Portugal Leads the Way
Trace how Prince Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama made Portugal the first nation to establish an Indian Ocean trade empire in Grade 7 history.
Key Concepts
Portugal was the first nation to explore. Prince Henry the Navigator founded a navigation school and sponsored voyages down the coast of West Africa. He wanted to find the source of African gold and a route to India.
After Henry’s death, Vasco da Gama achieved this goal in 1498. He sailed around the southern tip of Africa to India, returning with a cargo of spices worth 60 times the cost of the voyage. This success broke the Muslim Italian trade monopoly and established a Portuguese trading empire in the Indian Ocean.
Common Questions
What did Prince Henry the Navigator accomplish?
Prince Henry founded a navigation school in Portugal and sponsored voyages down the coast of West Africa, seeking the source of African gold and a sea route to India. He systematically gathered geographic knowledge and improved maritime technology. His investments made Portugal the leading nation in early exploration.
How did Vasco da Gama's voyage change European trade?
In 1498, Vasco da Gama sailed around the southern tip of Africa to reach India, returning with a cargo of spices worth 60 times the cost of the voyage. This achievement broke the Muslim-Italian monopoly on Asian trade that had kept spice prices extremely high in Europe. Portugal's success established a direct sea route that transformed global trade.
What was Portugal's trading empire in the Indian Ocean?
Following da Gama's voyage, Portugal established a network of trading posts along the African and Indian coasts that gave them control over Indian Ocean commerce. Portuguese ships could now bring Asian spices and goods directly to Europe without paying middlemen. This empire made Portugal one of the wealthiest nations in Europe.