1761 – Portugal Abolishes Slavery
Portugal became one of the first nations to abolish slavery following a 1761 decree. However, this decree only outlawed slavery in the homeland and did...
Category: Portuguese Role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade
1501 – Amerigo Vespucc Explores Brazil
Amerigo Vespucci sailed from Lisbon, on May 13, 1501. He sighted the coast of Brazil on August 15, 1501, headed south, and returned a year...
1486 – Bartolomeu Dias Discovers Route to India
Bartolomeu Dias began his voyage in 1486 and soon discovered the Cape of Good Hope in 1487. Through his voyage, he sailed around the southernmost...
1482 – Portugal builds first slave post on the Gold Coast
This slave post crammed slaves into small rooms to maximize inventory. The trade post also housed Europeans in the upper suites of the post. The...
1448 – Slave-trading agreements with Moorish & African chiefs
In 1448 Portugal made a profitable agreement with the Moorish and African chiefs which allowed for a sharp increase in slave labor coming to Portugal....
1442 – Portugal Enslaves The Berbers
In 1442, the Portuguese enslave the Berbers, a North African tribe living in the southern part of the Mediterranean sea. Portugal decided to enslave the...
1441 – Prince Henry the Navigator Explores Africa
In 1441, Prince Henry the Navigator explored Africa and conducted a trading expedition there. This expedition leads to the start of the European slave trade...
1430 – Prince Henry the Navigator sails across Africa
Prince Henry the Navigator sailed around the southern coast of Africa around Madeiras and Azores and around the western bulge near Cabo de Não to...