Portuguese discoveries

Portuguese-sponsored voyages from the 15th century onward explored Atlantic islands and the African coast, then reached the Indian Ocean and established maritime routes.

Caravel: A small, maneuverable sailing ship used by Portuguese mariners for Atlantic exploration. Its ability to sail close to the wind helped voyages explore the African coast.
Henry the Navigator: A Portuguese prince who sponsored voyages and maritime expansion during the first half of the 15th century. His patronage helped sustain early voyages along Africa's Atlantic coast.
Infante Dom Henrique: The Portuguese name for Henry the Navigator, a prince associated with early maritime sponsorship. His historical role is often overstated as a direct organizer of every Portuguese voyage.
Portuguese Empire: A global empire ruled by Portugal from the 15th century into the 20th century. Voyages created the maritime links and footholds from which the empire grew.
Volta do mar: A navigation strategy that used prevailing winds and ocean currents to make long-distance sailing routes viable. Portuguese pilots used broad Atlantic arcs to return from the African coast against prevailing winds.
Ceuta: A North African port captured by Portugal in 1415 and held as an overseas possession. Its conquest marked a major early step in Portugal's expansion beyond Europe.
Gil Eanes: A Portuguese navigator who sailed beyond Cape Bojador in 1434. His voyage broke a geographic and psychological barrier to further exploration down Africa.
Portuguese India: The Portuguese colonial possessions and administrative presence in India, centered on Goa after 1510. The Indian Ocean route enabled Portugal to build a durable Asian colonial center.
Portuguese nautical charts: Sea charts produced in Portugal that recorded coastlines, ports, hazards, and navigational information. Chartmaking converted voyage observations into practical knowledge for later expeditions.
Madeira: A North Atlantic archipelago colonized by Portugal during the 15th century. Its settlement became an early model for Portuguese Atlantic colonization and plantation production.

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