The Portuguese discovery of Madagascar, and the first European colonies on the island

A short documentary about the Portuguese explorers around the year 1500, and how their discoveries impacted the history of Madagascar during the 16th and 17th centuries, and how the European powers tried to establish colonies along the coasts of Madagascar during this time, but were defeated by the Malagasy people. The coasts of Madagascar were spotted for the first time by the Portuguese explorer Diogo Dias and his men in 1500, and they named the island Ilha de São Lourenço.

The fleets of Afonso de Albuquerque, Fernão Soares, Tristão da Cunha, and Diogo Lopes de Sequeira also reached the island until 1510. In February 1521 King Manuel I sent 2 ships to Madagascar, with the mission to built a fort at a place known as La Matitaña, on the south-eastern shore of the island. For the following decades, the Portuguese contacts with the island continued, and the knowledge of Madagascar progressed, thanks to occasional stops by ships, and the trade between its western coast and Mozambique, where the Portuguese had gained a foothold and built a fortress.

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Voice & editing: Nicolae Bondar (myself)

Music: Mariposa, by Quincas Moreira, downloaded from YouTube Audio Library

Information Sources:
Filipe FR Thomaz Luis. The discovery of Madagascar by the Portuguese in the 16th century. In: Archipel, volume 78, 2009
Vicente, M.A.. (2014). Un projet d'évangélisation toujours ajourné (Madagascar, 1508-1589). Lusitania Sacra. 29. 15-40.

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For every video I try to use copyright free images. However if I have used any of your artwork or map, then please don't hesitate to contact me, and I’ll be more than happy to give the appropriate credit.

[joserolo]

Thank you for sharing our ancestors and our history

[jacksonp]

Here is my 10 word comment for the youtube algorithm.

[MrJovision]

How could Marco Polo in the 13th century confirm the existence of Madagascar, if the Europeans just more than 200 years later, they could travel further the Africa Equador line and even much later the Portuguese could find Madagascar?