It was the first prosperous Islamic trade center in North Africa. There followed the first discoveries in the Atlantic: Madeira and the Azores, which led to the first colonization movements. Throughout the 15th century, Portuguese explorers sailed the coast of Africa, establishing trading posts for several common types of tradable commodities at the time, ranging from gold to slaves, as they looked for a route to India and its spices, which were coveted in Europe. The Treaty of Tordesillas, intended to resolve the dispute that had been created following the return of Christopher Columbus, was signed on 7 June 1494, and divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands (off the west coast of Africa). In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached India and brought economic prosperity to Portugal and its population of 1.7 million residents.
* Euroopa majanduslikkese Vahemerelt Atlandi Ookiani äärde. Kaubanduskeskusteks said aga Madalmaade ja Inglismaa linnad, mitte Hispaania ega Portugal. * Maadeavastuste tulemusena jõudsid Euroopasse kohv, tee, tomat, kartul jne. * Hindade revolutsioon hinnad tõusid (kulda ja hõbedat oli tunduvalt rohkem ja selle väärtus kahanes). * Maailmakaubanduse keskuseks sai Euroopa. * Sai alguse Euroopa riikide koloniaal poliitika. * Portugali ja Hispaania omavahelised lepinugud: Tordesillas 1494 (46's laiuskraad; Läänepoolsed Hispaaniale, teised Portugalile); Zaragoza 1529 (145's laiuskraad; Idapoolsed Hispaaniale, teised Portugalile) mõlemad tühistati 1777 aastal. * Toimub indiaanlaste ja Indiaani kõrgkultuuride hävitamine. (konkistadoorid hävitasid maiad, askeetid ja inkad) * Saab alguse ulatuslik orjakaubandus. (15-18 sajand, Aafrikast välja 12 miljonit inimest, kellest kohale jõudis 10 miljonit)
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