Vasco da Gama and The Rise of the Portuguese Empire

Dan Snow's History Hit

History Hit

History

4.7 • 12.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 January 2025

⏱️ 82 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dan tells the epic story of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, whose daring voyages at the turn of the 16th century laid the foundations for the Portuguese Empire. From navigating treacherous waters to forging vital trade routes with India, da Gama's exploits reshaped the world’s economic and political landscape. Dan explores the ambition, challenges, savage conquests and exploits of the Portuguese across Asia and Africa that marked the beginning of Europe & Christianity's domination of the globe.

Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and graphic descriptions of violence.

Written by Dan Snow, produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Max Carrey

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Dan Snow, and if you would like Dan Snow's History Hit ad-free,
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0:26.9	The small squadron of ships had the blood red cross on their sails.
0:33.6	The Red Cross of Crusade.
0:37.4	Although this has been remembered as an epic of exploration, it was, in fact, a crusade.
0:46.2	It was holy war.
0:48.4	The sun flashed off the burnished plate armour of the officers.
0:53.1	Among them, their leader. A knight of the Order of St. James.
0:57.0	The Order's badge was also a red cross. The foot of that cross extended down into a long sword blade.
1:05.0	From the master head of the flagship fluttered the standard of another crusading order, the order of Christ,
1:12.6	the Portuguese branch of that famous order of warrior knights, which had been stamped out
1:17.5	in the rest of Europe, but had thrived in Portugal, the Knights Templar, was made from
1:23.6	white silk, on it, another red cross.
1:30.3	The king of Portugal himself had presented it to the expedition leader,
1:35.7	who in turn had laid his hands upon it and swore a solemn oath.
1:40.3	I shall hold it high in your service and that of God,
1:43.7	and not surrender it to any more pagan or other race of people I may meet,
1:48.2	in the face of all perils, whether water, fire, or sword,
1:53.5	always defend it and protect it, even unto death.
	...

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