Portuguese empire: 1415 - 1999

Timeline: Portuguese empire

Years: 1415 - 1999	Subject: History, Regional and National History
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191737657

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BCE CE

Year	Event
1415	A Portuguese prince, Henry the Navigator, becomes fascinated by exploration down the coast of Africa and commissions successive voyages Go to Henry the Navigator (1394–1460) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Exploration European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Portugal Society Empires
c. 1420	The Portuguese, discovering the lush and uninhabited island of Madeira, send colonists to settle it Go to Madeira in The Oxford Companion to Architecture (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Portugal Empires
1446	Portugal claims ownership of the region of Guinea, subsequently the centre of their slave trade on the west African coast Go to slave trade, African in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry Slavery European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Society Empires
c. 1450	The caravel, a sailing ship developed in the Mediterranean and used down the west coast of Africa, is adapted by the Portuguese for Atlantic use Go to caravel in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Travel and transport European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Europe Portugal Society Empires
1466	The Portuguese settlers on the Cape Verde islands are granted a monopoly on the new slave trade Go to Cape Verde in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Slavery European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Society Empires
1483	The Portuguese establish a further presence on the west coast of Africa, at the mouth of the Congo river Go to Congo in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Empires
1488	Bartolomeu Dias, sailing for the king of Portugal, becomes the first European navigator to round the Cape of Good Hope Go to Cape of Good Hope in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Exploration European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Society Empires
1493	Pope Alexander VI draws a line through the Atlantic, dividing new discoveries between Spain (west) and Portugal (east) Go to Alexander VI (1431–1503) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Renaissance 15th century Italian Renaissance Politics Papacy European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Italy Portugal Spain Empires Latin America
1494	In negotiations about the New World at Tordesillas, the king of Portugal insists on a new demarcation line which later brings him Brazil Go to Tordesillas, Treaty of (7 June 1494) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Politics European empires from 1415 Europe Portugal Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1498	Vasco da Gama reaches the southern coast of India, at Calicut, after sailing across the Indian Ocean from east Africa Go to da Gama, Vasco (c. 1469–1524) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Exploration Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Society Empires
1500	Portuguese explorer Pedro Cabral, with a fleet of thirteen ships, makes landfall in Brazil Go to Cabral, Pedro Álvares (1467–1520) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century 16th century Exploration Society Empires Latin America Brazil South America The Portuguese establish trading posts in east Africa, on the coast of Mozambique Go to Mozambique in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Society Empires
1502	Vasco da Gama wins a trading treaty for Portuguese merchants after bombarding the Indian port of Calicut into submission Go to da Gama, Vasco (c. 1469–1524) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Europe Society Empires
1503	The Portuguese set up a trading post on the east African island of Zanzibar Go to Zanzibar in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Society Empires
1505	The Portuguese establish a presence in Sri Lanka, trading in the island's crop of cinnamon Go to Sri Lanka in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Sri Lanka Europe Society Empires
1510	The Portuguese seize Goa and make it their colonial capital in India Go to Goa (India) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Europe Empires
1511	The Portuguese take control of Malacca, in the Malay peninsula, as a base for trade further east Go to Malacca in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Europe Society Empires
1512	The Portuguese make treaties in the Moluccas (or Spice Islands), to trade in cloves and nutmeg Go to Moluccas in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Europe Society Empires
1514	The Portuguese capture Hormuz and establish a garrison to control the Gulf of Oman Go to Hormuz in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Asia West Asia Europe Empires
1534	The Portuguese force the local ruler to cede to them the island of Bombay Go to Bombay in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) Europe Empires
1549	Brazil becomes a Portuguese royal province, under the control of a governor general Go to Brazil (and USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Empires Latin America Brazil South America The first Portuguese governor general of Brazil selects Bahia (now Salvador) as his capital Go to Bahia (Brazil) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Europe Empires Latin America Brazil South America
c. 1550	Africans, bought in the Portuguese trading posts of west Africa, are shipped across the Atlantic as slaves Go to slave trade, African in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Slavery European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Society Empires Latin America
1557	The Portuguese establish a trading post on Macao, a small peninsula off the south coast of China Go to Macao in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Europe Society Empires
c. 1625	The Dutch gradually exclude the Portuguese from the immensely lucrative trade in cloves from the Spice Islands (or Moluccas) Go to Molucca Islands in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry Dutch empire European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Europe Society Empires
1641	The Dutch expel the Portuguese from their trading posts in Malacca Go to Malacca in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry Dutch empire European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Europe Society Empires
1656	After a six-month siege, the Dutch capture Colombo from the Portuguese in Sri Lanka Go to Colombo in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Dutch empire European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia Sri Lanka Europe Empires
1658	The Dutch expel the Portuguese from the last of their trading posts in Sri Lanka Go to Sri Lanka in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry Dutch empire European empires from 1415 Asia South Asia Sri Lanka Europe Society Empires
1668	England's East India Company is granted a lease on Bombay by Charles II, who has received it from his Portuguese bride Go to Catherine of Braganza (1638–1705) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization Commerce and industry British empire European empires from 1415 Mughal empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Europe Society Empires
1698	A fleet from Oman evicts the Portuguese from Mombasa and Zanzibar Go to Mombasa in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa East Africa Europe Empires
1763	The capital of the Portuguese colony of Brazil is moved from Bahia to Rio de Janeiro Go to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1788	Tiradentes (the 'puller of teeth') leads the first rebellion against Portuguese rule in Brazil Go to Brazil (and USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Protest and rebellion Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1792	The Brazilian rebel Tiradentes is beheaded in public in Rio de Janeiro as a warning to would-be revolutionaries Go to Brazil in Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Politics Protest and rebellion Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1815	Brazil is given equal standing with Portugal, forming together the Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil Go to Brazil (and USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1821	The 22-year-old Portuguese prince, Dom Pedro, is made regent of Brazil Go to Pedro I (1798–1834) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1822	The Portuguese regent, Dom Pedro, proclaims the independence of Brazil and three months later is crowned emperor, as Pedro I Go to Pedro I (1798–1834) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Dynasties and royalty Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1836	The Portuguese ban the shipping of slaves from the coast of Angola Go to slave trade, African in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Slavery Dutch empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Portugal Society Empires
1875	Slavery is finally made illegal in the Portuguese empire Go to slave trade, abolition of in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Slavery Dutch empire Europe Portugal Society Empires
1887	The imperial government in China formally acknowledges Portuguese territorial rights in Macao Go to Macao in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Asia East Asia China Southeast Asia Europe Empires
1956	The MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) is formed as a guerrilla movement to end Portuguese rule Go to Angola in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Politics War Africa South Africa Empires
1962	Frelimo emerges as a Marxist guerrilla group dedicated to winning independence for Mozambique Go to FRELIMO in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Politics Communism Protest and rebellion European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires
1966	UNITA, led by Jonas Savimbi, joins the fight for Angolan independence Go to Angola in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Politics War European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires
1974	Portuguese Guinea becomes independent as Guinea-Bissau, with Luís Cabral as president Go to Guinea-Bissau in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Empires
1975	Portuguese East Africa becomes independent as Mozambique, with Frelimo as the only political party Go to Mozambique in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa Europe Empires The Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa, become independent as the republic of Cape Verde Go to Cape Verde in A Dictionary of Contemporary World History (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Empires
1999	The island of Macau reverts from Portuguese ownership to the People's Republic of China Go to Macao in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Politics Asia East Asia China Empires

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Timeline: Portuguese empire

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