Portuguese Exploration - The Glory of Portugal
The world was opened up by Portuguese Exploration in the 15th and 16th century. The city of Lisbon is full of memories of the voyages and distinguished navigators who made the discoveries possible. All over the city are Monuments which commemorate specific discoveries and places whose names remind us of the heroes of the sea.
Henry the Navigator was the royal prince who with his enthusiasm for exploration made these voyages of discoveries possible. He was the leader of the Order of Crato a group connected to the Knights Templar and used their resources to develop maritime expertise. He established a school for navigators at Sagres in the western Algarve and the Templar cross displayed on the sails became the symbol of Portuguese exploration. 
Henry and the DiscoveriesPortugal was a country that depended on the sea and trade. Spices were in great demand as European food was dull. In the early 15th Century they were very expensive due to the difficulty of the land routes to the East. The Portuguese wanted to establish their supremacy as a trading power with sea routes including bases in Africa and eventually India and South America.John 11 1481-1495 continued Henry's work with a fleet building programme and the creation of detailed sea charts needed for exploration. Early Portuguese Discoveries In the 14th century the Portuguese reached the Canary islands and Madeira. Madeira was colonised in 1425. Gil Eanes a young sailor in the company of Henry the Navigator sailed down the West African coast in 1434.In 1482 the African trading post of Sao joao de Mina was established and became the base for trade in Cayenne pepper, coloured cloth, coral and gold. Bernado Dias sailed to the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa in 1488. 
The Torre de Belem. The Portuguese Navigators set sail from here to explore the world. Vasco da Gama and The Indian Sea Route
In 1498 Vasco da Gama supported by Manuel the Fortunate set sail to find the sea route to India in 1497. He arrived in Western India in 20 May 1498. The return journey was particularly perilous and half the crew died before the ships returned to Lisbon. This difficult and heroic voyage was celebrated by the great Portuguese poet Camoes in his Luciads. The return of Vasco to Belem was the cause for celebration and festivities which completely over shadowed Columbus. Vasco and Camoes are now both Portuguese heroes and are buried in the Jeronimus Monastery which was built to celebrate the return of the fleet. In 1500 Pedro Alvars Cabral claimed a part of South America for Portugal. The Treaty of Tordesillas ensured that Portugal achieved a very large colony - Brazil. However, the East remained the main focus of Portuguese expansion due to trade benefits.Goa in Western India was taken by Alfonso de Albuerquerque in 1510.Macau an Island in China was given to the Portuguese in 1557 in order to allow foreign trade - forbidden in other parts of the country. Macau remained the only trading post until the Opium wars in the mid 19th century. Establishing Portugal's unique relationship with the east which is an important part of Portuguese culture. The last hero of Portuguese exploration was Ferdinand Magellan - Magalhaes, unfortunately, he was not a favourite with Dom Manuel the Portuguese king and his journey around the world in 1517 had to be supported by the Spanish . The Discoveries in Lisbon
The Maritime traditions of Lisbon are celebrated in the beautiful Azulejos that are so much a part of the city. These views of Lisbon before the earthquake are in the Azulejos museum at Madredeus east of the centre.
Lisbon is full of echoes of Portuguese exploration today. There are specific monuments with links to the past like the Torre de Belem and the Jeronimus Monastery built to celebrate the voyage of Vasco da Gama. There is the modern Monument to the Discoveries in Belem.There is the Maritime Museum also in Belem which shows items from the ships and the routes taken. There are the street names and designs all over town that remind the visitor of Portuguese seafaring heroes.For more interesting details see Lisbon Monuments and Museums Portuguese Food is also full of the influences of the sea routes that teh portuguese discovered. Piri Piri - chile sauce is a common addition, cumin is used in several dishes, cinnamon is often eaten with cakes.see Portuguese Food and Lisbon Cafes for more information 
There are wonderful maps in the Belem maritime museum which show the routes of the voyages of discoveries.
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