Early Modern Era
Portuguese Monarchy
1415 AD – 1750 AD · peak 1580 AD
The Portuguese Empire was built along African, Asian and Atlantic sea routes after the voyages of exploration of the 15th century. From bases such as Goa, Malacca, Macau and Brazil, it controlled trading nodes for spices, gold, sugar and enslaved people. Though it lost centrality in the Indian Ocean, it retained Brazil until 1822 and some African colonies until 20th-century decolonization.
Capital: Lisbon
Key figures
Battles in this period
Trade routes in use
- Silk Road (130 BC – 1450 AD)
- Trans-Saharan Gold Route (700 AD – 1500 AD)
- Hanseatic League (1200 AD – 1600 AD)
- Indian Ocean Spice Route (800 AD – 1500 AD)
- Cape Route (1500 AD – 1869 AD)
- Manila Galleon (1565 AD – 1815 AD)
- Atlantic Triangular Trade (1600 AD – 1808 AD)
- Tea Clipper Route (1720 AD – 1900 AD)