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 inspirer of

the first Portuguese navigation voyages. He

launched Portugal into an era of discoveries

between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that would turn the country

into an worldwide empire.

MAP OF THE PORTUGUESE DISCOVERIES

The Portuguese empire was spread throughout three continents: Africa, Asia and South America.The far away places reached by Portuguese navigators allowed contact with different civilizations and cultures, the establishment of new trade routes and a huge contribution for the acquisition of new knowledge.

Fernão de Magalhães was a Portuguese navigator but the trip marked on the map was sponsored by the Kingdom of Castile

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

Let us make a brief "trip" through history, getting you to know great moments of the Portuguese maritime expansion.

THE CONQUEST OF CEUTA-1415

The conquest of this Muslim city in the North of Africa is considered to be the beginning of the Portuguese expansion by most historians .

Madeira

1419/20 – THE “REDISCOVERY” OF PORTO SANTO AND MADEIRA ISLANDS

We call it a rediscovery since there was already knowledge of its existence.Navigators: João Gonçalves Zarco (Madeira), Tristão Vaz Teixeira (Porto Santo)Nowadays these islands are a major tourist destination because of their climate, exceptional landscape and several other attractions.

1427- THE AZORES’S DISCOVERY It’s an archipelago of volcanic origin made up of nine islands.Its discovery happened by chance as it is said to have occurred during a return trip from the African coast.As well as the Madeira archipelago it still is national territory and also a great tourist destination.

1434- THE OVERCOMING OF CAPE BOJADOR

It was overcome for the first time by Gil Eanes.The legends of the “Terrifying Sea" hovered the seafarers’ imagination.People believed that it was the point of the African coast where the end of the world was to be found and where sailors and vessels would be engulfed by the sea. From there on life was not possible, the sea was not deep enough for navigation and currents were too strong. Once the legend was broken in , exploring the coast became "easier".

THE WESTERN COAST OF AFRICASlowly and methodically the Portuguese navigators headed south of Cape Bojador.Between 1435 and 1485 a better knowledge of the seas and navigation techniques led their way to new lands. Arguin became the first trading post on the African coast.Arriving to the southernmost headland on the African coast, in 1487, Bartolomeu Dias overcame its legendary cape – The Cape of the Good Hope.

In 1487 Bartolomeu Dias reached and overcame the Cape of Good Hope, demystifying the domain of the giant Adamastor – a mythological character that spitted winds and sunk caravels. Reaching India by sea would be safer and faster ...

Cabo das Tormentas

Moçambique

Angola

Oceano Pacífico

OceanoAtlântico

Portugal

Diogo Cão arrives to the Zaire River in 1484 beginning the conquest of that African region in which Angolawas included.

Vasco da Gama, on his way to India, arrived on the Mozambicancoast in 1498 but only around 1505 did the Portuguese start its colonization.

These were the two largest Portuguese colonies in Africa.

1494- THE TORDESILLAS’ TREATY.The dispute and possession of the newly discovered lands led the kings of Portugal and Castile (Spain) to a negotiating process. In this treaty, the world was divided into two parts by a meridian passing 350 leagues west of Cabo Verde: the lands to the east of this meridian would be Portuguese; lands to the west would be Castilian.

1498 – THE DISCOVERY OF THE MARITIME WAY TO INDIAAfter passing the legendary Cape of Good Hope and disembarking in Mozambique, Vasco da Gama heads to Calicut. The sea route to India was finally discovered, connecting the West to the East: one of the greatest achievements of the Portuguese “Golden Age“!Thus, it was assured the trade sea route of spices and other exquisite products to Europe!

1500 – THE DISCOVERY OF BRAZILIn a second expedition to India, Pedro Alvares Cabral, is said to have taken a wrong route which made him arrive to Brazil.Over three centuries of settlements on the discovered lands, the Portuguese make the most out of the natural resources found there (gold, sugar, timber, coffee, etc.)

Brasil

THE PORTUGUESE ARRIVAL TO THE FAR EASTOnce in India they travelled further east reaching China. They were also the first Europeans to reach JAPAN in 1542 and 15 years later they set up in Macau.

THE END OF THE EMPIREAfter many centuries of Portuguese domain, its Great Overseas Empire comes to an end.

- The Islands of Madeira and Azores remain Portuguese territory.

- Brazil became independent in 1822.

- The Indian Union Army invaded and annexed the territories of Goa, Damão e Diu in 1961.

- In 1999 Portugal ended its rule over Macau by transfering it to China.

- The Democratic regime enforced in Portugal in 1974 eventually recognized the independence of all the other colonies.

Power point/guide in english version for the project partners: Pisa (Italy); Dover (England); Brno (Czech Republic); Viana do Castelo (Portugal); Tallinn (Estónia); Catarroja (Spain); Kazanlak (Bulgária).

Damão Diu

Goa