Best of the Best: Portuguese Conquistadors Quiz

Answer: Greenland

Born into a family of sailors and explorers, Gaspar Corte Real was commissioned by King Manuel I in 1500 to search for a Northwest Passage. Although he saw Greenland, and believed it was the coast of Asia, he did not land. He disappeared during his second voyage in 1501, as did his brother, Miguel, who was sent to look for him.

Interestingly, in 1918 a stone that had been long submerged was found near Dighton, Massachusetts. It was decorated with the Portuguese coat of arms, the date 1511, and the name Miquel Corte Real.

Some believe this proves that Miquel lived nine years after his disappearance in 1502.

Answer: Cape of Storms

Contrary to popular thought, the Cape of Storms, known today as the Cape of Good Hope, is not the southern-most tip of Africa. It is, however, the point where a ship begins to travel more eastward than southward. Cape Agulhas, about ninety miles southeast, is the southern tip of Africa. Dias, after rounding the Cape, was well on his way to Asia, when his crew insisted they turn back.

This discovery was significant to the Portuguese; finally they had proven that they could reach Asia by sailing around Africa. King John II renamed the cape, the Cape of Good Hope, believing that it represented the opening of a new route.

Answer: Congo River

As the Portuguese explored the west coast of Africa, they erected a pillar called a "padrão" to mark their progress and show future explorers their stopping point. On his second voyage in 1484-1486, Cão, searching for the kingdom of Prester John, sailed down the Congo River and left the inscription in the picture near the falls of Ilala.

Answer: India

Vasca da Gama, able to capitalize on discoveries made by earlier Portuguese explorers, was the first to link Europe and Asia by sea during his voyage of 1497-99. Loading his ship with as much as it could hold (mostly pepper and cinnamon) da Gama sold his cargo upon return for sixty times more than what he paid.

As Prince Henry the Navigator had hoped, Portugal was now firmly entrenched in the spice trade; it would be approximately one hundred years before other European countries were able to break Portugal's monopoly of trade in Asia.

Answer: Indian Ocean

Francisco de Almeida had distinguished himself as a soldier during the conquest of Grenada in 1492. Also known as "the Great Dom Francisco", he was given the responsibility of building forts on the east coast of Africa and making alliances with local people who could help expand Portuguese interests in the spice trade.

In 1505 he was appointed Viceroy of India on the condition that he build four forts. Almeida eventually became the first European to sail into Bombay, and after winning a victory at the Battle of Diu, cleared the Indian Ocean of Ottoman and Egyptian traders, enabling the Portuguese to secure their trade monopoly in India.

Answer: Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan renounced his Portuguese nationality after a quarrel with the king, Manuel I. He had asked for permission to lead an expedition to the Spice Islands, but was rejected due to allegations that while serving the Portuguese government in Morocco he had illegally traded with the Moors. By 1519, the King of Spain, Charles I, had been convinced to support Magellan's voyage, promising him 20% of the profit. Of course, the rest is history! After nearly three years, 18 of the original crew of 251 men returned without Magellan, completing the first circumnavigation of the earth.

Answer: Tristão da Cunha

Nominated as the first Portuguese viceroy of India, Tristão da Cunha was never able to take up the post. He did serve as ambassador to the pope; the intention was for Portugal to show off a bit and present the pope with some of the wealth that had been found in the Indies. Out of money, the king was hoping that the pope would reciprocate with valuable gifts - which he did! The elephant, named Hanno, is said to have knelt before the pope and then sprayed everyone with water!

Answer: Persian Gulf

In trading and exploring, the goals of Portugal were to spread Christianity while fighting against Islam, secure a monopoly of the spice trade, and establish an overseas Portuguese empire. Known as "the greatest naval commander of the age", Afonso de Albuquerque attempted to close the Indian Ocean to all ships that were not from Portugal. Of course, this led to many conflicts with the Ottoman Empire.

In 1506 he was appointed head of the "fleet of the Arabian and Persian sea". Not only is he considered to be the first European to sail the Persian Gulf, he also was the first to lead a navy into the Red Sea.

Answer: First European landowner in America.

Of course, modern day Labrador in Canada was named for João Fernandes Lavrador! He "found" the land in 1498 while exploring the land that had been granted to Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas. After mapping the coast of southern Greenland, he returned to Portugal. In 1501 he sailed to the New World in the service of King Henry VII of England, and was never heard from again.

Answer: Amazon River

When the Portuguese found that they received only a small portion of the New World after the pope arbitrarily drew the line in the Treaty of Tordesillas, explorers like Teixeira sought to expand Portugal's land claims. Called the "The Good and Friendly White Man" by natives, Teixeira's expedition included 70 Portuguese soldiers and 1,200 natives and took approximately a year to sail up the river before reaching the Spanish settlement of Quito. Since the Spanish considered the Amazon their river, it was decided to send a priest, Father Cristóbal, on the return trip with Teixeira to keep an eye on the Portuguese explorers.

It was too late; Portugal had already been the first to make the voyage and claim the river and its basin. In addition, the Portuguese colony of Brazil recognized King João IV of Portugal as its king.