The Portuguese Empire began in 1415 with the conquest of Ceuta and expanded globally during the Age of Discovery, establishing colonies in South America, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. However, the empire began to collapse in the late 1500s due to military losses and competition from other European powers for trade. Major setbacks included the 1578 Battle of Alcacer Quibir and Spain's failed invasion of England in 1588. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake also significantly weakened Portugal. Finally, Brazil gained independence in 1822, marking the loss of Portugal's largest colony and triggering mass emigration of Portuguese.

1. *Portuguese Empire*
Matthew McHolland
History 140
Professor Arguello

2. *Portuguese Empire (1400-1800)*
.July 25, 1415 marked the beginning of the Portuguese Empire, for this was
the time when the Portuguese Armada departed to the Islamic center and
conquered Ceuta.
. During this time, the Muslims rebelled against the Portuguese but this was
just the beginning of the Portuguese Empire.
. Portugal was at some point a world power during Europe’s “Age of
Discovery.”
. Portugal Empire consisted of several colonies around the world and they
were South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
. Unfortunately, the Portuguese Empire reached its highest point but little
by little began to collapse due to countries such as the Netherlands, England
and France. Those countries “took an increase share of the spice and slave
trade.”

3. *Portuguese Empire (1400-1800)*
- The Portuguese Empire Collapses. The first event that began to hurt
the Portuguese Empire was the military decline due to two
devastating battles. The battle of Alcacer Quibir, Morroco in 1578
and Spain’s attempt to conquer England in 1588.
- Another event that weaken the Portuguese Empire was the
shocking earthquake that took place in 1755.
- Once again, in 1822, Portugal had experience losing Portugal, by then
its largest colony. This event cause migration to occur, for nearly two
million Portuguese left Europe and eventually established in Brazil and
the United States.

4. *Colonial Brazil*
- The Viceroyalty or Colonial Brazil comprises the period from 1500,
with the arrival of the Portuguese until 1815, when Brazil was
elevated to kingdom alongside Portugal as the United Kingdom of
Portugal , Portugal and the Algarves.
- According to the article “Colonial Brazil,” the 300 years of Brazilian
colonial history, the economic exploration of the territory was
based on Brazil wood extraction, sugar production, and finally on
gold and diamond mining. Unfortunately, most of the people that
did this kind of work were slaves from Africa.

5. ***Colonial Brazil***
- In 1534, John III, organized the colonization of Brazil through lands grants.
As of 1520, the Portuguese had realized that Brazil was likely to be disputed
because Francis I of France was challenging the Treaty of Tordesillas.
- In order to support settlement, fifteen longitudinal tracks, ranging from
the coast to the Tordesillas limit were created. During this time, each
captain major was to build settlements, grant allotments, and minister
justice. The point of this situation was to be responsible for the
development of the colonization and the cost.
- With relation to agriculture, the establishment of the sugar cane industry
demanded intensive labor and this event caused Portuguese to begin with
the process of bringing slaves from Africa.

6. *THE AGE OF EXPLORATION*
One of the biggest discoveries that the Portuguese found was the
extraction of red dye.
-Between 1500 and 1530, relatively few Portuguese
expeditions came to the new land to chart the coast
and to obtain brazilwood. In Europe, this tree was used
to obtain a valuable dye to stain luxury textiles.
- In order to obtain the trees, Portuguese had to rely
on the help of the natives, who worked in exchange
for European goods like mirrors, scissors, knives and
axes.

7. ***Conclusion***
- After reading about the Portuguese Empire, I learned that the Portuguese
Empire was a world power at some point of this life. During this time,
Portugal had the opportunity to conquer other lands overseas. Sadly, this
empire began to collapse but this was a part of history that won’t be
forgotten. Thanks to the conquest, Portuguese were able to find a red dye
that was used to stain textiles. Also, thanks to the conquest, Brazil is now a
stable country. I learned that the Portuguese Empire did not just disappear
in one day. It was a process and during this process devastating wars took
place as well as a horrible earthquake that caused the death of millions of
people. Overall, I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn more about
Brazil because I will be going to Brazil next summer and now I know more
about its history.