A Letter to the King on the Portuguese Empire. King Philip II
At the beginning of his reign King Philip II of Spain wanted to improve his understanding of his neighbor, the Kingdom of Portugal and its maritime empire. So please write a letter to his majestic the king with an analysis of the Portuguese overseas empire.
What made it possible for the modest sized kingdom of Portugal to establish a maritime empire in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries? Where did the empire extend, and what were the limitations of that empire? Please note the different forms the empire took in the Americas, Africa and Asia. You might consider how it contributed to global trade and how it differed from the Spanish Empire.
Please use the following chapters from the textbook by Beat Kümin: Expanding Horizons by the Gerritsen and McFarlane, pp 182- 191; and Europe Overseas by Anthony McFarlane, pp 193 – 203 (see also Beyond Europe c. 1500 (by Gerritsen and McFarlane), pp 161 – 169).
For this essay you should use the textbook only. The grading will be based on how you use the textbook to construct your arguments. You can put the page number in parentheses when focusing on a particular passage, but in general the goal is to create your own synthesis. Use of outside sources will result in automatic deductions of 2 points wherever they appear.
This essay should be two pages, typed and double-spaced (roughly 500 words).
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
A Letter to the King on the Portuguese Empire
His Royal Highness the King of Spain,
King Philip II,
Dear Sir,
Given your appointment to the office, I would like to offer you a brief analysis of the Portuguese Empire. In regards to your request, I will be answering a few questions that will provide a brief overview of the Portuguese Empire overseas. The intensive exploration by the Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries contributed to their discovery of Asia, Africa, Brazil, and Canada. The voyage by Vasco da Gama to India in 1498 was responsible for opening up on new routes that were for commerce. The newly found directions expanded to Asia, Africa, and America, and the result was an expanded territory by the Portuguese. Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry of Portugal are associated with “maritime trade” with other continents. Systematic explorations made it possible for the Portuguese to continue expanding following the establishment of new routes.
“Late medieval developments in ship design helped by the end of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese had developed the caravel, a two or three-masted ship which, with its combination of square sails and lateen sails, was capable of oceanic sailing and suitable for exploring shallow waters on African shores” (205). The Portuguese enjoyed the presence of nobles who crusaded war with the intent of gaining fortune and fame. Therefore, the Portuguese empire expanded to Asia, America, and Africa with “Henry the Navigator as a key figure.” Accordingly, he organized attacks to Morocc...
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