Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
The Portuguese Sugar Boom: Madeira and the Birth of the Plantation
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Portugal turned a small Atlantic island into the template for the plantation economy that would reshape the Americas. Starting with the introduction of sugarcane to Madeira in the 1420s, they trace the rise of large-scale sugar production, the importation of enslaved labor from Africa and the Canary Islands, the creation of the first industrial sugar mills (engenhos), and the explosive growth that made Madeira the world's top sugar producer by the late 15th century. They also discuss the social and environmental costs—deforestation, soil…
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