Bubonic plague epidemics in the second half of the 14th century caused a drastic decrease in population; as a result, a few cities’ economies became increasingly localized, unemployment increased, and farm production was abandoned. Opportunities were limited to the sea, and most people settled on fishing and commerce along the coastline. Portuguese explorers were at the vanguard of European foreign discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, which allowed them to reach India, find several commercial stations in Asia and Africa, colonize what would become Brazil, and construct one of the largest empires. The Portuguese took possession of Ceuta in 1415 in order to regulate shipping along the African coast (Course Hero, 2022). There, the young Prince Henry the Navigator learned about the commercial potential of the Saharan shipping routes. He made an investment to support expeditions down the Mauritania coastline, assembling a collection of traders, ship operators, investors, and maritime players.
The long-held Portuguese objective of discovering a naval passage to Asia was eventually accomplished in a revolutionary journey led by Vasco da Gama. In 1497, his fleet set sail from Portugal passed the Cape and proceeded along the coast of East Africa (Course Hero, 2022). They were joined by a native navigator who led them across the Indian Ocean to Calicut in western India. Uncontested access to the famed Indian spice channels aided the Portuguese in developing their commerce, which up to Gama, was primarily dependent on commerce along the coasts of northern and western Africa. Initially, these spices were primarily pepper and cardamom, but they soon contained additional items that were particularly unique to Europe.
Portugal wanted to maintain its control over the spice trade in the Indian Ocean. Throughout 1500 and 1510, the Portuguese created a series of garrisons and commercial stations, capitalizing on tensions between Hindus and Muslims (Course Hero, 2022). Turkish and Egyptian warships left India after the Portuguese won the sea Battle of Diu, establishing Portuguese trading supremacy for over a century and greatly assisting the expansion of the Portuguese Empire. Additionally, it signaled the start of European colonial supremacy in Asia. Additionally, a number of conflicts between the Portuguese and the Ottomans put a stop to the latter’s plans for India and established Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean.
Reference
Course Hero. (2022). The age of discovery. Coursehero.Com. Web.