Portuguese expansion in the world, 14th-17th centuries, the multiple facets of a prism.
Chandeigne| N° d'inventaire | 25690 |
| Format | 12 x 17.5 |
| Détails | 296 p., some illustrations, paperback. |
| Publication | Paris, 2022 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782367322407 |
"Magellane" collection.
Translation by VITEAU Émile, DE CASTRO Xavier.
From its origins, Portuguese expansion, which we take here from its beginnings in the 14th century to the 18th century, was a historical phenomenon of immense diversity, much more so than Spanish expansion. The latter, in fact, was concentrated in America, between the Caribbean and the Inca and Aztec empires, and despite the abysmal differences between the various civilizations encountered, it is still a world that finds a certain unity.
Portuguese expansion, for its part, took place over three centuries on the scale of three oceans (Atlantic, Indian and Pacific) and three continents (America, Africa, Asia), in countries where the geographical, social, economic and political conditions were extremely varied. What was similar, indeed, even in the first quarter of the 16th century , between the fishermen of Newfoundland, the Indians of Brazil approached in 1500, the multiple peoples of the two African coasts, recognized from 1434 to 1498, those of India (1498-1510), of Hormuz (1507) and of Insulin (1511), of China (1513) and even of Japan that the Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover in 1543.
This new type of Portuguese maritime empire was in fact a vast trading network, of which the Portuguese had a monopoly for almost the entire 16th century , with more or less fortified ports of call across half the globe. Some were the embryo of important and lasting trading posts (Goa, Macao), or later of states (Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Principe, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Timor).
The chronicles do not always give us a clear glimpse of the nature of this empire, and most often limit themselves to recording the official expansion – that is, its imperial aspect – and especially the exploits of war. They thus neglect other forms of expansion, such as the spontaneous diaspora of adventurers and merchants, which in certain geographical areas was the major event.
It has thus always been impossible until now to offer a synthesis on this vast and fascinating subject, which affected the entire world from the 16th to the 18th century. A book was needed that was both readable and truly concise, that swept away many preconceived ideas and, above all, that did not elude the great complexity of the situations and issues.
Luís Filipe Thomaz achieved this feat in a book published in Spanish in 2017 (Colombia), of which we are providing a revised and expanded version here.
"Magellane" collection.
Translation by VITEAU Émile, DE CASTRO Xavier.
From its origins, Portuguese expansion, which we take here from its beginnings in the 14th century to the 18th century, was a historical phenomenon of immense diversity, much more so than Spanish expansion. The latter, in fact, was concentrated in America, between the Caribbean and the Inca and Aztec empires, and despite the abysmal differences between the various civilizations encountered, it is still a world that finds a certain unity.
Portuguese expansion, for its part, took place over three centuries on the scale of three oceans (Atlantic, Indian and Pacific) and three continents (America, Africa, Asia), in countries where the geographical, social, economic and political conditions were extremely varied. What was similar, indeed, even in the first quarter of the 16th century , between the fishermen of Newfoundland, the Indians of Brazil approached in 1500, the multiple peoples of the two African coasts, recognized from 1434 to 1498, those of India (1498-1510), of Hormuz (1507) and of Insulin (1511), of China (1513) and even of Japan that the Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover in 1543.
This new type of Portuguese maritime empire was in fact a vast trading network, of which the Portuguese had a monopoly for almost the entire 16th century , with more or less fortified ports of call across half the globe. Some were the embryo of important and lasting trading posts (Goa, Macao), or later of states (Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Principe, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Timor).
The chronicles do not always give us a clear glimpse of the nature of this empire, and most often limit themselves to recording the official expansion – that is, its imperial aspect – and especially the exploits of war. They thus neglect other forms of expansion, such as the spontaneous diaspora of adventurers and merchants, which in certain geographical areas was the major event.
It has thus always been impossible until now to offer a synthesis on this vast and fascinating subject, which affected the entire world from the 16th to the 18th century. A book was needed that was both readable and truly concise, that swept away many preconceived ideas and, above all, that did not elude the great complexity of the situations and issues.
Luís Filipe Thomaz achieved this feat in a book published in Spanish in 2017 (Colombia), of which we are providing a revised and expanded version here.