The Dramatic Fall Of The Portuguese Empire
Some Portuguese In Everything
If you dance to Samba, enjoy eating bacalhau (salted cod), or build using azulejos (decorative ceramic tiles), you have the Portuguese Empire to thank. From the 15th century to the 19th century, one of the greatest empires in history prospered, then fell to pieces.
The Spark Of Exploration
In 1415, Portugal made a bold move by conquering Ceuta in North Africa. This was a strategic masterstroke that would rewrite global rules. Prince Henry the Navigator emerged as the ultimate visionary, and this move turned a small kingdom into a global exploration machine. Before all this….
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They Were A Tiny Kingdom
Before the significant events of 1415, when Portugal conquered Ceuta, the nation was a relatively small kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula with a distinct identity shaped by its geography, politics, and cultural influences. Portugal sat along the Atlantic coast with the advantage of exploring the seas if they wanted to.
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC, Wikimedia Commons
Political Context
Oh, they did. But before that, Portugal had emerged as a kingdom in the 12th century, gaining independence from León in 1139 under Afonso I. The kingdom’s borders were solidified through militia campaigns during the Reconquista, a centuries-long effort to reclaim territory from Muslim rule.
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Dynastic Influences
The Portuguese monarchy was influenced by dynastic ties to other European powers, particularly England. The marriage of King John I to Philippa of Lancaster in 1387 strengthened these ties and fostered alliances that would later support exploration efforts.
