CONQUEST AND COLONISATION IN THE AGE OF EXPLORATION Portuguese and Spanish Exploration
The Portuguese explorations Prince Henry the Navigator, the third son of the King of Portugal, led the Portuguese explorations. Under Henry’s leadership, the Portuguese explored along the coast of Africa, hoping to find a route to the riches of Asia and the Spice Islands.
After Henry died, the Portuguese continued exploring. Two great voyages resulted in the Portuguese reaching India. l First, Bartholomew Diaz rounded the Cape of Good Hope in the southern tip of Africa (1489).
l Then, Vasco da Gama sailed as far as India (1498). A year later, in 1500, Pedro Cabral reached the coast of Brazil.
The Portuguese empire stretched around the coast of Africa up to India. Very soon, the Portuguese controlled the sea trade between Europe and Africa and Asia, which included spices from the East and gold and slaves from Africa.
PORTUGAL A S I A
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Evaluate the impact of Portuguese and Spanish exploration
Key Words Empire
Conquistadors Treaty of Tordesillas
The Portuguese explorer, Pedro Cabral (centre-left, pointing) sights the Brazilian mainland for the first time on 22 April 1500. Brazil became part of the Portuguese empire.
ATLANTIC OCEAN
SOUTH AMERICA
BRAZIL
da Gama 1497–99
Diaz 1488
INDIAN OCEAN
A F R I C A
INDIA
Cabral 1500–01
Cape of Good Hope
Portugal's voyages of exploration Territory claimed or controlled by Portugal (1600)