the spread of disease among the natives.

Colonization of Brazil Cont.

• The French attempted to colonize in Brazil, ignoring the Tordesillas Treaty.

• All French colonies were warred on and dispelled.

• The Dutch raided the coastline of Brazil and began colonies there.

• This lead to much conflict, but was resolved in 1661 when the Dutch withdrew, but not without leaving a cultural impact.