Portuguese Colonization
The Portuguese Empire was one of the longest-lasting colonial empires in history, beginning in the 15th century with the exploration of Africa's Atlantic coast and the establishment of trading posts and colonies around the world. Here are key aspects of Portuguese colonization:
Beginnings of Exploration
- Prince Henry the Navigator played a crucial role in initiating Portugal's maritime explorations. His efforts were driven by the desire to find a sea route to India, bypassing the land routes controlled by the Ottoman Empire.
- In 1415, the Portuguese captured Ceuta in North Africa, marking the beginning of their overseas expansion.
Expansion into Africa
- The exploration continued southward along the African coast, establishing trading posts like Elmina Castle in present-day Ghana, which became a center for the gold and slave trade.
- The Cape of Good Hope was rounded by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, opening the sea route to India.
Asia and the Spice Trade
- In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in India, securing a direct sea route to the lucrative spice markets of Asia.
- Portugal established a presence in Goa, Diu, and Daman in India, along with trading posts in Malacca, Macau, and Timor, which became important centers for the spice trade.
Brazil
- The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. This line gave Portugal claim to what is now Brazil.
- Pedro Álvares Cabral officially claimed Brazil for Portugal in 1500. Brazil became the largest and most significant colony, eventually gaining independence in 1822.
Administration and Legacy
- Portuguese colonial administration was marked by the Estado da Índia (State of India), which managed the vast network of territories from Africa to Asia.
- The Portuguese implemented a system of Captaincies in Brazil, where large land grants were given to settlers with the obligation to develop and defend the land.
- The colonial period left a significant cultural, linguistic, and genetic legacy in the countries they colonized, particularly in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and parts of Asia.
Decolonization
- The process of decolonization was gradual and often violent. Portugal was one of the last European countries to relinquish its colonies, with conflicts in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Following the Carnation Revolution in 1974, which overthrew the authoritarian regime in Portugal, the new government began to negotiate independence for its African colonies.
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