Afonso d'Alboquerque

-Portuguese commander in the Indian Ocean (16th Century)

-Seized:
  • Hormuz: Gave access to Persian Gulf
  • Goa: Capital of colonial empire
  • Melaka: Control S. China Sea and Indian Ocean trade
-Made all merchants ships purchase safe-conduct passes
-Without the safe-conduct passes, ships could get hijacked
-Violating the policy= death or no longer having hands (getting them cut off)
Picture
Afonso d'Alboquerque

Portuguese Trading Posts

-Earliest trading-post empire built by Portuguese mariners

-Goal: To control trade and wealth
-WAS NOT an attempt to create empires or conquer territories

-More than 50 posts were built between W. Africa and E. Asia
-At Calicut, a trading post was established by Vasco de Gama
-Posts were commercial ventures
-Set up ports in India: controlled trade to and from India
-Portuguese controlled area initially

Failed Attempt at COMPLETE Dominance

-Portuguese WERE very dominant
  • Took early lead
  • Set up a lot of trading posts
  • Controlled trade for the most part; had gunpowder and cannons on ships
-Portugal: NOT a HUGE country, with a small population
-Tried to completely control, but couldn't for a lack of men
-Portuguese dominion weakened by the late 16th century
-Other lands started to arrange their own journeys especially the English and Dutch mariners
Picture
Map of the Portuguese trade routes and Portuguese explorers

Comparison: Portuguese Trade Port Empire VS. Roman Trade

Portuguese Trade Port Empire
-Differences
  • Used Indian Ocean to trade
  • Tried to completely control trade
  • Portuguese: Small population-Couldn't control trade completely because of a lack of men
  • Protected trade: Afonso- safe conduct passes
Roman Trade
-Differences
  • Used Mediterranean Sea to trade
  • HUGE POPULATION, opposite of Portuguese: Had more men
  • Traded inland: built roads
  • Protected trade: Seas were kept free of pirates by Roman military and naval power
Picture
Portuguese Trade Port Empire Map
 PictureRoman Trade Map
Portuguese Trade Port Empire AND Roman Trade
-Similarities:
  • BOTH: traded over a body of water
  • Protected trade
App: Tellegami

College Board Themes

  • Creation, Expansion & Interaction of Economic Systems: Agriculture, Pastoralist, Trade & Commerce, Labor Systems, Industrialism, Capitalism, Socialism
-This college board theme best fits this objective as to trade is very important to an economy. Trade wasn't completely controlled but for the most part it was. With trade over seas, all aspects were being expanded. Knowledge of the geography and wealth was getting expanded.