Foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415-1580 (Europe and the World in the Age of Expansion, vol. I)

This account traces the history of the Portuguese overseas discoveries, following the expansion into the Atlantic island, the Madeiras, and the Azores. It continues the account with the history of Portuguese discoveries along the African coast, at Guinea, the Congo, and Good Hope, then follows the voyages of Vasco da Gama to India and to Cabra, Brazil, and the expansion in the early years of the sixteen century to Malacca, China, and the East Indies. The volume presents not only a useful narrative of the spread of Portuguese empire but also new interpretations and analyses of the Portuguese overseas history. No other people in history made such extensive geographical explorations as Portuguese. During the course of the fifteenth century they were the first to reveal to Europe the unknown coast of West Africa, reaching and passing the Cape of Good Hope. They made the first all-water voyage from the West to the East in 1497-99. Cabral touched on Brazil en route to India in 1500. Many of the East Indies islands had been visited by Portuguese ships before Magellan began the first voyage around the world in 1519. Christopher Columbus largely learned his trade as navigator in Portugal. By the end of the sixteenth century the Portuguese flag was flying around the world. The question arises of why the small country of Portugal led the way in exploration in the fifteenth century. This volume provides not only a narrative of the spread of the Portuguese empire but new interpretations and analyses of the history, such as a discussion of how Portuguese power differed in Africa, India, and the Far East, and an analysis of the empire's failure as a business enterprise. Cover V. 1. Foundations Of The Portuguese Empire / Bailey W. Diffie, George D. Winius -- V. 2. Rival Empires Of Trade In The Orient / Holden Furber -- V. 3. Spain And Portugal In The New World / Lyle N. Mcalister. -- V. 4. The North Atlantic World In The Seventeenth Century / K.g. Davies -- V. 5. Empires To Nations / Max Sevelle -- V. 6. The False Dawn / R.f. Betts -- V. 7. Islands And Empires / E.s. Dodge -- V. 8. The Imperial Experience In Sub-saharan Africa Since 1870 / Henry S. Wilson -- V. 9. The Commonwealth Of Nations / W. David Mcintyre -- V. 10. Uncertain Dimensions / Raymond F. Betts. Edited By Boyd C. Shafer. Includes Bibliographies And Indexes. xxx, 533 p., [11] leaves of plates : 24 cm