Henry the Navigator's Secret Maps and the Age of Discovery

We explore the engine behind Portugal’s global expansion: Infante Dom Henrique, known as Henry the Navigator. While often romanticized as a patron of science, his true legacy lies in the institutionalization of maritime exploration through the Sagres school of navigation. This episode examines how he transformed vague coastal rumors into systematic voyages, funding expeditions that mapped the African coast from 1419 onward. We look at the role of Jewish cartographers, the development of the caravel ship design, and the strategic logic behind seeking the source of West African gold. From the first landing on the Canary Islands to the establishment of the Feitoria de Arguin, we trace how a small kingdom built the infrastructure for an empire without ever conquering vast territories by force. Join us as we dissect the technical and political realities of early Portuguese seafaring. #HenrytheNavigator #InfanteDomHenrique #SagresSchool #Caravel #AgeOfDiscovery #PortugueseEmpire #NunoTristão #GilEanes #BojadorCape #ArguinIsland #WestAfricanGold #JewishCartographers #PrinceBeatrice #HouseofAviz #MaritimeHistory #Lisbon #AtlanticOcean #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo