His mother, Isabel de Goveia de Queirós, was a direct descendant of Alfonso I, the first King of Portugal, and his father, Fernão Cabral, was the Governor of Beria and Belmonte. He grew up wealthy and privileged and he lived a generally easy life. Like his father, Pedro worked his way into politics and into the court of King Manuel I and King John II. He was very grateful for his job and good fortune but he always desired something more. In 1499, King John wanted to send another fleet of ships to the New World and follow the path of Vasco de Gama, who made the expedition a few years prior. Pedro saw his chance and convinced the King to appoint him chief captain of the 13 ships and 1,000 men also taking the trip. On March 9, 1500, Pedro left for the New World. On March 22, he passed the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands as he continued southwest. Finally, on April 22, land was spotted and Pedro and his crew became the first Europeans to see Mount Pascal in Brazil. Pedro claimed the land for Portugal and named it Terra de Vera Cruz (Land of the True or Holy Cross) because he discovered the land on Easter. However, this name didn’t last once traders began using the land for Brazilwood and the land became commonly known as Terra do Brazil. Pedro explored 50 miles of the coast and he began to interact with the Native people. He wrote a letter to King Manuel about the new land and the natives as he began an attempt to convert then to Christianity. When he landed on an island in the inlet of Pôrto Seguro just north of Rio de Janeiro, he planted a cross and held
His mother, Isabel de Goveia de Queirós, was a direct descendant of Alfonso I, the first King of Portugal, and his father, Fernão Cabral, was the Governor of Beria and Belmonte. He grew up wealthy and privileged and he lived a generally easy life. Like his father, Pedro worked his way into politics and into the court of King Manuel I and King John II. He was very grateful for his job and good fortune but he always desired something more. In 1499, King John wanted to send another fleet of ships to the New World and follow the path of Vasco de Gama, who made the expedition a few years prior. Pedro saw his chance and convinced the King to appoint him chief captain of the 13 ships and 1,000 men also taking the trip. On March 9, 1500, Pedro left for the New World. On March 22, he passed the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands as he continued southwest. Finally, on April 22, land was spotted and Pedro and his crew became the first Europeans to see Mount Pascal in Brazil. Pedro claimed the land for Portugal and named it Terra de Vera Cruz (Land of the True or Holy Cross) because he discovered the land on Easter. However, this name didn’t last once traders began using the land for Brazilwood and the land became commonly known as Terra do Brazil. Pedro explored 50 miles of the coast and he began to interact with the Native people. He wrote a letter to King Manuel about the new land and the natives as he began an attempt to convert then to Christianity. When he landed on an island in the inlet of Pôrto Seguro just north of Rio de Janeiro, he planted a cross and held