Lisbon visit : recalling the history of Vasco da Gama and the Portuguese maritime expansion

Our recent visit to Lisbon led us to revisit the history of Vasco da Gama and the Portuguese maritime expansion about five hundred years ago. 

It was Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese maritime explorer, who found the sea route from Europe to India.   Christopher Columbus did not succeed in finding the sea route to India.  Instead, he found America.  In 1497, Vasco da Gama started his journey from the Tagus River in Lisbon with four ships and 170 crew members.  They sailed through the Port of Great Hope in Africa and reached Calcutta in India in the following year.



(The famous Belem Tower overlooking the Tagus River where Vasco da Gama started his world exploration)


In 1502, Vasco da Gama returned again with the Portuguese Armada to India.  He was able to establish the profitable sea trade on spices and helped the expansion of the Portuguese maritime empire.  The Portuguese maritime traders forced their ways to Goa in India.  Later they also established colonies in Malacca in Malaysia and Macao in China. 

(Vasco da Gama in the Monument to the Discoveries, Lisbon - the third person from top)

(Stone status of Vasco da Gama in Macao)

Portugal enjoyed major maritime expansion in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with many overseas colonies including Goa, Malacca, Macao, Timor and Brazil.  However, other European powers caught up quickly.  Portugal lost its influence and many colonies to the new European powers.  Malacca was lost to Dutch (see my earlier blog on January 25, 2011).  Macao was returned to China in 1999. 

Although Portugal had long lost its glory days, it left traces of maritime history and historical buildings in its colonies.  Goa and Macao would be interesting places to recap the history of Portuguese maritime trade and preaching of the Society of Jesus.



(Ruins of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Macao - a popular spot for tourists)


During this visit, we paid attention to the beautiful Portuguese tiles.  You may know that Moors, the Islamic tribesmen from North Africa, had ruled over the Iberia peninsula for five centuries. Portuguese tiles were developed on the base of Islamic tiles and the European artistic culture.  In Portugal, you can still see many beautiful house decoration with Portuguese tiles.



(Historical picture with Portuguese tiles)

  

(Beautiful wall decoration with Portuguese tiles in the gate of Obidos)

(Simple and beautiful wall tiles in Lisbon)

Portuguese tiles are more colourful and lively than other Islamic tiles that you may see in Turkey or Iran.  If you travel to Macao, you can still find similiar tiles decoration in its Portuguese food resturants.  If you are interested to learn more about Portuguese tiles, you can read the book, Sabo, Rioletta. Portuguese decorative tiles. New York: Abbeville Press Publishers, 1998.