Speaker 1: Hello, and Welcome to Western civ Episode four hundred and
Speaker 1: forty eight. Portuguese colonization between fourteen ninety two and the
Speaker 1: year sixteen hundred, which is just where I'm choosing to
Speaker 1: cut this off, and that really just has to do
Speaker 1: with the establishment of Jamestown, which we'll get into in
Speaker 1: a few episodes. Portuguese colonization played a defining role in
Speaker 1: the Age of exploration, establishing a vast maritime empire that
Speaker 1: spanned Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Portugal was incredibly small,
Speaker 1: but ambitious European kingdom. It was able to harness its location,
Speaker 1: of course, and its advanced naval technology and strategic diplomacy
Speaker 1: to dominate globe trade at least for a moment, and
Speaker 1: established lucrative colonies. Now. By the time that Christopher Columbus
Speaker 1: sailed from Spain in fourteen ninety two, Portugal had already
Speaker 1: laid the groundwork for overseas expansion under Prince Henry the
Speaker 1: Navigator as we know and his sponsorship. In the early
Speaker 1: fifteenth century, Portuguese explorers had already reached the West African coast,
Speaker 1: opening up trade in gold, ivory and slaves. The subsequent
Speaker 1: Treaty of Tordesillas in fourteen ninety four, negotiated with Spain
Speaker 1: and of course with Pope Alexander the Fifth divided the
Speaker 1: newly conquered lands outside of Europe along a median granting
Speaker 1: Portugal rights to the lands east of the demarcation line.
Speaker 1: Now for them, that critically included their colonial holdings in
Speaker 1: Africa Asia, But as we'll see, most important piece turned
Speaker 1: out to be Brazil, which nobody realized was beyond the
Speaker 1: demarcation line. In fourteen ninety eight, Vasco de Gama reached India,
Speaker 1: securing a direct sea route to lucrative spice markets of
Speaker 1: the east. Though, as you might remember from those episodes,
Speaker 1: its distance around Africa proved not to be as helpful
Speaker 1: to the Portuguese as everyone may be initially expected. Still,
Speaker 1: this breakthrough allowed Portugal to bypass overland Muslim controlled trade
Speaker 1: routes and monopolize spice and commerce for a period. By
Speaker 1: fifteen ten, the Portuguese had seized Gyoa on the western
Speaker 1: coast of India, establishing a critical naval base and commercial hub.
Speaker 1: From Goa, they expanded eastward, capturing Malacca in fifteen eleven,
Speaker 1: which controlled access to the spice islands. These are modern
Speaker 1: day Indonesia. The Portuguese also reached China in fifteen thirteen,
Speaker 1: and by fifteen fifty seven they secured a permanent trading
Speaker 1: post in Macau, further cementing their influence in East Asia.
Speaker 1: In Africa, Portuguese fortresses and trading posts dotted the coastline
Speaker 1: from Morocco to Angola. They established key settlements such as
Speaker 1: Southi Mae and Principei, which became crucial in the Transatlantic
Speaker 1: slave trade, supplying and slaved Africans to plantations in the Americas.
Speaker 1: Along the Swahili coast of East Africa, they seized control
Speaker 1: of major ports like Mombasa in fifteen ninety three, disrupting
Speaker 1: local Arab and African trade networks. These efforts helped integrate
Speaker 1: Africa into the global Portuguese trade empire, though often through
Speaker 1: violent conquest and exploitation. But as I mentioned, the most
Speaker 1: important colonial effort that the Portuguese undertook turned out not
Speaker 1: to be in Asia, not to be in Africa, but
Speaker 1: in Brazil. That will be right after this. The most
Speaker 1: significant Portuguese claim in the Americas was Brazil, discovered in
Speaker 1: fifteen hundred by Pedro Alvalles Cabral. Initially, the Portuguese focused
Speaker 1: on trade in Brazil would used for dye production, but
Speaker 1: by the mid sixteenth century they had turned almost exclusively
Speaker 1: to sugar cane and its cultivation. Large plantations, or ingehouse
Speaker 1: as they were called, required a massive labor force, leading
Speaker 1: to the large scale importation of enslaved African labor. This
Speaker 1: system laid the foundation for Brazil's colonial economy and entrenched
Speaker 1: slavery as a key institution. Solidify their hold on Brazil,
Speaker 1: the Portuguese crown implemented the captain c system in fifteen
Speaker 1: thirty four. This divided the territory of Brazil into hereditary
Speaker 1: land grants given to donatorios noblemen, who were then just
Speaker 1: responsible for developing the land. However, due to administrative challenges
Speaker 1: and indigenous resistance, the system was largely ineffective, prompting the
Speaker 1: crown to establish direct governance in fifteen ninety four with
Speaker 1: the creation of the Governorate General of Brazil. The first governor,
Speaker 1: Tomae de Suza, founded Salvador as the capital, strengthening Portuguese control.
