The name of great discoveries refers to the new territories discovered mainly by the Portuguese and Spanish navigators, since the end of the 15th century, in Africa, Asia, Oceania and America; and whose existence they were unaware of or had vague references to.
The Europeans therefore arrived in Asia, Africa, America and Oceania, continents shortly before almost unknown and brought their culture, religion and customs there, spreading them. This fact is known as the Europeanization of the world.
Background
During the last years of the Middle Ages, the Arabs obtained from India and Oceania the substances called spices (cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, vanilla, etc.) and also gold. These products were sold to Europeans at high prices, and merchants in Venice and Genoa did a great deal of resale. But since the Turks took Constantinople in 1453, the Arabs could no longer trade freely in the Red Sea, because Turkey closed the passage to all merchandise and established insurmountable customs protection problems. I also close the mercantile routes. Consequently, Europe's trade with India was closed.
Causes
These great discoveries had their origin in:
- The need to find new routes to the Indians, Thus, those used for trade with the East had fallen into the hands of the Turks, after they seized the ports of Constantinople and Alexandria, through which spices from Asia (cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, etc.) arrived in Europe. ginger), gum arabic, perfumes, precious stones, fine fabrics, etc.
- The improvement of navigation , due to the appearance of the compass, the construction of better boats (caravels) and other devices, allowed navigators to take risks in unknown seas without fear of getting lost.
- The advancement of Geography and the growing belief that the Earth was round.
- The adventurous spirit that drove men to conquer or discover new lands to get rich.
- The desire of certain religious congregations to spread Christianity in those hitherto unknown lands.
Portuguese Discoveries
Starting in the 14th century, the main Portuguese explorers were the following:
Henry the Navigator (1394-1460)
Son of the king of Portugal Don Juan I. In his desire to spread the principles of the religion throughout West Africa and led by his love of navigation, he undertook several expeditions.
His ships touched down in Sagres, located on Cape Saint Vincent, and the prince founded a palace, an astronomical observatory, a Nautical School and an arsenal that allowed the exploration of the western coasts of North Africa and the islands off to Portugal.
In this way they discovered the Wood Islands (1419), the Azores, the Canary Islands, Cape Bojador, the coasts of Senegal and the Gulf of Guinea (1485), where the Portuguese traded with the native Africans, receiving gold and ostrich eggs. , which is why they called the place "Costa de Oro".
Bartolome Diaz (1487)
Another very intrepid navigator, Bartolomé Diaz, taking three ships, toured the western coast of Africa and he doubled the most salient part of the continent, where terrible storms endangered the expedition. She could not continue beyond Natal. Bartolomé Diaz baptized the region with the name of cape of storms , but the king of Portugal Don Juan II, changed this name to cape of the new hope , so as not to discourage sailors who undertook new expeditions.
Vasco da Gama
Ten years later, the audacious Vasco da Gama, with few ships, followed the path of Bartolomé Diaz and managed to pass the Cape of Storms in good time.
He reached the coast of Mozambique where he got an Arab pilot who took him to the coast of India itself, to the coast of India itself, landing in Calicut.
The natives of the country did not welcome the Portuguese, considering them as rivals in their trade, and Vasco da Gama had to return to Portugal with his small fleet.
Alvarez de Cabral
As soon as Vasco da Gama landed in Portugal, another expedition commanded by Alvarez de Cabral was immediately launched, with the aim of colonizing India; but this expedition, dragged by the equatorial winds, lost its way and accidentally landed on the coast of Brazil, in the East of South America (1504). Cabral, after recognizing said country, changed course and sailed for India, and arrived at Calicut; but he was received by the Indians in a hostile manner, so the Portuguese ordered the gunboat from the city and returned to Portugal, carrying a large number of species from Oceania. After these expeditions, the Portuguese colonized India for a short time, founding a viceroyalty, whose first ruler was Don Francisco de Almeida.
Portuguese Colonial Empire
Due to the work of its sailors, Portugal came to dominate territories in:
– America:Brazil.
– Africa:Senegal, coasts of Guinea, the Congo.
– Asia:Aden (Arabia), Calicut, Goa in India, Macao (China), Malacca.
– Oceania:Timor.
Spanish Discoveries
The Spanish also made great discoveries, especially in America.
While the Portuguese explored the West African coast, the Spanish dispatched the Colon expedition, following the path of Western Europe.
Columbus
The notable Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus, helped by the Catholic kings Don Fernando and Doña Isabel, discovered America on October 12, 1492, landing on Guanahaní Island, belonging to the group of the Bahamas, in the Antilles Sea. After performing such an amazing feat, Columbus made three more voyages that can be summarized as follows:
Second Voyage
He discovered the islands of Jamaica and Puerto Rico and when he reached Hispaniola, which he had founded on his first voyage, he found that the natives had killed all the Spaniards he had left as rulers.
