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The Age of Discovery and Portuguese Dominance in the East Indies

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Vasco da Gama's 1498 voyage to India marked a turning point in global trade, establishing a direct sea route and initiating European dominance in the East Indies. The Treaty of Tordesillas, Portuguese ascendancy, the Battle of Diu, and the cultural legacy in the region are pivotal events that shaped the Age of Discovery and the subsequent Age of Imperialism, influencing politics, culture, and commerce in the East Indies.

Vasco da Gama's Landmark Voyage to India

The Age of Discovery, a period marked by European exploration, was driven by the quest for new trade routes to the rich markets of Asia, particularly India and China. The objective was to circumvent the heavily taxed and dangerous routes through the Mediterranean and around the Middle East, which were under the control of the Ottoman Empire. In 1497, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama embarked on a pioneering journey that would change the course of history. Sailing around the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, he reached the shores of Calicut, India, on May 20, 1498. This groundbreaking voyage not only established a direct sea route to Asia but also signaled the beginning of European maritime dominance and the eventual establishment of colonial empires in the East.
A serene bay scene with a three-masted carrack anchored, its sails furled, amid terracotta amphorae on shore, under a gradient sunset sky.

The Treaty of Tordesillas: Dividing the New World

The Treaty of Tordesillas, ratified in 1494, was a pivotal agreement between the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, with the blessing of Pope Alexander VI. This treaty aimed to resolve conflicts over newly discovered lands by the two maritime powers. It drew an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean, at 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands (approximately 46°37′W). Spain was granted exclusive rights to territories west of this line, while Portugal was given rights to the lands east of it. This division granted Portugal claim to parts of Africa, Asia, and the easternmost part of South America, which would later become Brazil. The treaty significantly influenced the patterns of European colonization and the history of international relations.

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Objective of the Age of Discovery

Find new trade routes to Asia, avoiding Ottoman-controlled Mediterranean.

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Consequences of European maritime dominance

Led to colonial empires in Asia, altering global power balance.

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Strategic importance of Cape of Good Hope

Provided a sea route around Africa to Asia, bypassing Middle Eastern land routes.

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