Reflections on the debate about the future of portuguese expansion: Morocco and India in clash (1495-1578)

Abstract

The Portuguese Empire started shaping around 1415 in the Atlantic Ocean. It was gradually transformed into a multi-continental empire. Around 1500, it expanded particularly in Asia, at that time known as India, and Morocco, known as Africa or Berberia. At the same time, it possessed other areas in Africa and Brazil. However, too many interests eventually began to manifest negatively. It was so despite the fact that the Crown tried to isolate from the simultaneous European events and Portugal had been engaged exclusively in activities on the world stage. The rationalization of overseas expansion began to be discussed at the domestic political level. A rivalry between Morocco and India as areas of expansion emerged and the possibility of leaving one of those areas began to be considered. This rivalry was present most intensivelly from the discovery of the sea route to India (1498) to the dismantling of most Moroccan fortresses (1542-1550) and determined the character of Portuguese expansion in general. The question of abandonment of Morocco or India was debated for the last time on the occasion of King Sebastião's campaign to Morocco in 1578.