Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Age of Discoveries
João's success had whetted his appetite and, spurred on by his sons, he soon turned his mil-
itary energies abroad. Morocco was the obvious target, and in 1415 Ceuta fell easily to his
forces. It was a turning point in Portuguese history, a first step into its golden age.
It was João's third son, Henry, who focused the spirit of the age - a combination of cru-
sading zeal, love of martial glory and lust for gold - into extraordinary explorations across
the seas. These explorations were to transform the small kingdom into a great imperial
power.
The biggest breakthrough came in 1497 during the reign of Manuel I, when Vasco da
Gama reached southern India. With gold and slaves from Africa and spices from the East,
Portugal was soon rolling in riches. Manuel I was so thrilled by the discoveries (and result-
ant cash injection) that he ordered a frenzied building spree in celebration. Top of his list
was the extravagant Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém, later to become his pantheon.
Another brief boost to the Portuguese economy at this time came courtesy of an influx of
around 150,000 Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.
Spain, however, had also jumped on the exploration bandwagon and was soon disputing
Portuguese claims. Christopher Columbus' 1492 'discovery' of America for Spain led to a
fresh outburst of jealous conflict. It was resolved by the pope in the bizarre 1494 Treaty of
Tordesillas, by which the world was divided between the two great powers along a line 370
leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. Portugal won the lands to the east of the line, in-
cluding Brazil, officially claimed in 1500.
The rivalry spurred the first circumnavigation of the world. In 1519 the Portuguese nav-
igator Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan), his allegiance transferred to Spain after
a tiff with Manuel I, set off in an effort to prove that the Spice Islands (today's Moluccas)
lay in Spanish 'territory'. He reached the Philippines in 1521 but was killed in a skirmish
there. One of his five ships, under the Basque navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano, reached the
Spice Islands and then sailed home via the Cape of Good Hope, proving the earth was
round.
As its explorers reached Timor, China and eventually Japan, Portugal cemented its
power with garrison ports and trading posts. The monarchy, taking its 'royal fifth' of
profits, became stinking rich - indeed the wealthiest monarchy in Europe, and the lavish
Manueline architectural style symbolised the exuberance of the age.
