Tag Archives: Portuguese-empire

Key developments of 1541 (and centennial of European slave-raiding into Africa)

In 1541 CE, of course Spain’s cruelly swashbuckling conquistadores continued their depradations in the Americas– from the Mississippi River down to southern Chile. Several other world-historically interesting things were happening too: Francis Xavier, one of the founders of the Jesuit order, left Lisbon on a mission to the Portuguese East Indies. I guess each empire-building … Continue reading Key developments of 1541 (and centennial of European slave-raiding into Africa)

Key developments of 1534

1534 CE was a pretty interesting interesting year in the development of European-origined imperialism. Scroll on down for a quick visit to the history of printing. But here were the main global-political events of the year: In March, Portugal’s King John II established the first system to organize and promote permanent settlement and control in … Continue reading Key developments of 1534

Key developments of 1532, and notes on Portugal’s slavery system in Brazil

Today, looking at 1532 CE, we’ll return to looking more at what the Portuguese Empire was up to worldwide (and especially in Brazil.) But first, a broader look at the main events that impacted the continuing development of the “West’s” domination of the world: In January, São Vicente was established as the first permanent Portuguese … Continue reading Key developments of 1532, and notes on Portugal’s slavery system in Brazil

Key developments of 1531 (and notes on Spain’s early-16th century empire)

Most of the developments I’m noting from 1531 CE relate to Spain’s still rapidly growing transatlantic empire– see more on this, below. Within Europe during this year, various Catholic-Protestant things were happening, though nothing that stands out. But the first two items here concern two large pre-Western empires in Africa… 1531 saw two large battles … Continue reading Key developments of 1531 (and notes on Spain’s early-16th century empire)

Key developments of 1530

In 1529 CE, we looked at some momentous events inside the European heartland. Today, looking at 1530 CE, some of the most notable strands of the story of the emergence of European-origined imperialisms onto the world scene are developments that happened in the “ROW” (rest of the world): In February, a Spanish conquistador in the … Continue reading Key developments of 1530

Key developments of 1523, and notes on the pre-Portuguese Indian Ocean

There was not as much happening in 1523 CE in the key areas I’m tracking, as there had been the preceding years. (To be honest, things going on in Scandinavia at that time leave me yawning.) But here’s what I have picked up: Martin Luther published his translation into German of the Pentateuch (the first … Continue reading Key developments of 1523, and notes on the pre-Portuguese Indian Ocean

Key developments of 1522 (and notes on the Portuguese Empire)

So, in 1522 CE, our story of the development of Western imperialism continues to focus on many of the same actors as we were tracing the past two years: In January, and on behalf of “Spain” (more precisely, perhaps, the union of Castile and Aragon inaugurated by the 1469 marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella), the … Continue reading Key developments of 1522 (and notes on the Portuguese Empire)