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Portugal's Contribution to the Development of Mercantile Capitalism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 June 2011

Joāo Marinho Dos Santos
Joāo Marinho Dos Santos
Affiliation:
(University of Coimbra)
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Extract

In analysing the history of the Portuguese expansion, it is tempting to use purely economic factors. This perspective minimizes two non-economic problems confronting Portuguese society at the beginning of the fifteenth century: on the one hand the general cohesion of Portuguese society, which could only be brought about by the noble and military élites, and on the other the problem of national independence, which at the time was under threat from Castile. In fact, these problems persisted, alongside others that were generated by the very solution that was found for them, namely by overseas expansion. The capture of Ceuta in 1415 was an ingenious attempt to overcome these problems in one go. Due to their military weakness, it had been impossible for the Portuguese elites to take part in the conquest of Granada. The project of Ceuta did permit territorial growth. Besides, it mobilized the nation ideologically, thus reinforcing its identity without threatening the unity of the Respublica Christiana.

Type
Articles
Information
Itinerario , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , March 1994 , pp. 43 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © Research Institute for History, Leiden University 1994

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References

Notes

1 In: Dinis, António Joaquim Dias ed., Monumenta Henricina (Coimbra 1960–1974)Google Scholar; cf. the Royal Charter of January 27, 1455.

2 Ibidem.

3 The Royal Charter of grace and mercy from Prince Henry in response to a petition from Martim Vicente, pilot, and resident of Lagos, September 12, 1450 in: ibidem.

4 Ibidem.

5 de Barros, Joāo, Crónica do Imperador Clarimundo (Lisbon 1953).Google Scholar

6 de Albuquerque, Afonso, Cartas de Afonso de Albuquerque, seguidas de documentos que as elucidam (7 vols.; Lisbon 1884, 1935).Google Scholar

7 In: Monumenta Henricina.

8 Joāo Marinho dos Santos, Os Acores nos sec. XV e XVI (1990).

9 Instruções Inéditas de D. Luis da Cunha a Marco António de Azevedo (Coimbra 1929).Google Scholar

10 The institution of capela, whose function was to pray for fouls in purgatory, had the effect, like morgadio (first-born inheritance), of resisting the division of wealth.

11 These coins were failed piastras (‘pieces of eight’ or coins worth eight reais) and patacas (coins worth four reais).

12 These silver coins were called reais.

13 Solis, Duarte Comes, Discurso sobre los comercios de las dos Indias (Lisbon 1973).Google Scholar

14 Albuquerque, Cartas.

15 The coins we are dealing with here, were the reales de a ocho (‘pieces of eight’).

16 Ibidem.

17 Duarte Ribeiro de Macedo, Sobre a introduçāo das artes neste Reino (1675).

18 de Figueiredo, Cristóvão, Chronica dos Reis de Bisnaga, manuscripto inédito de século XVI (Lisbon 1897).Google Scholar