Third Voyage
He arrived at Trinidad Island and explored the mouths of the Orinoco River in Venezuela. As conflicts arose between the Spaniards, the kings sent the commissioner Don Francisco de Bobadilla (1500) to do justice:but Bobadilla, believing Columbus guilty of everything that happened, had him arrested and taken to Spain with his feet shackled. The kings ordered his freedom and dismissed Bobadilla.
Fourth Voyage
He traveled Columbus the coasts of Honduras and Panama and then returned to Spain, dying shortly after in Valladolid (1506).
Alonso de Ojeda, Vicente Yañez Pinzón
And other sailors explored the coasts of Central and South America.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Of Spanish nationality, he discovered the South Sea in 1513, that is, what is now called the Pacific Ocean.
Juan Diaz De Solis
Of Spanish nationality, he explored the Río de la Plata in 1517, attracted by the legend of the Argentine man , a fabulous character who, it was said, lived in the midst of large amounts of silver.
Ferdinand Magellan
Following the route of Alvarez de Cabral and that of the Spaniard Juan Diaz de Solis, the great Portuguese navigator Ferdinand or Hernando de Magallanes came to America with the aim of accomplishing the marvelous feat, superior to the voyages of Columbus, of going around the world.
On September 25, 1519, Magellan departed from the port of San Lucar, sent by the kings of Spain in order to reach the Moluccas Islands, following a new route. For this it was necessary to travel almost the entire planet. Fulfilling this objective, the expedition went to America and toured the coasts of Brazil. From there I continued along the coast of Argentina towards the strait that bears the name of Magellan. Crossing the strait, he continued towards the coast of Chile and immediately crossed the Pacific Ocean , to Oceania.
In the Moluccan islands, Magellan died in combat with the natives. The second chief, Sebastian Elcano, continued along the coast of Africa and ended the expedition. The long journey had lasted more than three years, (1519-1522).
The roundness of the earth was thus demonstrated.
Magellan's Greatness
The great Portuguese navigator surpassed Columbus in audacity and selflessness.
Boldly, because also using caravels, he made a very long journey through unknown seas, much more rugged and dangerous than the one made from the port of Palos to Guanahaní.
In disinterest, because although his very long journey was made to reach the Moluccas Islands, by a route different from those already known, he did not have the ambition of discovered lands and, rather, had the scientific purpose of proving the roundness of the land.
Other Discoveries
In addition to the discoveries verified by Columbus and Magellan, others were made by daring navigators of Spanish and French nationality.
Here are the main ones:
Jacobo Cartier
A French navigator, he explored and colonized Newfoundland and Canada in North America, lands that had been discovered earlier by Sebastian Cabot.
Francisco Pizarro
In 1532, he discovered and conquered Peru
Hernando de Soto
Spanish captain, he explored and perished in the Mississippi River of the United States of North America. This intrepid soldier had taken part in the conquest of Peru.
Francisco de Orellana
In 1542, he discovered the Amazon River.
Spanish Colonial Empire
Spain came to dominate the following territories:
- In America:Florida, California to the north; Mexico and Central America, the Antilles; South America, except Brazil.
- In Africa:Cape Verde, Oran and Tunisia.
- In Oceania:the Philippines and part of the Moluccas.
Consequences of the Great Geographical Discoveries
The consequences were:
Geographical Order
- Through the discoveries the roundness of the Earth was verified.
- New seas and oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian) were discovered and taken advantage of.
- Geography and Biology advanced with the knowledge of new plants and animals.
Social Order
- The emigration of European peoples to the discovered lands originated.
- Some races were exploited at work. This is why the black slave trade (trafficking) was established.
- The aboriginal races were exploited by the colonizers, both in Africa, as well as in India and America.
Political Order
- Spain and Portugal, due to the discoveries, increased their political power and became European powers.
- New forms of government were created, such as viceroyalties, general captaincies, presidential offices, hearings.
- political conflicts were provoked between the colonizing countries, due to border issues in their domains.
Economic Order
- The natural resources of half the planet were made available.
- Europe was transformed economically, because it was invaded by new products and wealth.
- The shipping industry progressed, as distant expeditions required renewal of ships.
- The commercial power of Venice, Genoa and Marseilles declined.
Religious Order
- New faithful joined the ranks of Christianity.
- The pope's authority increased. Many times he served as an arbitrator in international conflicts. Pope Alexander VI (Borgia), by means of a decree or bull, established as the limit of the possessions of Spain and Portugal in America, the so-called Tordecillas Line, that is, an imaginary line, which went from pole to pole, passing almost through the center of South America.