Speaker 1: Portuguese settlers in Brazil, often in conflict with indigenous groups,
Speaker 1: relied on alliances with certain tribes while subjugating others. Again,
Speaker 1: this is nothing new. We saw the whole process repeat
Speaker 1: over and over again, whether we're talking about Francisco Pizarro
Speaker 1: against the Inca or Hernan Cortes against the Mexica. Relying
Speaker 1: on one group to subjugate another is a tried and
Speaker 1: true European strategy. Jesuit missionaries also played a crucial role
Speaker 1: in converting and assimilating the indigenous peoples, sometimes clashing with
Speaker 1: colonial authorities over their efforts to protect native populations from enslavement.
Speaker 1: The growing sugar economy intensified the demand for labor, leading
Speaker 1: to a dramatic increase in the Transatlantic slave trade. By
Speaker 1: the late sixteenth century, Brazil had become Portugal's most valuable
Speaker 1: colony in the Americas due to its profitable sugar industry,
Speaker 1: vast natural resources, and strategic location along the Transatlantic trade route.
Speaker 1: The colony's wealth came primarily from sugar plantations, which became
Speaker 1: the backbone of the Portuguese economy. Brazil's ideal climate and
Speaker 1: fertile land allowed for large scale production, making Portuguese sugar
Speaker 1: highly sought after in European markets. Additionally, Brazil played a
Speaker 1: crucial role in expanding the global economy, linking Africa, Europe,
Speaker 1: and the Americas through the exchange of goods, labor, and capital.
Speaker 1: The Dutch, attracted by Brazil's wealth, launched attempts to seize control,
Speaker 1: foreshadowing future struggles over the regions. But despite its impressive reach,
Speaker 1: the Portuguese Empire faced increasing challenges. By the late sixteenth century,
Speaker 1: the Dutch, who we'll talk about in a future episode
Speaker 1: and the English we're getting there, began encroaching on Portuguese holdings,
Speaker 1: particularly in Asia and the Atlantic. Moreover, Portugal's union with
Speaker 1: Spain in fifteen eighty under Philip exposed its empire to
Speaker 1: Spanish enemies, particularly the Dutch, who launched attacks on Brazilian
Speaker 1: sugar plantations Asian trade routes. All that being said, between
Speaker 1: fourteen ninety two and sixteen hundred, Portugal built a maritime
Speaker 1: empire that reshaped global trade and colonization. Their strategic use
Speaker 1: of naval power, fortifications, and alliances enabled them to dominate
Speaker 1: key commercial networks. However, the very factors that contributed to
Speaker 1: their rise, naval supremacy and monopolistic control, eventually made them
Speaker 1: targets for emerging European rivals, setting the stage for the
Speaker 1: decline of Portuguese dominance in the centuries to come. Next
Speaker 1: week we shift our focus north to New France and
Speaker 1: the first attempt at an English colony at a place
Speaker 1: called Roanoke in modern North Carolina. Until then, if you're
Speaker 1: interested in more Western CIV, check out the link of
Speaker 1: the show notes to Western CIV two point zero, which
Speaker 1: is a much more detailed look at history. We are
Speaker 1: deep in the death throes of the Roman Republic at
Speaker 1: this point, and if you'd like to check it out
Speaker 1: for free, there is a seven day free trial. Just
Speaker 1: click the link and it'll pop up wherever you get
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