The Portuguese Renaissance

The Portuguese Renaissance began in the 15th century and lasted until the end of the 16th century.

King Manuel I, who reigned from 1495 to 1521, is often considered to be the patron of the Renaissance in Portugal.

Luís de Camões is considered to be the greatest poet of the Portuguese Renaissance. His epic poem, The Lusiads, is a masterpiece of Portuguese literature.

Nuno Gonçalves is considered to be the greatest artist of the Portuguese Renaissance. His masterpiece, The Panels of St. Vincent, is a series of six paintings that depict the life of Saint Vincent.

Vasco da Gama is considered to be the greatest navigator of the Portuguese Renaissance. He was the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and reach India.

Lisbon was the center of the Portuguese Renaissance. It was the capital of Portugal and the home of the royal court.

The University of Coimbra was founded in 1537 during the Portuguese Renaissance. It is one of the oldest universities in Europe.

The Oficina de Manuel de Lyra was the first printing press in Portugal. It was founded in 1489.

The Crónica do Conde D. Pedro was the first book to be printed in Portugal. It was printed in 1489 at the Oficina de Manuel de Lyra.

Pedro Nunes is considered to be the father of modern oceanography. He was a mathematician, cosmographer, and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of navigation and cartography.

Garcia de Orta is considered to be the father of tropical medicine. He was a physician who traveled to India and wrote a book about the medicinal plants of the region.

Francisco Xavier is considered to be the first European to reach Japan. He was a Jesuit missionary who traveled to Japan in 1549.

Ferdinand Magellan is considered to be the first European to circumnavigate the globe. He led a Spanish expedition that sailed around the world from 1519 to 1522.

São Vicente was the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. It was founded by Portuguese settlers in 1532.

Angola was the center of the Portuguese slave trade. It was a major source of slaves for the Portuguese colonies in Brazil and the Caribbean.