Historically, the Portuguese had a clear head start in the overseas colonial game, developing the caravel, exploring Africa and India before anyone else, and building a vast, trading empire despite their small territory and population.
What if their rise was even more meteoric?
Let's say John II of Portugal had accepted Columbus's request for a western voyage in 1485, and Columbus sets sail in 1488 for the Portuguese crown.
If Spain didn't have their lucky break and discover the Caribbean, the launch pad for their conquest of Mexico and Peru, they wouldn't really have had a position to challenge the Portuguese abroad. IIRC, all the Spanish had at that time in terms of Atlantic possessions was the Canary Islands.
Instead, the Portuguese would conquer the Aztecs and Incas. With that and the early settlements in Brazil, they would have a valid claim to all the initially colonized parts of the Americas.
Considering it took until the 1600s for anyone but Spain and Portugal to really start colonizing, could Spain be distracted by the Turks and Central European conflicts, while Portugal reaps the riches of the New World and the East Indies almost entirely on their own?
With the cash flow from the gold and silver mines in Mexico and Peru, and no European distractions, just how big could this Portuguese Empire get?
What if their rise was even more meteoric?
Let's say John II of Portugal had accepted Columbus's request for a western voyage in 1485, and Columbus sets sail in 1488 for the Portuguese crown.
If Spain didn't have their lucky break and discover the Caribbean, the launch pad for their conquest of Mexico and Peru, they wouldn't really have had a position to challenge the Portuguese abroad. IIRC, all the Spanish had at that time in terms of Atlantic possessions was the Canary Islands.
Instead, the Portuguese would conquer the Aztecs and Incas. With that and the early settlements in Brazil, they would have a valid claim to all the initially colonized parts of the Americas.
Considering it took until the 1600s for anyone but Spain and Portugal to really start colonizing, could Spain be distracted by the Turks and Central European conflicts, while Portugal reaps the riches of the New World and the East Indies almost entirely on their own?
With the cash flow from the gold and silver mines in Mexico and Peru, and no European distractions, just how big could this Portuguese Empire get?