The age of exploration marked the apogee of portuguese imperial power and wealth. at the beginning of the fifteenth century portugal had a population of one and a quarter million and an economy dependent on maritime trade with northern europe.
- - it would lead the european community in the exploration of sea routes to the african continent, the atlantic islands, and to asia and south america over the course of the sixteenth century.
- several factors contributed to portugal becoming the pre-eminent european pioneer in maritime exploration.
- the first was its geographical position along the west coast of the iberian peninsula, which allowed for the natural development of a seafaring tradition.
- the second was the evolution of a complex maritime economy in which the port cities of lisbon and oporto became the commercial centres of the country. the merchant community used these port cities as their base of operations from which they financed the majority of the various exploration and trading ventures.
- the third critical factor that made portugal a forerunner in exploration was its monarchy. portugal benefited from a relatively stable monarchy whose kings encouraged maritime trade and shipping ventures. the crown gave every possible incentive by implementing tax privileges and insurance funds to protect the investments of ship owners and builders.
- macau was a portuguese colony and both the first and last european colony in china.[7][8] portuguese traders first settled in macau in the 16th century. portugal expanded western influence and established a global empire that included possessions in africa, asia, oceania, and south america, becoming one of the worlds major economic, political and military powers.
-aphonso dalbuquerque portuguese fidalgo, or nobleman, an admiral whose military and administrative activities as second governor of portuguese india conquered and established the portuguese colonial empire in the indian ocean.
-he attempted to close all the indian ocean naval passages to the atlantic, red sea, persian gulf, and to the pacific, transforming it into a portuguese mare clausum established over the turkish power and their muslim and hindu allies.[3] portugal essentially controlled trade in the persian gulf. they controlled the choke points into the red sea and thus monopolised the spice trade.
- aphonso dalbuquerque conquered hormuz, gao, and melaka which allowed portugal to control trade.
