The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire – Portugal's Rise

In this pilot episode of The History of Portugal, Lucas and Luna begin at Belém Tower, the iconic fortress that once guarded Lisbon's harbor and launched ships toward unknown horizons. They explore how a tiny, windswept kingdom on the edge of Europe became the first global empire, driven by a mix of crusading zeal, commercial ambition, and technological daring. Lucas introduces key figures like Prince Henry the Navigator, who never sailed but sent others to map the African coast; King João I, who secured Portugal's independence at the Battle of Aljubarrota; and the explorers who rounded Cape Bojador and opened the sea route to India. They discuss the caravel, a revolutionary ship that combined lateen sails from Arab dhows with European hull designs. The episode also touches on the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the non-Christian world between Portugal and Spain, and the human cost: the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade. Lucas and Luna tease future episodes covering the Lisbon earthquake, the rise of the Portuguese Empire in Brazil, Africa, and Asia, and the country's eventual decline. This episode sets the stage for a nation that punched far above its weight. #History #FexingoHistory #Portugal #BelMTower #AgeOfDiscovery #PrinceHenry #Caravel #BattleOfAljubarrota #TreatyOfTordesillas #CapeBojador #AtlanticSlaveTrade #GlobalEmpire #EuropeanHistory #Exploration #Navigation #Lisbon #PortugueseEmpire #MaritimeHistory #VascoDaGama #PrinceHenryTheNavigator Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo