The Portuguese Intrusion

Question 1

Peripheral status of Portugal

Answer 1

The Portuguese used the people of the Canary Islands as a blueprint for eventual treatment of the indigenous people in the Americas

Question 2

Prince Henry the Navigator

Answer 2

(Dom Henrique of Portugal); promoted voyages to west Africa specifically for gold, discovered profitable new trade routes, gained intelligence about the extent of Muslim power, won converts to Christianity, and made alliances against Muslims with any Christian rulers he might have found. Crossed Cape Bojader

Question 3

Reasons for Exploration: Economic

Answer 3

High demand for spices( pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon) which were all used as “status symbols” They were the commodity that drove the economy (especially with rise of the nouveau riche- as the middle class grew and more people could afford the spices, they needed to find more) Also to establish more sugar plantations

Question 4

Reasons for exploration: Religious

Answer 4

Aspiration to expand influence of Christianity. Although some were zealous religious missionaries, others used the spread of religion as a justification for the material motives of the voyages. Wanted to stop the spread of Islam.

Question 5

Vasco da Gama 1498

Answer 5

He is one of the most famous and celebrated explorers from the Discovery Ages, being the first European to reach India by sea. This discovery was very significant and paved the way for the Portuguese to establish a long lasting colonial empire in Asia. The route meant that the Portuguese wouldn’t need to cross the highly disputed Mediterranean nor the dangerous Arabia, and that the whole voyage would be made by sea. Story of Vasco de Gama landing on Calicut. People asked him what he wanted there, and he said “Christians and spices”.

Question 6

Calcut

Answer 6

Vasco de Gama reaches Calicut in 1498. A major port city in the Indian Ocean. Place where he abused Indians and made that joke about curry

Question 7

Trade monopoly in Indian Ocean

Answer 7

the portuguese gained hold of most major port cities or choke points including Calicut, Goa, and Malacca

Question 8

“Choke Points” or transfer points

Answer 8

It was impossible to control the entire ocean, rather the Indian Ocean was able to be monopolized by Portuguese due to their understanding and usage of choke points. By controlling some of the major parts of the ocean, they were able to claim it as their trade route.

Kilwas, Mombasa, Port of Hormuz, Malacca, Macao & Nagasaki(places that were necessary to pass through in order to trade) (Portuguese took over & turned them into monopolies in early 16th century).

Question 9

D’Almeida in Kilwa

Answer 9

Brought his fleet to Kilwa in 1505. Landed some 500 Portuguese soldiers to drive Emir Ibrahim out of the city. Installed his own choice on the throne as a Portuguese vassal. Erected Fort Santiago and left garrison behind. Set up mercantilist laws on sultanate, which forbade Kilwa to trade with anyone but Portuguese. He limited the trade in Kilwa to the portuguese only- helping to monopolize the trade

Question 10

D’Almeida in Mombasa

Answer 10

August 1505 he arrived at Mombasa. Had a population of about 10,000; conquered in heavy combat. Plundered and torched. Were assisted in this attack by enemy of Mombasa, Sultan of Malindi.

Question 11

D’Almeida in Strait of Hormuz

Answer 11

Replaced by Afonso d’Alboquerque in 1506; major choke point for Indian trade route.

Question 12

King of Mombasa’s letter to King of Malindi

Answer 12

Told king Malindi(Sayyid Ali) of attack of the Portugese and all the damage they did, trying to warn him for his own safety

Question 13

Estado do India

Answer 13

Dom Francisco de Almeida was appointed the first governor and viceroy of the Portuguese State of India. Established Portuguese hegemony in Indian Ocean

Question 14

Viceroyalty d’Alboquerque

Answer 14

After conquering Goa, they created this to administer their possessions in the Indian ocean

Question 15

Don Afonso d’Alboquerque

Answer 15

“Alboquerque’s fleets siezed Hormuz, Goa in 1510, and Maleka in 1511. From these strategic sites, he sought to control Indian Ocean trade by forcing merchant ships to purchase safe-conduct passes and present them to Portugeese trading posts. “Main architect of this aggressive policy. Commander of portuguese forces in the Indian ocean during early 16th century.

Question 16

Safe transit passes

Answer 16

Forced merchant ships to purchase safe-conduct passes and present them at Portuguese trading posts. Ships without passes were subject to confiscation, along with their cargoes. Forces punished violators by executing them or cutting off their hands.

Question 17

Gaspar Correa

Answer 17

author of “Lendas da Índia ( “Legends of India”), one of the earliest and most important works about Portuguese rule in Asia, being referred to as a Portuguese Polybius. Served as a secretary to Afonso de Albuquerque.

Wrote “Cut Off Their Ears, Hands, and Noses!”

Question 18

Demise of Portuguese Monopoly

Answer 18

Portugal’s hold on the Indian Ocean weakens because of the conflict between their religious & commercial goals (wanted to expand Christianity but also to enslave the natives for wealth & power), private contraband trade where merchants bypassed the Portuguese navy, resurgence of Islamic power in Indian Ocean Network (Shah Abbas recaptures Hormuz & Sultan of Imam captures most of the cities along the coast)

Question 19

Sultanate of Oman

Answer 19

Strategic location at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Decade after Vasco de Gama’s voyage around the Cape of Good Hope and to India, Portuguese explorers arrived at Oman and occupied Muscat from 1507-1650. Needed an outpost to protect their sea lanes so they built up and fortified the city. Pushed out eventually. Never under total sway of European colonization, always controlled a few select port towns, but majority was controlled by tribes and natives.