Henry the Navigator
by.Shawn Tack
College Board Theme
4.creation, Expansion & Interaction of Economic Systems
Henry the navigator provided and sponsored voyages down the west African coast, eventually leading to Portuguese commerce reaching the Indian Ocean. Due to his contribution to increasing the Portuguese trading and economic, I belive that this Collage Board Theme was fitting.
- Originally named Dom Henrique
- Hastened the European exploration
- A Portugese explorer
- conquered the Moroccan port of Ceuta using Gun Powder from China.
- The Moroccan port provided Portuguese control over trades entering the Mediterranean sea. Leading to Portugal's economic increase.
- Lead to series of voyages down the west African coast.
- Portugese Traders made trading posts in Sao Jorge da Mina (Ghana) and in many other places
- Exchanged leather, European horses, textiles, and metalwares for gold and slaves.
- Even after his death, more explorers were inspired to go further.
- In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias was able to reach the Indian Ocean.
- Opening opportunities to buy spices, and silk. Not through Muslim intermediaries.
- After domestic and foreign issues in Portugal, Vasco Da Gama sailed towards India and made profit with Cinnamon and pepper.
- By 1500, Portuguese had a trading post at Calicut and Portuguese mariner prominent in the Indian Ocean Basin
- Soon after, English and Dutch mariners followed Portuguese into the Indian Ocean Basin.
Comparison
I compared Henry the Navigator with Zheng He. They both tried to explore with intentions of increasing trade. Both were largely known within their country for starting explorations to find other countries. However Zheng He had an intention of spreading China's supremacy to other countries, while Dom Henrique did not. Zheng He also had large ships known as treasure ships made for transporting. While Henry had normal ships to explore.