Don't forget that Portugal in these scenarios, discovers Brazil after she has set up shop in the Indian Ocean. As far as the Europeans were concerned, the big money was there, not someplace unknown to the West.
But Portugal dominating Asian trade without the counterweight of Spanish America will change European attitudes heavily. Everyone will try and see if another route is available to snatch monopoly out of Lisbon's control, especially France and Spain. This may be delayed by Columbus' failure, but only for some decades. While I like the idea of an alt-Columbian Exchange around 1600, I hardly see it happening with 1492-ish PoD.
OTOH, the Portuguese OTL discovered Brazil because Columbus had made them think that something might have been out there. Otherwise, Cabral had no reason not to sail closer to the African coast, and even more so whoever followed his steps. Once the route to India is firmly secured, this may be even more likely.
Note also, Portugal would never have the manpower to engage into the kind of massive Empire building Spain did. Portuguese forces in Indonesia, for instance, were always painstakingly thinly stretched even in best times.
But Portugal dominating Asian trade without the counterweight of Spanish America will change European attitudes heavily. Everyone will try and see if another route is available to snatch monopoly out of Lisbon's control, especially France and Spain. This may be delayed by Columbus' failure, but only for some decades. While I like the idea of an alt-Columbian Exchange around 1600, I hardly see it happening with 1492-ish PoD.
OTOH, the Portuguese OTL discovered Brazil because Columbus had made them think that something might have been out there. Otherwise, Cabral had no reason not to sail closer to the African coast, and even more so whoever followed his steps. Once the route to India is firmly secured, this may be even more likely.
Note also, Portugal would never have the manpower to engage into the kind of massive Empire building Spain did. Portuguese forces in Indonesia, for instance, were always painstakingly thinly stretched even in best times.