Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1419
Portuguese sailors discover Madeira. More discoveries follow suit, including the Azores in 1427 and
Cape Verde Islands in 1460. Explorers also chart the west coast of Africa.
1443
Explorers bring the first African slaves to Portugal; it marks the beginning of a long, dark era of
slavery in Europe and later the new world.
1494
The race for colonial expansion is on: Spain and Portugal carve up the world, with the Treaty of
Tordesillas drawing the line 370 leagues west of Cape Verde.
1497
Facing pressure from the church, Dom Manuel I expels commercially active Jews. Those staying
must convert or face persecution. By 1536 the Inquisition is underway, and thousands will be ex-
ecuted.
1497
Following Dias' historic journey around the Cape of Good Hope a few years earlier, Vasco da Gama
sails to India and becomes a legend. Trade with the East later brings incredible wealth.
1519
Fernão de Magalhães (Magellan) embarks on his journey to circumnavigate the globe. He is killed in
the Philippines, but one of his ships returns, completing the epic voyage.
1572
Luís Vaz de Camões writes
Os Lusiados,
an epic poem that celebrates da Gama's historic voyage.
Camões dies poor and largely unrecognised, though he is later hailed as Portugal's greatest literary
figure.
1578
King Sebastião raises an army and invades Morocco. The expedition ends at the Battle of Alcácer-
Quibir. Sebastião and many nobles are killed; the king leaves no heir, destabilising the country.
1580
Sebastião's weak successor, the former cardinal Henrique, dies. King Felipe II of Spain invades Por-
tugal and becomes king. Spain will rule for 80 years, draining Portugal's coffers and ending its
golden age.
1622
Portugal's empire is slipping out of Spain's grasp. The English seize Hormoz. Later, in the 1650s, the
Dutch take Malacca, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and part of Brazil.
