Why were the Portuguese such good explorers?

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.

Why did the Portuguese and Spanish explorers explore?

Their goals were to expand Catholicism and to gain a commercial advantage over Portugal. To those ends, Ferdinand and Isabella sponsored extensive Atlantic exploration.

What did the Portuguese explorers discover?

During this period, Portugal was the first European power to begin building a colonial empire as Portuguese sailors and explorers discovered an eastern route to India (that rounded the Cape of Good Hope) as well as several Atlantic archipelagos (like the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde) and colonized the African coast …

Which Portuguese explorer sailed from the Cape of Good Hope?

Bartolomeu Dias
Cape of Good Hope, rocky promontory at the southern end of Cape Peninsula, Western Cape province, South Africa. The first European to sight the cape was Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 on his return voyage to Portugal after ascertaining the southern limits of the African continent.

Why was Portugal so successful?

In the early 16th century, Portugal was the most prosperous nation in the world, thanks to its feats of navigation, exploration and conquest. From India, its ships pushed further east, reaching the Spice Islands (Indonesia) in 1512 and China in 1514.

When did the Portuguese and Spanish explorers begin exploring?

In 1492 Columbus discovered the New World of the Americas. Portugal​ and ​Spain​ became the early leaders in the Age of Exploration. Through the Treaty of Tordesillas the two countries agreed to divide up the New World.

Why did the Portuguese explore the African continent?

Portuguese expansion into Africa began with the desire of King John I to gain access to the gold-producing areas of West Africa. In this way, the Portuguese diverted the trade in gold and slaves away from the trans-Saharan routes causing their decline and increased their own status as a powerful trading nation.

What Portuguese explorer sailed from?

Which portuguese explorer sailed from the cape of good hope to india? It was Vasco da Gama.