Portuguese Crown

Definition

The Portuguese Crown refers to the monarchy of Portugal, particularly during the Age of Exploration when it expanded its empire across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Under the guidance of the crown, Portugal established a vast colonial empire that laid the groundwork for the plantation system, especially in Brazil, where sugar and other crops became significant economic drivers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Portuguese Crown played a crucial role in establishing sugarcane plantations in Brazil, which became one of the largest sugar producers in the world by the 17th century.
2. Under King John III, Portugal implemented a system of land grants known as 'sesmarias' to encourage plantation agriculture and settlement in Brazil.
3. The Portuguese Crown relied heavily on enslaved African labor for its plantations, which led to significant demographic and cultural changes in Brazil.
4. Portugal's strategic position as a maritime power allowed it to dominate trade routes and establish a global empire during the 15th and 16th centuries.
5. The wealth generated from sugar plantations fueled the Portuguese economy and contributed to the rise of Lisbon as a major trading hub in Europe.

Review Questions

• How did the Portuguese Crown influence the establishment and growth of the plantation system in its colonies?
  • The Portuguese Crown significantly influenced the plantation system by promoting agricultural practices that were geared towards export crops like sugar. Through policies such as land grants, it encouraged settlers to cultivate large tracts of land using enslaved labor. This created a profitable plantation economy in Brazil that became foundational for Portugal's colonial wealth and global trade networks.
• Discuss how mercantilism shaped the economic policies of the Portuguese Crown during its colonial expansion.
  • Mercantilism heavily influenced the economic strategies of the Portuguese Crown as it sought to maximize national wealth through trade. The crown established monopolies over certain goods like sugar and spices, ensuring that profits flowed back to Portugal. This system encouraged aggressive expansion into new territories where resources could be exploited, reinforcing Portugal's dominance in international trade.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of the Portuguese Crown's plantation system on Brazilian society and economy.
  • The plantation system established by the Portuguese Crown had profound long-term impacts on Brazilian society and economy. It entrenched a reliance on enslaved African labor, leading to significant cultural influences that are still evident today. Economically, it created a foundation for Brazil's agricultural exports but also set up social inequalities that persisted long after slavery was abolished. This legacy continues to affect contemporary Brazilian society, highlighting complex issues surrounding race, class, and land ownership.

Related terms

Colonial Brazil: The period when Brazil was a colony of Portugal, marked by the establishment of sugar plantations and the exploitation of enslaved labor.

Treaty of Tordesillas: An agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two countries along a meridian.

Mercantilism: An economic theory and practice that dominated European economic policies from the 16th to the 18th centuries, emphasizing the role of the state in managing international trade and accumulating wealth.