Portugal Exploration

First Portugese Exploration

Jan 1, 1430

Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) - sailed to the Madeiras and Azores, and south, along the coast of Africa, to the western bulge of Africa (Cabo de Não)

Second Portuguese Voyage

Jan 1, 1434

Gil Eanes, set sail in 1434 and rounded Cabo de Não, discovering that the reputed terrors of the southern ocean did not exist. He went further along the coast than Prince Henry the navigator.

Cape of Good Hope Discovered

Jan 1, 1484

Bartolomew Dias set sail in 1486 and discovered the Cape of Good Hope in 1487, rounding the southernmost point of Africa and continued sailing north along the African coast. He did this to find a sea route to Asia gor Portugal.

Reached India from Cape of good Hope.

Jan 1, 1499

Vasco de Gama - sailed from Lisbon on July 8, 1497, sailed by the Cape of Good Hope, and reached India. Returned to Lisbon on August 29, 1499. Portugal now has a sea route to East

Portugal meets Brazil

Jan 1, 1500

In 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral was blown far off course, touched the coast of present-day Brazil and in doing so, established the Portuguese claim to that region.

The first circumnavigation around the World

Jan 1, 1519

In 1519 Ferdinand Magellan leads the first voyage around the World. He actually dies during his voyage but his crew does make it.

One of the Last of the Portuguese Exploration

Jan 1, 1520

João Alvares Fagundes sailed from Portugal sailed from Portugal in 1520 to explore Codfish Land (Newfoundland) and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. He discovered St. Pierre, Miquelon and the many islands between Newfoundland and St. Lawrence including the Penguin Island. He also sailed along the coast of Nova Scotia and discovered the Bay of Fundy. He went back in 1521 and 1525 to establish colonies in the area.