Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:26 — 50.8MB)
Season 2023 – Talk 01 – The Portuguese Empire
In The Portuguese Empire Richard Thomas tells the story of Europe’s first, longest and also last Empire.
Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk.
Voyages of Discovery:
Henry the Navigator is the key. He finances and sends explorers into the unknown. This is a time when perceived wisdom, or religion, believes that the earth is flat and if you go too far you fall off the end.
Some of his captains agreed, others went far into the Atlantic and found the currents that let them sail north and back home.
Brazil:
Go too far and you bump into Brazil! This leads to the Portuguese colonisation of Brazil. It also leads to the Treaty of Tordesillas where Portugal and Spain, supported by the Catholic Church, divide up the Americas.
Portugal receives Brazil and, to support it’s ambitions, becomes the largest player in the abominable Slave Trade.
Africa:
In the early days the Portuguese work with African countries such as Benin.
Later, in Angola and Mozambique there is no partnership. The indigenous inhabitants are treated as slaves, or worse. No long term investments are made leaving these countries in a poor position after their independence.
The end of Empire
Revolution in Africa leads to the repatriation of many settlers. Then there is the surrender of Macau to China. The end of an Empire that lasted from 1415 to 1999!
Listen to the podcast and hear Richard tell the fascinating story.
About this podcast:
This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History Group and the Farnham u3a Medieval History Group.
It is not always possible to use all of the images presented in the original talk for copyright reasons.
The Farnham u3a site is here.
This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.
AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use the music in this talk.
© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham u3a World History Group 2018 – 2023
