1.2 The Portugese trading empire

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 2

Sailing beyond the horizon

1.3 The Portugese trading empire

Learning goal

How did the Portugese establish a profitable trading empire?

Voyages of discovery

- In search of new territories and trade routes.

- Ships stayed close to the coast for supplies

    and easy navigation.

- Navigated by stars and the sun.

- Detailed maps did not exist yet and were drawn during the voyage.

- With the discovery of the compass, they knew

where the north was at all times, and the voyages of discovery could begin!

Voyages of discovery to East India

- In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, many voyages of discovery were made.

- Many countries tried to be the first to find the best sea routes!

- Trade in, among other things, spices was very valuable.

Henry

The Portuguese ‘Henry the Navigator’ provided money and ships. 

One of these went on a voyage of discovery past Bojador in 1434.

Eight years later, they found gold on the Gold Coast, Ghana and founded fort Elmina (Figure 35).

This was the beginning of European expansion, the extension of European influence across the world.

Na het veroveren van de havenstad Ceuta kon Hendrik de Zeevaarder doorvaren richting het zuiden. In 1434 reist hij voorbij de 'Bojador' een plek waar nog nooit voorbij was gevaren, 'waarschijnlijk door zeemonsters of kookend water'

Cape of Good Hope

1434 Beyond Cape Bojador

1442 Gold in Ghana

1488 Beyond the Cape of Good Hope

1498 India discovered by southern route.

* Knowledge must remain secret!

De reis van Bartolomeus Diaz.

Kaap de Goede Hoop

1434 Voorbij Kaap Bojador

1442 Goud in Ghana

1488 Voorbij Kaap de Goede Hoop

1498 India ontdekt via een zuidelijke route.

* Kennis moet geheim blijven!

De reis van Bartolomeus Diaz.

Vasco da gama*

- Portuguese

- First sea route to India (1498)

- The Portuguese were thus in control of the sea route between Europe and Asia for 100 years.

Capital

Portugal build trading posts and captured existing settlements on the coast

Smart merchants invested their capital in international trade to make as much profit as possible: merchant capitalism.

Fort Elmina Ghana