Sociology Assignment: Portuguese Explorations and Trade in Asia

This sociology assignment examines the Portuguese explorations in Asia, focusing on their motivations, discoveries, and impact on trade and societies. The assignment begins by discussing the role of Portuguese explorers in finding Eastern Asian countries, particularly Southeast Asia, and the significance of Henry the Navigator's principles. It then explores the Portuguese cartographers and sailors' contributions, including the discovery of the southernmost point of Africa by Bartolomeu Dias. Finally, it delves into the Portuguese interest in trade with India, specifically the spice trade, and their strategies to establish a monopoly and control trade routes. The assignment highlights the alliances and battles that shaped their influence, such as the Battle of Diu, which gave them a strategic edge over competitors and expanded their trade beyond India and Africa. The assignment references key historical figures and events, providing a comprehensive overview of the Portuguese's role in Asian exploration and trade.

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Sociology Assignment
Sociology Assignment
Student Name:
Institute Name:

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Sociology Assignment
Table of Contents
Question 1.........................................................................................................................3
Question 2.........................................................................................................................3
Question 3.........................................................................................................................4
References.........................................................................................................................5

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Sociology Assignment
Question 1
Portuguese were credited with finding Eastern Asian countries, specifically Southeast Asia.
Portugal was one of the major players of the European expedition's and discoverers, have
contributed to major discoveries. The principles of Henry the navigator were taken quite
seriously, which included finding a way to the other side using African passes and several
other just known routes.
The discoveries were a tough task provided they required a lot of venturing into new spaces,
however, the Portuguese undertook this with full determination, as best understood in the
case of discovery of India by Vasco de Gama.
The history of this trip is quite well known. The first voyage to India was undertaken by the
Portuguese king John II as a cost-saving measure in the trade with Asia and also an attempt
to monopolize the spice trade. This was essential since they needed to expand their empire
and the revenues, and the best strategy would be to go to landless known of. And hence,
Vasco de Gama was selected by the king to take this expedition via South Africa, over the
Cape Route (Dias, 2018). This expedition was considered to be one of the most revered
expeditions of all times since it not only gave a feasible alternative for trade with Asia, but it
also allowed the discovery of other countries and continents soon after. From trade to
travel, this action of the Portuguese was instrumental in discovering the land!
Question 2
The Portuguese are accredited with all the knowledge and effort of finding routes and ways
to Africa. The cartographers of Portugal have been especially known to have drawn maps
with extremely high accuracies, and the sailors who have been trained are said to have
managed to find a lot more countries and areas than just a few famous ones.

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Sociology Assignment
Promoting these discoveries for the cause of their trade has helped not just Portugal's, but
also the entire world. In 1488, when Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias first discovered
the southernmost point of Africa, and opened routes for the European and Asian trades.
The knowledge these people have was exceptional. The scientific rigour and the ability to
build such infrastructure in their ships to sustain the rough weathers and unknown
territories and pirates of the areas (Ghazanfar, 2016). Add to it their ability to adjust to
foreign weather conditions and food, carrying a huge load to and fro and navigating their
ways amidst all the trouble. This has added greatly to their prowess and reflected into
building a reputation of being master navigators to whom a lot of young to-be navigators,
such as Christopher Columbus would come to take training and discovering new countries
on their own.
Question 3
The Portuguese were interested in carrying out a full-fledged trade with India. This trade
was initially supposed to be about Spices. Since Portugal did not have the required weather
for growing the exotic spices, it imported loads of it from the kingdom of Kochi, on the coast
of southern India and sold it to the world. The aim was to establish a monopoly over the
Indian trade and ensure that they control all the routes, and the maximum possible business
is derived by them.
These were the times when India was undergoing massive division based on religion, and
the rulers were in a frenzy. The Portuguese took advantage of such a situation and
befriended both the Muslim as well as the Indian ruler to gain better access to trade over
their competitors such as the British and the French. During these times, Portugal's tried
making several alliances with other European colonisers to make sure that their trade in
India remains undisrupted.

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Sociology Assignment
In 1500, the two fleets reached India on various ports to carry out business with the
northern as well as southern India; translating into a huge success. Soon, the Portuguese
realised that they just did not want spices, but wanted a major chunk of control and hence,
in 1509, the battle of Diu against the forces of Ottoman, Beyazid II, Sultan of Gujarat,
Mamlûk Sultan of Cairo. The Portuguese won and controlled the prime location of the port
of Diu and the entire spice trail of India as well. this gave them a strategic edge over their
competitors and allowed them to expand their trade beyond the Indian and African borders
as well.
References
Dias, B. (2018). Discovery. Retrieved from
https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/bartolomeu-dias
Ghazanfar, S. (2016). Vasco da Gama, the Explorer: Motivations and Myths. Journal of
Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective, 11(8).