Dutch-Portuguese War

In this episode, we explore the Dutch–Portuguese War through the lens of 17th-century maritime trade, imperial rivalry, and the struggle for control of Atlantic sugar wealth. The discussion examines how Dutch and Portuguese competition reshaped Brazil, global shipping, and colonial finance, highlighting the role of the General Brazil Company, New Christian investors, Old Christian elites, and foreign capital in sustaining Portugal’s war effort. We also look at the contrasting maritime strategies of the two empires, from Portugal’s reliance on large prestige ships to the Dutch preference for smaller, more efficient vessels, and how these choices influenced military and commercial success. The episode concludes with the diplomatic aftermath, including the 1654 Anglo-Portuguese agreement and the 1661 Treaty of The Hague, showing how treaties, indemnities, and naval innovation helped determine the balance of power in the early modern Atlantic.