Summary
The first decision to take over discovered islands was made between 1418 and 1425 with the colonization of the Madeira Islands. These islands had not been previously inhabited and were discovered by two young men under Prince Henry's service. After reporting their discovery to Henry, they returned to Porto Santo, one of the islands, with Bartolomeu Perestrelo, who became captain of that island.
The Portuguese also showed interest in the Canaries which was ruled by the Castilian Count of Niebla (lord of the Canaries). In 1424/1425, Fernando de Castro led a strong expedition to try and conquer the islands, but he failed due to being out numbered by the Grand Canary. His effort was one of many made by the Portuguese in trying to take possession of the Canaries.
Prince Henry the Navigator- goal: to find a Christian kingdom, acquire trade opportunities for Portugal, and extend Christianity. In 1419 he founded the School for navigation on the southwestern coast of Portugal.
In their attempt to find gold along the southern coast of Africa, the Portuguese discovered black Africans in 1441 and brought them back to Europe to be sold as slaves. Regular expeditions followed and in 1471 they discovered more gold along the southern coast of West Africa.
They then made contact in Central Africa with the state of Bakongo. The Portuguese built stone forts along the coast in order to enable trade in gold ivory, and slaves.
After Vasco da Gama’s success, the Portuguese returned annually to the southwestern coast of India to establish a monopoly in the spice trade and destroy Arabic shipping.
In 1511, Albuquerque conquered the city of Malacca, which was a thriving spice trade port, and killed the local Arab population. This had destroyed the Arab spice trade and provided the Portuguese with a way station to the Moluccas/ Spice Islands. The Portuguese completed their trading empire by signing a treaty for trade with a local ruler in China and the Spice Islands.
The Portuguese also showed interest in the Canaries which was ruled by the Castilian Count of Niebla (lord of the Canaries). In 1424/1425, Fernando de Castro led a strong expedition to try and conquer the islands, but he failed due to being out numbered by the Grand Canary. His effort was one of many made by the Portuguese in trying to take possession of the Canaries.
Prince Henry the Navigator- goal: to find a Christian kingdom, acquire trade opportunities for Portugal, and extend Christianity. In 1419 he founded the School for navigation on the southwestern coast of Portugal.
In their attempt to find gold along the southern coast of Africa, the Portuguese discovered black Africans in 1441 and brought them back to Europe to be sold as slaves. Regular expeditions followed and in 1471 they discovered more gold along the southern coast of West Africa.
They then made contact in Central Africa with the state of Bakongo. The Portuguese built stone forts along the coast in order to enable trade in gold ivory, and slaves.
After Vasco da Gama’s success, the Portuguese returned annually to the southwestern coast of India to establish a monopoly in the spice trade and destroy Arabic shipping.
In 1511, Albuquerque conquered the city of Malacca, which was a thriving spice trade port, and killed the local Arab population. This had destroyed the Arab spice trade and provided the Portuguese with a way station to the Moluccas/ Spice Islands. The Portuguese completed their trading empire by signing a treaty for trade with a local ruler in China and the Spice Islands.