Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
The Portuguese and Timor: Sandalwood, Resistance, and a Forgotten Colony
When the Portuguese first landed on Timor in the early 16th century, they weren't looking for spices or gold—they wanted sandalwood. This episode traces how a small, rugged island became a strategic outpost of the Estado da Índia, caught between Dutch expansion, indigenous kingdoms, and the shifting tides of empire. We explore the unique sandalwood trade, the fierce resistance of the Timorese, the role of the Dominican friars who acted as mediators, and the eventual division of the island between Portugal and the Netherlands—a border that still exists today. Along the way, we meet…
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