Advent of Portuguese in Mozambique

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Periodical article

Title:	Advent of Portuguese in Mozambique
Author:	Karnik, Sharmila
Year:	2000
Periodical:	Africa Quarterly
Volume:	40
Issue:	2
Pages:	117-135
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Mozambique Portugal
Subjects:	colonial conquest travel colonialism History and Exploration
Abstract:	Navigational enterprise among the Portuguese which resulted in their advent in Mozambique and in other parts of the African territory was first fostered by Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460). Under his auspices, the nautical school of Sagres was founded, and commerce by sea was vastly stimulated. The Portuguese kings, inspired by the nautical school of Sagres, despatched several naval expeditions. The naval fleet under Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope (1488) and reached the East African coast, so the dawn of the Portuguese advent in Mozambique was in sight. In July 1497 Vasco da Gama set sail with four ships on the first expedition to India. They arrived in Mozambique on 2 March 1498. During the early 16th century, the Portuguese established their dominance in Mozambique. By the 1530s small groups of Portuguese had pushed their way into the interior, setting up garrisons and trading posts at Sena and Tete. Having destroyed all opposition around 1650, the Portuguese spread their influence in almost all parts of Mozambique. Thus, their advent and presence in Mozambique was an accomplished fact. Ref.