The Age of Discovery

[Assur]

Angel,Apr 30 2004, 11:00 PM]Yeah, but Portugal could have expanded their sphere of influence on their way to Asia, in Africa.

Hi

You are right on in that regard, but the Portugese at first only grabbed coastal sites in Africa, to safeguard their way to the East, except for Mombasa!

Angola and Mozambique were only later developed as colonies when they lost their Asian/sea-dominated empire!

The Spanish were also looking at a way of bypassing Africa to reach the Indies, but the Portugese stopped them in a brutal, and also unknown war, in the late 15teeth century, if you don't want to take prisoners in a naval battle nobody is going to stop you.