Portugal has a long history dating back to when it was named Portus Cale by the Romans after they invaded in 219 BC. Through invasions by Celts, Germans, and Islamic Moors, Portugal gained independence in 1065 and established its empire beginning in 1415 when they conquered Ceuta in North Africa. Portuguese exploration then expanded, with Gil Eanes first sailing along the coast of Africa in 1434. Under the patronage of Henry the Navigator in the 1400s, the Portuguese built trading posts and forts along the Gold Coast and reached India, establishing Portugal as a global power through its trade and colonies in the east.