Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
The Secret War Behind Portugal's Spice Monopoly
This episode examines the brutal enforcement mechanisms of the Estado da Índia, focusing on the cartaz system and the naval warfare that underpinned Portuguese trade. We explore how Afonso de Albuquerque established a maritime monopoly in the Indian Ocean, using fortified strongholds like Diu and Hormuz to control key chokepoints. The narrative details the conflict with Mamluk, Gujarati, and Ottoman forces, highlighting the Battle of Diu as a turning point for European naval supremacy. We also look at the internal administration of the Casa da Índia and the Regra dos Terços, which regulated…
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