The Portuguese Empire was the first global empire in history, spanning from the 15th to the early 20th century. It began with the conquest of Ceuta in North Africa in 1415, establishing Portugal's long-lived overseas presence. The empire grew significantly in the 15th and 16th centuries during the Age of Discovery through Portugal's navigation developments, establishing trading posts and colonies in Africa, Asia, and Brazil. However, over the following centuries Portugal's spice and slave trades were overtaken by other European powers and its empire declined militarily.

1. THE PORTUGUESE
EMPIRE

2. History of Portugal
 Also known as the Portugal Overseas Empire,
it was the first global empire in history.
 It was the longest lived in modern European
Colonial Empires, spanning almost six
centuries.
 Sailors began exploring the Coast of Africa in
1419 using the recent developments of
navigation and cartography.
 Between 1580 and 1640 Portugal became the
junior partner to Spain in the union of the two
countries crowns.

3. Monarchy in Portugal
 Portugal ascended to it’s status of world power
during the “Age of Discovery.”
 It built a vast empire, but in the next two
centuries their spice and slave trades would be
taken over by the French, Dutch, and English.
 They surrounded trading post territories and
posts to make it almost impossible for Portugal
to defend it’s overseas interests.
 Signs of military decline began with the Battle of
Alcacer Quibir in Morroco in 1578.

4. Period of Discoveries
 During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal
was a leading of European power.
 July 25,1415 marked the beginning of the
Portuguese Empire.
 Ceuta, the city on the coast of North Africa was
conquered by Portugal, and the long lived
Portuguese Empire was founded.
 The Muslim attempt to retake Ceuta was
unsuccessful and Ceuta remained the first part
of the Portuguese Empire.

5. Origins (1139-1415
 The origins of the Portuguese Empire lay in the
reconquista. Also known as the Christian
reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from the
Moors.
 In 1415 an attack was made on Ceuta, and
although it proved to be a success , it was a costly
move against the Muslim forces that soon
besigned it.
 The Portuguese were unable to use it as a base
for further expansion into the hinderland, so the
trans-Saharan caravans shifted their routes to
bypass Ceuta and used alternative Muslim ports

6. First efforts of colonization in
Brazil
 In 1534 promoting settlement to overcome the
need to defend the territory John III organized
colonization of Brazil through land grants.
 The increase of brazilwood smuggling pressed
this effort to effective occupation of the
territory.
 Martim Afonso de Sousa went to patrol the
whole Brazillian coast, banish the French, and
create some of the first colonial towns. Sao
Vincente and Sao Paulo.

7. Colonial Brazil
 Colonial Brazil, officially the Viceroyalty of Brazil
comprises the period from 1500 until 1815 when
Brazil was elevated to kingdom alongside
Portugal.
 During the 300 years of Brazilian colonial history,
the exploration on the territory was first based on
brazilwood extraction, sugar production, and gold
and diamond mining. Slaves provided most of the
working force of Brazilian economy.
 The Portugues colony built up by the Portuguese
in Latin America, kept it’s territorial unity and
integrity after giving rise to the largest country in
the region, Brazil.