History 140 – Theme 3 Part 1

By: Larissa Renwick

The Portuguese Empire

In The Beginning Portugal was considered a World

Power during the “Age of Discovery”

The Empire expanded through South America, Africa, Asia & Australasia

Portugal lost much of its power to the Dutch, English & French

Military decline started in 1578 with the Battle of Alcácer Quibir

In 1755 a giant earthquake destroyed Portugal’s capital city

During the Napoleonic Wars Portugal lost its largest colony in 1822, Brazil

In the 19th century approximately 2 million Portuguese citizens left to live in United States and Brazil

A revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910 – the republic was unable to solve the country’s problems

Amidst bankruptcy, repression of the church and overall corruption a military coup established a dictatorship in 1926 that remained until 1974

Today Portugal has a republic government

Portugal is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, OECD, and EFTA and became a member of the European Union in 1986

The History of Portugal

Present Day

During the Period of Discovery, Portugal was a contender of World Power with its expansive colonial trading empire and cultural and political influence. They were said to have a “Thalassocracy”, a Greek term meaning ruler of the sea.

In 1415 the Portuguese Empire begins to form as the Portuguese Armada moves into North Africa. A month later they conquer Cueta

In 1494 The Treaty of Tordesillas is signed with Spain dividing Spain and Portugal territory.

In April of 1500 Brazil becomes a Portuguese colony and expands the trade in the East

Between 1501-1514 Portugal begins globalization and claims territory in the Americas, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Japan and China

Portugal In the Period of Discovery

The first global empire and one of the longest living European Empires in history

The Empire expanded through South America, Africa, Asia & Australasia

There were two world powers: Spain & Portugal Spain owned Western territory and Portugal owned the Eastern

territory The largest and most successful colony of Portugal was Brazil who

gained wealth with sugar cane and slavery

The Portuguese Empire

The French smuggled valuable Brazilwood which could have increased the success of Brazil

In 1693 the discovery of gold and diamonds significantly increased the population in Brazil

In 1789, an up rise was caused when tax was raised 20% for all mined gold. This was an attempt by Lisbon to bring independence to Brazil, but was not successful.

The Portuguese Empire remained in effect until it relinquished Macau to China in 1999

The Portuguese Empire Continued

In 1494 The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed which created the Tordesillas Meridian. It divided the world between two kingdoms. Any land discovered to the East of the Meridian belonged to Portugal and land discovered to the West belonged to Spain.

In the beginning, Brazil had 15 hereditary captaincies. Pernambuco was a successful captaincy from sugar cane output. Only one other captaincy was successful, São Vicente’s. This captaincy collected wealth through slave trafficking. All other captaincies did not prosper.

The collapse of the captaincies led the king to make colonization a royal responsibility rather than that of the captaincies. In 1549, De Sousa started the centralized government, converted many natives to Roman Catholicism, began missions and discouraged slavery.

In 1692 King Phillip decided to expand the size of the colonies of Brazil

Colonial Brazil

Spain ruled Portugal from 1580-1640 Portugal’s wealth decreased under Spain’s rule and their

various allies, the most powerful of which, England, were lost

The Atlantic Slave and Spice trades with the Far East were seized from Portugal by the English and Dutch

In 1625, Spain and Portugal joined forces to re-claim the land lost to the Dutch

In 1640 Portugal finally claims its independence from Spain

The Consolidation of the Monarchy in Portugal