Prince Henry Of Portugal Summary

Prince Henry of Portugal, sent Portuguese ships to explore and investigate, the west coast of west Africa. Stated by the writer of his biography, Prince Henry’ hunger for more knowledge was his motivation. Prince Henry’s desire to know more, was normal to have at the time, the Renaissance. During this time, Europeans started to analyze different points of view, of the physical world. Most Europeans, in the late 1400s, lived like most Africans and most Native Americans, they lived in small villages or towns, obligated to the land and to ancient cultures and traditions. Nobles and Monarchs (members of royal or important family), were the highest ranks in their hierarchy. These two ranks, made that person the wealthiest and have more authority than others. Peasants were the lowest rank, and formed
Livestock and crops were killed by spread of disease and heavy rain. Starvation lead to thousands of peasants dying. In the beginning of the 1340s a widespread of disease killed a huge amount of Europe’s population, over 25 million European’s died. Across the continent, there was a war happening between France and England, it was called the Hundred Year’s War. Even with this chaos happening, Europe began to modernize. After the widespread of disease, there was change and growth in Europe. As Europe began to expand, Europeans began to seek for more land. Asian trade routes were introduce to the Europeans because of the Crusades. This excited the Europeans desire for eastern luxuries; such as rugs, porcelain, silk and tea. The firsts to benefit from this trade with Asia, was merchants that lived in Italian city-states. Muslim merchants were in charge, trading of goods through most of the Middle East. So the Italian merchants traded goods, with Muslim merchants. New trade routes were open for trade and new markets were built, because trade opportunities