Portugal

by Ricarda Fouch, June 2014

300 words

1 page

essay

It is interesting to note that since 15th century European rulers and authorities had been considerably interested in colonizing new lands in order to make their countries more prosperous, powerful and flourishing. Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, France and the Netherlands were eager to develop their trade relations, get advantages in technologies and expand their territories. Besides, rich mineral resources, absence of political disputes and precious religious beliefs, desert territories attracted European heads of states.

In fact, the expansion of Spain and Portugal overseas in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was one of the most important achievements in world history ( HYPERLINK "http://www.google.com.ua/search?hl=ru&tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Lyle+ N.+McAlister%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=7" McAlister , 1984). Early in the 15th century the Portuguese spread their expansion over West Coast of Africa and since 1440 gold, numerous Guinean black slaves as well as elephant ivory had been transmitted to fill in state treasury of Portugal. This commercial network brought HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Portugal" \o "Economic history of Portugal" great wealth to HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" \o "Portugal" Portugal ( HYPERLINK "http://www.google.com.ua/search?hl=ru&tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22A.+J. +R.+Russell-Wood%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=9" Russell-Wood , 1998). Later, the Portuguese explorers got to Cape of Good Hope and in 1498 Vasco da Gama encountered the Indian coast. Noticeably, the exploration of the Indian sea route was considered to be the starting point of Portuguese Colonial Empire establishment. However, Portugal was not powerful at that time, consequently, its state authorities ordered to create multiple fortresses and trade stations on the following marine route - from Lisbon to India and South East Asia. Allegedly, the Portuguese colonial expansion did not differ from simple robbery and marauding. Violent and unmerciful terror raged on the conquered territories. The majority of innocent citizens were callously murdered in the Portuguese colonies. In the 15th century the Portuguese were regarded to be the first who started human trafficking and slave trade.

All things considered, Portuguese Colonial Empire turned to be an insatiable and unmerciful state as its only goal was to become prosperous and flourishing due to expansion of territories, fierce robbery and exploitation of occupied areas and their population.

References

HYPERLINK "http://www.google.com.ua/search?hl=ru&tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Lyle+ N.+McAlister%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=7" McAlister ,L.N. (1984).Spain and Portugal in the New World, 1492-1700. U of Minnesota Press.

HYPERLINK "http://www.google.com.ua/search?hl=ru&tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22A.+J. +R.+Russell-Wood%22&source=gbs_metadata_r&cad=9" Russell-Wood , A.J.R. (1998).The Portuguese Empire, 1415-1808: A World on the Move. JHU …

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