How did a people of just one million souls achieve the impossible? In just three centuries, they conquered their land and pushed the boundaries of the unknown to discover the world. A fascinating saga where courage, ambition, and boldness reshaped the course of history!
Start with our first article on the birth of a Nation (5 minutes), then continue with this second article on the rise of an Empire (5 minutes).
Completing the "Reconquista" with the conquest of the Algarve in 1249, Portugal finally solidified its borders and developed its national identity through the Portuguese language and the flourishing of its own culture.
Strengthened by this stability, Portugal decided, at the end of the Middle Ages, to embark on the ambitious path of great discoveries and maritime conquests. This turning point marked the kingdom’s entry onto the international stage, where it would wield significant influence throughout the 15th and 16th centuries.
The First Steps in Great Discoveries.
It all began under the impetus of Infante Dom Henrique, better known as "Henry the Navigator."
From the early 15th century, Portugal began exploring the African coast to expand 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 develop 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 conquest of Ceuta, on the North African coast, became the first step in Portugal’s 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 reflect Portugal’s relentless drive 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 Height of the Portuguese Empire
These early milestones laid the foundation for the Portuguese maritime empire, which would reach its height between the late 15th and 16th centuries.
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 directly, opening the spice route—a source of immense wealth for Portugal. This discovery enabled the country to establish an extensive 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 relentless pace. In 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral reached the shores of Brazil. In the East, Afonso de Albuquerque pursued an aggressive campaign of conquest, paving the way for Portuguese control over Asian maritime trade routes.
The establishment of a trading post in Macau in 1557 solidified Portugal’s status as 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 largest trading hubs, rivaling Venice and Antwerp. The wealth flowing in from the colonies transformed the city, sparking a spectacular artistic and architectural boom.
This prosperity elevated 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 began to encounter toward the end of the 16th and the early 17th centuries.
The Decline of the Portuguese Empire.
Portugal's power began to be challenged. Rivalries over control of trade routes and colonies became increasingly intense, especially 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, particularly in Asia and the Atlantic, where other nations contested Portuguese hegemony.
The Dutch, with their powerful Dutch East India Company, quickly established themselves as formidable adversaries. From the early 17th century, they seized many Portuguese trading posts in Asia and the Indian Ocean, gradually diminishing Portuguese influence in the region.
Brazil, once the cornerstone of the empire, also faced Dutch assaults, particularly with the occupation of Recife and northeastern Brazil between 1630 and 1654.
Meanwhile, the English strengthened their maritime presence and began to directly compete with Portugal on certain strategic trade routes.
In addition, repeated attacks by privateers and the internal fragility of the kingdom—especially after the dynastic union with Spain (1580-1640), which diverted Portuguese resources to Spain’s wars in Europe—further weakened the empire. This union also placed Portugal in a vulnerable position as a prime target for Spain’s enemies, leading to the loss of many colonial possessions.
As a result, Portugal lost its position as the world’s dominant maritime empire to Spain. Despite regaining its independence in 1640 and the prosperity of its Brazilian colony, Portugal was unable to reclaim the influence it once held at the height of its power.
The Legacy of the Great Conquests
However, the legacy of this era remains deeply rooted. Portuguese expansion played a key role in the globalization of trade and left a lasting cultural imprint, notably 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, an impact that is still felt today.