Portcities London

reflecting our cultures

[Bypass: Visit the Port Cites Consortium ]

[Bypass: Search Facilities ]

Maritime London Partnership

-Bypass site links | Full graphics | About this Site | Feedback

On this site:

[Bypass: Main Menu ]

You are here: PortCities London home > People and places

The Portuguese Community in the Port of London

Chapter Index

Send this story to a friend | Printer-friendly version | View this story in pictures

Voyages of discovery

Rich maritime heritage

A Portuguese carrack before the wind. © NMM

It is hardly surprising that the Portuguese have a rich maritime heritage. Like other seafaring peoples - such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Vikings and the Arabs - they have a long history of overseas contact, trade and colonization.

Portuguese fishermen and boats, Nazare, Portugal. © NMM

The Portuguese offshore craft of the Atlantic coast with their 'eyes' and tapering prows are similar to the fishing boats of Malta and ancient Phoenicia. The method of construction of the 'Barcos Rebelos' of Oporto is reminiscent of the Viking longboats.

The Portuguese discoverers

Vasco De Gama. © NMM

The Portuguese undertook their voyages of discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries based on Arab or Moorish and Jewish knowledge of geography.

The 'discoverers' included:

Bartholomew Dias
Vasco Da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India around Africa in 1498
Pedro Alvares Cabral, who accidently discovered Brazil in 1500.

The legacy of the Portuguese explorations remains with us today in the names of places around the world. It is also seen in the fact that Portuguese remains the fifth most spoken language in the world.

Chapter Index

Send this story to a friend | Printer-friendly version | View this story in pictures

[Bypass: Search Facilities ]

Glossary

Carrack

FIND OUT MORE

A Portuguese translation of the full story