What is the significance of henry the navigator

King John was a learned man for the era, have an extensive religious education as a child and a passion for culture and knowledge later in life.

The port also gave Portugal access to control the lucrative Saharan dessert trade routes that terminated in Ceuta. Henry was 21 at the time of capture of Ceuta and the city and lands offered adventure and excitement as the North African coasts were almost unknown to Europeans. At 25 Henry was appointed as the governor of the Algarve and more important to Henry in became a member of the Portuguese Knights Templar, as the governor of the Order of Christ in Portugal.

This secretive order were influential throughout Europe and commanded vast sums of money with which Henry was able to funds his ambitious plans; the exploration of North Africa. The ships of the era were constructed to transport heavy cargo over short distances and not designed for maneuverable essential for coastal exploration. Henry used both his political influence and acquired wealth to design a new class of ship that was lighter and faster with a distinctive lateen triangle sail.

Henry was encouraged to explore further after the death of his father and ascension of his elder brother, Edward, to the Portuguese throne in Henry is regarded as an originator of the Age of Discovery and the Atlantic enslaved people trade.

Henry the Navigator was born in in Porto, Portugal. In , Henry, his father and his older brothers led an attack on Ceuta, a town in Morocco along the Strait of Gibraltar. The attack succeeded, and Ceuta fell under Portuguese control.

Henry became fascinated with Africa, a continent about which the Portuguese knew little. He developed a desire to learn about the Muslims who lived there, primarily in hopes of conquering them and spreading Christianity. Henry is often credited with beginning the Age of Discovery, the period during which European nations expanded their reach to Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Henry himself was neither a sailor nor a navigator, his name notwithstanding. He did, however, sponsor many exploratory sea voyages. In , his ships reached the Canary Islands, which had already been claimed by Spain.

When these expeditions began, Europeans knew virtually nothing about the area past Cape Bojador on the west coast of Africa. Superstition had kept them from going farther. By , they had traveled as far as the Rio de Oro.

In search of fame and fortune, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan c. En route he discovered what is now known as the Strait of Magellan and became the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis February 14, Why is Henry the Navigator important? What were Henry the Navigator accomplishments? What was Prince Henry the Navigator looking for? What is Vasco da Gama known for?

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