Born c. 1467, Belmonte, Portugal
Died c. 1520, Santarém, Portugal
Around the turn of the fifteenth century, great geographical discoveries had been made that opened up ocean routes between Europe and Asia. In 1488 Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias (c. 1450–1500) had discovered and rounded the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. In 1498 Portuguese nobleman Vasco da Gama (c. 1460–1524) had sailed around southern Africa as he made his way to India, a land known for its precious jewels, finely made goods, and rich spices. Manuel I (1469–1521), king of Portugal, wanted to maintain the trade advantage that da Gama’s journey had given him, and he rushed to send out another expedition to the East before other European nations did the same.
Because da Gama was still recovering from his difficult voyage, King Manuel chose nobleman Pedro Álvares Cabral to lead the second, more ambitious expedition. The fleet Cabral commanded was much larger than da Gama’s; it was comprised of thirteen well-armed vessels that carried a far greater supply of quality goods for serious trading. Although Cabral had little sailing experience, he managed to successfully complete his mission, setting up direct trade agreements with rich Indian ports.
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