Vasco de Gama, Columbus, and the Age of Exploration: The Race to India with Ian Sumpter
No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.
Portuguese forces captured the Port of Ceuta in 1415, creating their first overseas colony. What followed was a fervor of European exploration. In this seminar, we will concentrate on Spain and Portugal's race to find a sea-route to India, an epic period of history filled with stories of spies, double-crosses, political intrigue, and incredible human endeavor.
On Friday, 26th July 1415 Europe was left stunned as the greatest fleet and perhaps the largest ever army assembled by a Portuguese king sailed out of the Rio Tejo and promptly turned South. Amazingly nobody but a few high commanders has any idea where they were heading. On the 21st of August they reached their destination, Ceuta, such was the surprise of their attack that the Portuguese lost only eight men in the capture of the vital port. Portugal now had its first overseas territory and the ‘Age of Exploration’ had officially begun.
What ensued was an all-out race to discover a sea-route to India and direct access to the valuable spice trade. Portugal and Spain would vie for dominance, led by preeminent navigators such as Prince Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, and Juan de la Cosa among a host of others.
Led by an expert on Portuguese history and archaeology, Ian Sumpter, this interactive seminar will explore the Iberian race to India by sea. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the political, social, and economic motivations for the renewed voyages, and of the events of the first hundred years of the ‘Age of Exploration’.
Born in Liverpool in the North of England, Ian was raised around the historic docks of the city where a love of Maritime history was born. He went on to study Archaeological sciences with the aim of specialising in Marine archaeology. His four years of the study saw him divert from his original aim and concentrate Urbanisation in the Ancient world. Working as an archaeologist for a number of years across Italy, the UK and South Asia, Ian has spent 13 years working in total working as a tour guide in Rome before the lure of the sea and sunshine brought him to Lisbon where he continues to research the urban landscape and the city's vital relationship with the sea.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
Guest did not leave comment
This was an insightful and very well-prepared presentation of the historical and cultural factors that led little Portugal to be the leader of the Age of Discovery. Very illuminating. Ian Sumpter really knows this subject very thoroughly, and is an articulate and enthusiastic presenter. I did find that around the middle of the program, as the sailing voyages actually started, I was quite overwhelmed with the onslaught of details — names of royals, ports I had never heard of, ocean currents, years of various voyages, etc. The facts came faster than I could think or take notes. Watching a second time really helped.
An excellent and very informative presentation, I will take other courses with Ian
Appreciated the enthusiasm and detailed knowledge. The use of maps to illustrate the difficulties of navigation and the ultimate successful routes was
helpful.
This was an excellent talk on the origins of the Age of Exploration. Ian explained why and how Portugal was at the bleeding edge of exploration, and how Spain jostled alongside them.