Completing the Reconquista with the capture of the Algarve in 1249, Portugal at last secured its borders and fostered its national identity through the Portuguese language and the flourishing of a distinct culture.
Buoyed by this newfound stability, Portugal, from the late Middle Ages, embarked upon the bold course of great discoveries and maritime conquests. This pivotal moment heralded the kingdom’s emergence onto the international stage, where it would wield considerable influence throughout the 15th and 16th centuries.
The First Steps in Maritime Discoveries
It all began under the impetus of Infante Dom Henrique, better known as Henry the Navigator.
From the early 15th century, Portugal embarked on the exploration of the African coast, seeking to extend its influence and open new trade routes.
To structure this endeavor, Henry established a maritime research center in Sagres, in southern Portugal—a true laboratory where cartographers, astronomers, and navigators worked together to refine navigation techniques and create new maritime charts.
The ultimate goal was to sail around Africa to reach the lands rich in spices, silks, and gold directly.
The first advances were marked by decisive milestones. In 1415, the capture of Ceuta on the North African coast became the first stepping stone of Portuguese expansion, providing a strategic base for future explorations.
Soon after, Portuguese navigators ventured into the Atlantic, discovering the Madeira Islands in 1419, followed by the Azores in the 1430s.
These discoveries reflected Portugal’s relentless ambition to push the boundaries of the known world and lay the foundations of a maritime empire that would profoundly shape the history of global trade
The Apex of the Portuguese Empire.
These early milestones laid the foundations of a Portuguese maritime empire, which would reach its zenith between the late 15th and the 16th century.
In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias sailed past the Cape of Good Hope, proving for the first time that it was possible to round Africa and reach the Indian Ocean.
Ten years later, in 1498, Vasco da Gama achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the shores of India by sea, thus opening the spice route—a source of immense wealth for Portugal. This discovery enabled the country to establish a vast network along the African coasts, in India, Southeast Asia, and as far as Japan, making it the first European colonial empire of the modern era.
In the following decades, Portuguese expansion continued at a rapid pace. In 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral reached the shores of Brazil. In the East, Afonso de Albuquerque pursued an aggressive policy of conquest, paving the way for control over the Asian maritime routes.
The establishment of a trading post in Macau in 1557 completed Portugal’s transformation into a dominant commercial power, extending its influence from the shores of the Atlantic to the far reaches of the Pacific.
Under the reign of Manuel I (1495–1521), Lisbon became one of the world’s greatest centers of trade, rivaling Venice and Antwerp. The wealth flowing in from the colonies transformed the city, fostering a spectacular boom in both art and architecture.
This prosperity propelled Portugal to the status of a maritime and commercial powerhouse during the era of the great European colonial empires.
However, this expansion also faced limitations, which Portugal would encounter by the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th centuries.
The Decline of the Portuguese Empire.
Portugal’s power began to be contested as rivalries for control over trade routes and colonies grew increasingly intense, particularly with the rise of new European maritime powers.
Despite the Treaty of Tordesillas signed in 1494 to divide the world between Spain and Portugal, conflicts persisted—especially in Asia and the Atlantic—where other nations challenged Portuguese hegemony.
The Dutch, with their powerful East India Company, quickly established themselves as formidable opponents. From the early 17th century, they seized numerous Portuguese trading posts in Asia and the Indian Ocean, gradually diminishing Portuguese influence in the region.
Brazil, a cornerstone of the empire, also faced Dutch assaults, particularly with the occupation of Recife and the northeast of the country between 1630 and 1654.
At the same time, the English strengthened their maritime presence and began to directly compete with Portugal on certain key trade routes.
This was compounded by repeated attacks from privateers and the kingdom’s internal fragility, particularly after the dynastic union with Spain (1580–1640), which diverted Portuguese resources toward Spain’s wars in Europe. This union also placed Portugal in a vulnerable position, making it a prime target for Spain’s enemies, which facilitated the loss of many colonial possessions.
Portugal then lost its status as a global maritime empire to Spain. Despite the restoration of its independence in 1640 and the prosperity of the Brazilian colony, Portugal was never able to regain the influence it had at the height of its power.
The Legacy of the Great Conquests.
However, the legacy of this era remains deeply ingrained. Portuguese expansion played a key role in the globalization of trade and left a lasting cultural imprint, particularly through the spread of the Portuguese language and the influence of Lusitanian traditions in South America, Africa, and Asia.
Through its maritime boldness and pioneering role in the great explorations, Portugal shaped a significant part of the history of international trade and navigation, with an impact that is still felt today.