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# Henry the Navigator Fig 4.4 Henry the Navigator - Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese man, started a school of oceanic navigation in the 15th century. - The school trained people in navigation, ship building, studying maps, and astronomy. - Because of the efforts of Henry the Navigator, the Port...

# Henry the Navigator Fig 4.4 Henry the Navigator - Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese man, started a school of oceanic navigation in the 15th century. - The school trained people in navigation, ship building, studying maps, and astronomy. - Because of the efforts of Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese excelled in navigation. - In 1488, a team of Portuguese navigators led by Bartolomeu Dias sailed to the western coast of Africa and then reached the Southern end of Africa. - The navigators were caught up in a storm, and therefore they named that place as 'Cape of Storms'. - The King of Portugal considered this to be a great victory, achieved by the Portuguese, and renamed the 'Cape of Storms' as 'Cape of Good Hope'. - Later, a group of navigators led by Vasco da Gama followed this route and reached the City of Calicut in India in 1498, fulfilling the expectations of the Europeans in finding a new sea route to Asia. # Spain Fig 4.5 Christopher Columbus - Spain, which is situated to the east of Portugal, is the largest country in the Iberian Peninsula. - The Spanish had been interested in navigation since ancient times. - By the latter half of the 15th century, Spain had been emerging as a strong state under the leadership of the royal couple named Ferdinand and Isabella. - As Spain had a strong economy, the Spanish government came forward to give patronage for explorations. - While the Portuguese were finding a sea route to Asia by way of sailing around Africa, Spanish navigators were engaged in finding a route to Asia by travelling to the west of the Atlantic Ocean.