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Portugal's Trade Empire: The Cartaz System that Ruled the Indian Ocean
In Episode 84 of The History of Portugal, Lucas and Luna explore the ingenious and controversial 'cartaz' system — a naval licensing strategy that gave Portugal a monopoly over the Indian Ocean spice trade for much of the 16th century. How did a small European kingdom enforce maritime law across thousands of miles, from East Africa to China? Lucas explains the origins of the cartaz under Dom Francisco de Almeida and Afonso de Albuquerque, the role of fortified ports like Ormuz and Malacca, and the system's brutal enforcement through convoy patrols and port inspections. He also…
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