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Prince Henry's Influence On The Age Of Discovery

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Prince Henry (AKA Henry the Navigator, Henrique O Navigator, Henrique infante de Portugal, & Infante Henrique) was a pretty big influence on the Age of Discovery. He was neither a Navigator, nor a sailor but he was a Royal Prince of Portugal, a soldier in the royal army, and a Patron of Explorers. He and his royal family sponsored all of the voyages Portugal took along the west coast of Africa. His funding for the Atlantic Expeditions came from The Orders of Christ. It all started when Prince Henry, His father, and his brothers attacked the city of Ceuta, Africa. At the time of the attack, Portugal knew almost nothing of Africa. The City fell under Portuguese control. Henry then became fascinated with the people, the land, and just Africa …show more content…

The voyages were also done to establish trade routes with Portugal and Africa. He never actually went of the expeditions but because of his orders and thanks to his patronage, he sent people and sailors to the Madeira Islands (1420), rounded Cape Bojador (1434), went to Cape Blanco (1441), went around Cape Vert (1455), and also went as far as the Gambia River (1456). He also sent sailors to The Vale Palmas (1459-1460). In 1418, before Henry started sending men on expeditions along the coast of Africa, He started a school for Ocean Navigation. It included an astronomical observatory. It was located in Sagres, Portugal. It was to teach his men and sailors could learn important skills (important map making, navigating seas, and different areas in science) so they could make it to their destination safely and safely return home from expeditions. Overall, Prince Henry the Navigator was a big influence of the Age of Discovery and Exploration for Portugal. He created new successful colonies, great sea routes to go trade, made great trading with Africa, and was able to make very important maps of

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