Unable to defend the network of trading posts and factories, the empire went into decline. Although the Spanish and Portuguese empires were administered separately, Portugal's became the subject of attacks by the The Netherlands (engaged in a war of independence against Spain), England, and France. Between 15, Portugal was Spain's junior partner in the Iberian Union. The empire was now global, and a source of great wealth.

By 1571, outposts connected Lisbon to Nagasak. In 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral added Brazil to Portugal's 'discoveries.'Īs skilled Portuguese sailors explored the coasts and islands of East Asia, a series forts and trading posts soon followed. In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and in 1498, Vasco da Gama reached India. Portuguese explorers began exploring the coast of Africa in 1419, leveraging the latest developments in navigation, cartography and maritime technology searching for a sea route to the source of the lucrative spice trade. It spanned almost six centuries, from the capture of Ceuta in 1415 to Macau's return to China in 1999.

The Portuguese Empire was the earliest and longest lived of the modern European colonial empires.

The disputed discovery of Australia is not shown. Red-actual possessions Pink-explorations, areas of influence and trade and claims of sovereignty Blue-main sea explorations, routes, and areas of influence. An anachronous map of the Portuguese Empire (1415-1999).

Age of empires portuguese