Portugal led the European world in sea exploration during the fifteenth century. The golden age of discovery for Portugal lasted almost a century until the Dutch eventually seized trade routes from them. During the height of their years of exploration, the Portuguese were attempting to find a route around Africa into the Indian Ocean and eventually trade with India and the Far East. In the fourteenth century, Portugal managed to drive the Moors out. Muslims (Moors) had controlled the better part of Portugal and Spain for centuries. In 1415, the Portuguese captured the Moorish city of Ceuta in the northern coast of Africa. From this time forward, Portugal continued to expand its influence on the western coast of Africa in order to outflank the Moors and spread Christianity. During this timeframe, stories about a Christian king named Prestor John were circulating throughout Europe. Portuguese leaders hoped to find this legendary king to gain his support; but he did not exist.

Since overland routes to Asia were blocked by Ottoman Turks, Portuguese mariners began their slow and persistent progress down the coast of Africa in search for gold and trade routes to the east.

Prince Henry the Navigator
The man chiefly responsible for Portugal's age of exploration was Prince Henry the Navigator, the third son of King Joao I (John) and his English wife, Queen Philippa of Lancaster. Henry was born in 1394. As a youth, he participated in the capture of Ceuta. In 1419, his father made him governor of Portugal's southernmost coasts. From 1419 until his death in [1460], Prince Henry sent expedition after expedition down the west coast of Africa to outflank the Muslim hold on trade routes and to establish colonies. These expeditions moved slowly due to the mariners' belief that waters at the equator were at the boiling point, that human skin turned black, and that sea monsters would engulf ships.

It wasn't until 27 years after Henry's death that Bartolomeu Dias braved these "dangers" and rounded the Cape of Good Hope in [1487]. Henry was keenly interested in and studied navigation and mapmaking. He established a naval observatory for the teaching of navigation, astronomy, and cartography about [1450]. Unfortunately, Portugal began slaving operations along the west coast of Africa. Sailors could offer glass beads and colored cloth in exchange for tribal captives. In 1452, Pope Nicolas V issued his papal bull allowing the enslavement of "pagans and infidels." Prince Henry's interest in the slaves was mainly to convert them to Christianity.

  See a map showing Bartolomeu Dias's voyage.

Portugal's slow progress down the west coast of Africa in search for a route to the east finally came to fruition with Vasco da Gama (1469 - 1524). He followed Bartolomeu Dias' route to the Cape of Good Hope in [1497] to 1498 and continued sailing into unknown waters along the eastern coast of the African continent. He eventually located a route to India, but had to contend with Arab strongholds. In 1502, da Gama returned with 14 heavily armed ships and managed to defeat the Arab fleet. By 1511, the Portuguese mastered the Spice routes and had access to the Spice Islands. In 1513, Portuguese trade extended to China and Japan.   See a map showing Vasco da Gama's voyage.

Portuguese explorers | Portuguese Ships | Navigation Methods | 15th-century maps & charts