Challenge: Save the Portuguese Empire

Now it seems like the popular solution for this is some kind of successful federation with Brazil. But I am wondering what about simple overall economic success over the spice routes. Where historically the dutch and eventually the english came to dominate.

Can Ceylon stay part of the Portuguese Empire?

Can Portuguese India be expanded?
 
Now it seems like the popular solution for this is some kind of successful federation with Brazil. But I am wondering what about simple overall economic success over the spice routes. Where historically the dutch and eventually the english came to dominate.

Can Ceylon stay part of the Portuguese Empire?

Can Portuguese India be expanded?
With a POD just after the 1383–1385 Crisis, if the House of Aviz reduces their interventions on Northern Africa to a bare minimum required to fight piracy, and if they promote the growth of the mercantile class through sensible and competent policies (instead of controlling the colonial trade and setting nobles as Crown representatives), it's possible that Portugal could maintain a larger colonial Empire. Unfortunately there are always populational constraints that prevent Portugal from having a really large Empire for a long term, and the political situation: it's also necessary that Portugal avoids altogether any form of Personal union with Spain, in case an alternate Netherlands achieves independence from Spain.
A larger Portuguese India and a Portuguese Ceylon (along with Brazil and some African colonies) are perfectly possible if all cards are played right (but some non strategic areas might suffer from a smaller presence than OTL).
I hope this helps.:)
 
Besides what Archangel said, if your aim is to keep the Asian Portuguese Empire I would suggest to have the Treaty of Tordesillas never being signed and let the Bull Inter caetera define the colonial borders of Portugal and Spain. Then Portugal would have almost none territory in South America, and would be forced to keep the focus on India.
 
Besides what Archangel said, if your aim is to keep the Asian Portuguese Empire I would suggest to have the Treaty of Tordesillas never being signed and let the Bull Inter caetera define the colonial borders of Portugal and Spain. Then Portugal would have almost none territory in South America, and would be forced to keep the focus on India.

If there are no South American colonies will any permanent settlement colonies be founded in Asia? or would Angola, South Africa, or East Africa be more inviting for Portuguese Settlers?

I was thinking that a real alliance with an Asian power would help the Portuguese keep their monopoly.
 
If there are no South American colonies will any permanent settlement colonies be founded in Asia? or would Angola, South Africa, or East Africa be more inviting for Portuguese Settlers?

I was thinking that a real alliance with an Asian power would help the Portuguese keep their monopoly.

I don't think the Portuguese would try to send settlers to these places, at least not for a while. Merchants, soldiers and slave traders are more likely. South Africa is an interesting option though, maybe without the need of defend the Brazilian coast the Portuguese could have some permanent presence there.
 
I don't think the Portuguese would try to send settlers to these places, at least not for a while. Merchants, soldiers and slave traders are more likely. South Africa is an interesting option though, maybe without the need of defend the Brazilian coast the Portuguese could have some permanent presence there.
The climate is ideally suited for a settlement colony.:);)
 
I think it comes down to what people think is best, settler colonies, or Portugal Inc. trade only.

If the problem of Portugal is a small population wouldn't it be best to create new population centers where permanent bases can be set up? or is the creation of a colony more expensive than rewarding?
 
I think it comes down to what people think is best, settler colonies, or Portugal Inc. trade only.

If the problem of Portugal is a small population wouldn't it be best to create new population centers where permanent bases can be set up? or is the creation of a colony more expensive than rewarding?
It depends on where is set, its defensability, the economic type of activity in it, etc.
Personally I recommend good settler colonies in good and fertile places, with some trading spots in other regions to control a portion of world trade.
Regarding the settler colonies, there is the issue of choosing it over economic concerns, for example, Portugal was fond of places where Sugar cane could be grown and explored, but in the very long term, its preferable a place that serves for regular agriculture, and that can sustain a large and dense population, without extra health concerns over the climate.
In later stages maybe a bit more of tolerance over the choice of settlers (allowing immigrants from different religious or ethnic beliefs in exchange for loyalty), would help boost the population (a bit more than even the good natural growth the Portuguese people had in those areas of settlement - pus no dispersal in multiple trading posts and countless conflicts in North Africa and the East would increase even more the avaliable population for the colonies).
Another relevant issue is the financial and intellectual capital that can be preserved by not expelling nor confiscating goods from the Jews and Moors living in Portugal (most Jews stayed in Portugal, but the best minds and many fortunes were lost either because they emigrated or the Crown took it) - this would also increase the population a little more over the course of the centuries.
 
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