Explorers in the New WorldChristopher ColumbusPedro CabralPortuguese ExplorationVicente Yß±ez Pinz≤nAmerigo VespucciOther European ExplorersThe Conquistadors
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Early Portuguese ExplorationThe exploration which resulted in the discovery of America arose from Europe's eagerness to find a sea-route to Asia and India (often referred to by early explorers as "the Indies"). The Europeans knew that the Asia and India existed, and even knew a little about their cultures thanks to earlier travellers such as Marco Polo. They had also been receiving exotic spices and silks for centuries from Asia via Arab traders. However, because the Arabs controlled the land-routes between Europe and Asia they had a monopoly on all trade, and charged high prices making things very expensive. The discovery of a sea-route between Europe and Asia would enable European ships to by-pass Arab traders and thus get access to goods much more cheaply. Portugal was doing the most exploration, thanks to the encouragement of a prince known as Henry the Navigator (1394-1460). Henry sent ships to venture down the coast of Africa, reporting everything that they saw and establishing trading posts. Voyages along the African coast were long and treacherous – often sailing against the winds or in danger of being shipwrecked on inhospitable coasts. As such, Portuguese ships had been exploring the African coast for many decades before Batholomew Dias finally reached the Cape of Good Hope (at the southern tip of Africa) in 1488. Christopher Columbus also spent several years in Portugal, which is where he acquired much of his knowledge about geography and seamanship – and it was the Portuguese who he originally asked to support his venture to find Asia by sailing westwards. However, Portuguese experts advised the King not to support Columbus's plan because they knew that his calculations were wrong, and that voyages around Africa were much more likely to succeed in finding Asia. It was his failure to obtain Portuguese backing that resulted in Columbus seeking the support of Spain's Queen Isabella. In 1498, Vasco de Gama discovered that it was possible to reach the tip of Africa much quicker (and more safely) by sailing out into the mid-Atlantic and following the trade winds. This avoided Africa's treacherous coast and winds. After rounding the tip of Africa and refurbishing his ships, de Gama headed into the Indian Ocean and sailed along the coast of East Africa, eventually reaching Calicut in India. He returned to Portugal in 1499 with news of the long-awaited sea-route to India. Pedro Cabral made the first commercial trading voyage in 1500 (discovering Brazil along the way), but Arab traders stirred up trouble for the Europeans which resulted in the deaths of many of Cabral's men at the hands of India's ruler in Calicut. Although Cabral did manage to negotiate a trade treaty, the Portuguese were angered at the deaths, and de Gama returned in 1502 with a well-armed fleet forcing the Indian Sultan to make peace and assure favorable terms for future trade. The Portuguese therefore achieved their goal, securing control of the European trade with East Indies – and maintained their dominance for over a century until their defeat by other rising sea powers (notably Great Britain and Holland). Trade with the Indies was subsequently taken over by the Dutch and British East India Companies
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