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Did Portugal know about America?
The short answer is: we might never know, but it’s certainly possible. The longest answer is more nuanced. First of all, many centuries before the Portuguese went snooping around the seas, the vikings had arguably explored the icy coasts of North America.
Did Portuguese fishermen discover America?
In short, while it’s possible that there are isolated instances of Portuguese fishermen stopping at Plum Island or elsewhere along the New England coast, it seems very unlikely that there was any serious pre-Columbian or pre-Mayflower presence–not even akin to the relatively minor fishing settlements on Newfoundland.
What was the main reason for Portuguese explorers to go on their expeditions?
Under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal took the principal role during most of the fifteenth century in searching for a route to Asia by sailing south around Africa. In the process, the Portuguese accumulated a wealth of knowledge about navigation and the geography of the Atlantic Ocean.
Did Portugal explore America before Columbus and Spain?
Did Portugal explore America before Columbus and Spain did? Playing American Conquest, a narrative before the very first campaign (about Columbus’ colonization) said that Portugal knew about the possible territories since 1470 and that there was some of the coast charted as early as 1452. How true is this?
Did the Portuguese sailors ever go to Newfoundland?
There were sailors going into the North Atlantic. And the Portuguese were aggressively probing down the coast of Africa. North Atlantic sailors may very well have come across Newfoundland. And it is possible that a Portuguese map existed as early as the 1470s.
What inspired the Portuguese to explore Africa?
The earliest fifteenth-century Portuguese voyages appear to have been inspired by more-immediately tangible goals such as religious crusades against Muslim North Africa and securing direct access to the gold of central Africa. Atlantic Wind Patterns.
How did the Portuguese know the Brazilian coast?
Likewise it is possible that the Portuguese knew the Brazilian coast well before its official announcement of discovery. The winds and currents are both favorable to blowing ships to Brazil. Officially it was discovered in 1500. But an earlier date is possible. And a number of earlier dates and voyages have been suggested.