Portugal was the pioneer of the European Age of Discovery in the 15th century.

Prince Henry the Navigator, though not a sailor himself, was a key royal patron who sponsored numerous voyages down the coast of Africa.

The Portuguese developed the caravel, a small, highly maneuverable ship that was ideal for exploration.

They also advanced navigational techniques, using the astrolabe and quadrant to determine latitude.

The primary goal was to find a sea route around Africa to the spice markets of the Indian Ocean.

Over several decades, Portuguese explorers systematically mapped the West African coast, establishing trading posts along the way.

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to successfully round the southern tip of Africa, which he named the Cape of Good Hope.

This voyage proved that a sea route to India was possible.

In 1498, Vasco da Gama's expedition successfully reached Calicut in India, establishing the first direct maritime link between Europe and Asia.

This achievement allowed Portugal to build a vast trading post empire and dominate the spice trade for a century.