Henry the Navigator - Age of Discovery

We start a new series where the Reconquista left off. With the fall of Granada, the Age of Discovery begins! First up is Henry the Navigator. Henry was the son of John I. He set Portugal on the fast path to discovery. His patronage allowed for the exploration of the coast of Africa, naval improvements like the Caravel, and he was renowned as creating his famous School of Navigation (which may not have existed).

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#age #discovery #Henry

[kevinraposo]

Portugal had this huge and successful empire that very few people know about we need more videos like this.

[chungus]

The most astonishing trait of Henry is that he understood the importance of exploration and colonization, he was indeed a visionary.

[AndNowIWrite]

I moved to Portugal in 2019, can't get enough of its history. It's a fascinating country.

[parvuspeach]

Just for context, John I had many reasons to attack Ceuta, ward off moorish pirates that raided the portuguese coast regularly, go for the source of wheat in Morocco and investigate where gold and ivory was coming from in caravans, spread Christianity, keep his soldiers busy (after the war in 1385 the defeated castillians only signed a peace treaty in 1415, it was cold war for 30 years) but also legitimize his rule internationaly, he was a bastard after all, son of Peter I the Cruel. Edit: thank you, great video.

[bextiyarazeri]

It's a great video, greetings from Azerbaijan

[Fabiani]

Portuguese here. Thanks to Henry and all those intrepid sailors that followed him and discovered 70% of the world im very proud to be Portuguese. Thank you for showing part of this amazing journey to the world. It´s a story worthy of being told. Movies have been done for way less.

[diogosousa]

How Cadamostro was hired by Prince Henry is interesting. His ship was stuck in Portugal due to bad weather and after being told by Portuguese comercial agents of Henry (that wanted him to buy sugar from Madeira) how Portugal sailed to new lands in Africa, he immediately went to Henry's estate and ask him to join in the expeditions.... Henry hired him on the spot.

In his book Il Navigatori, he mentions his voyages and a particular trading spot (resgate) between Portuguese merchants and Wolof people. He mentions how healthy iberian horses could be traded for slaves. Eventually meeting their king and spending a month there.

Instead of returning to Portugal he went further south, meeting other people (some "cruel barbarians" according to the Wolof interpreters, and later by seeing one of the interpreters being killed on the beach by the Serer people).

Would later continue to explore and reach the Gambia river, contacting the Madinka people, with the help of interpreters he was successful on making peaceful contact and got word that several Madinka vassals wanted to open trade with Portugal (perhaps due to the Songhai blocking Mali's trade with North Africa, and using Portugal to circumvent their rival to gain access to the European markets).

[josephrego]

Portugal, a small country, with a history of achievement as great as nations 10 times its size.

[Antaragni]

As a brazilian I ask for more videos from Portugal Empire. Thanks!

[duartealexhenriques]

Hey loved your video. The Alliance between England and Portugal was consolidated with the marriage of Joao l with Filipa Lencastre. One of the bravest king of those days. From this marriage there was 5 strongest princes. Joao l leading with his best Aljubarrota general and his 5 prince sons. There was the most feareless kingdom in Europe in that time.

[Jacob-dfhr]

That intro was perfect, masterful pacing. Thank you for this video, this is such an interesting time in history, everything is at an inflection point: cartography, gunpowder, religion, science, civics, ethics, economics. You can see the dovetails of the European miracle coming together all throughout the 15th century, and Henry might be its heraldic personification. I'm so pumped for this series!

[afaria]

Prince Henry the Navigator was the Master of the Knights of Christ in Portugal and offshoot of the Knight Templars. Portugal welcomed and protected the Knight Templars.

[ricardodavidson]

Two points: First is that Portugal was the first modern imperial power, starting like you describe. There were three "empires", the first was based on the spice trade, it went as far as Japan, it conquered Malacca and died out during the dynastic union with Spain, as the Dutch and the British followed the routes used by the Portuguese and ransacked the empire. The Portuguese were not over-keen to defend this as it was now Spanish. The second "empire" was based on Brazil, the gems, gold, sugar and other commodities. This went belly-up with Brazil's independence in 1821. The third "empire" was once again based on the African colonies and their riches, this went over the side in 1974. The much-vaunted British empire only started in the 18th century and was consolidated after the Indian Mutiny when the trade and power was taken from the various rapacious "companies" and paced under crown control.
The second point concerns the slave trade. You paint it as if the Portuguese started it. This is grossly untrue, it had been going on in Europe for centuries albeit on a small scale. Captured enemies (specially non-Christian ones) were in general enslaved. it was rife during the Roman Empire, and what the Portuguese did was tap a new source of manpower they could buy from the local chieftains (yes, africans sold africans...) for relatively cheap goods. The enslavement of africans had been ongoing for centuries by the islamic arabs, there is on Youtube an interesting video by a Nigerian professor of sociology that estimates that something like 18 MILLION young African men were taken as slaves, subjected to the compulsory radical castration (penis and testicles) from which less than 20% survived. This is not only slavery, it's near genocide. 
Please correct your facts, Europeans had a relatively minor role in the enslavement of Africans, I understand that for an American this is the relevant part as it still affects your society, but facts are facts even if they do not fit the current political narrative...

[capitaobeluga]

The battle of Diu was one of the must important battles ever. This happens when the Portugees arrived in India. At that time the species where controlled bij the Ottomans, Genova and Venezia. The Portugees fought against this coalition. If I’m not mistaken 20 Portuguese Naus agains 200 of the coalition’s. Huge victory for Portugal and for the Catholics. The battle of Diu is on the 6th of the most important battle of all times. I’m really proud of my country history and for everything Portugal has given to the world.

[ScipioAfricanus_Chris]

Words cannot describe how happy I am that you are covering the seige/conflict of Ceuta. My knowledge of this conflict was fairly general until watching this. Ceuta is a must-visit cite for history lovers. It's very easy to access via ferry from Algeciras, Spain.

Decades from now, your series on the Iberian Peninsula will be mandatory viewing for anyone seeking information on the peninsula. Im delighted you're covering, and covering masterfully, the often overlooked histories of Spain and Portugal.

[johnudnih]

How is there no movies made on this. This are amazing stories

[marktodd]

I love your documentaries, keep them coming! Portuguese history seems underrepresented compared to other European countries so it’s great to see this. I have enjoyed your recent series of Isabel of Castile….I am currently in Spain for the first time, seeing Granada and Sevilla where it all took place.

[LittleThuga]

As a portuguese, i must admit that i learned some of the facts that you presented here at school, but you went in so much deep without rambling on. Congrats and thank you. You got yourself a new subscriber 💯👏

[its_PickleTime]

Loved it! Can't wait for more stuff about Portugal!

[Ealdorman_of_Mercia]

Absolutely amazing. I didn’t know this story at all. Thank you !