Portuguese Pink Map

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Map

I don't think this would have been possible without butterflying "Cape to Cairo" ambition. I think the only way to make this possible is for Ottomans to be victorious in 1877-78 Russo-Ottoman War, so that Egypt won't be falling into British hands, so no ambition to Cairo. However, to actually what extent shall the impetus for northern exploration be reduced by negating Cairo ambition ? Or would there be no chance for the Portuguese either way whatsoever ?
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Map

I don't think this would have been possible without butterflying "Cape to Cairo" ambition. I think the only way to make this possible is for Ottomans to be victorious in 1877-78 Russo-Ottoman War, so that Egypt won't be falling into British hands, so no ambition to Cairo. However, to actually what extent shall the impetus for northern exploration be reduced by negating Cairo ambition ? Or would there be no chance for the Portuguese either way whatsoever ?

I believe that if there is no "Cape to Cairo" plans, the Pink Map has a greater chance of becoming reality (and as a side effect, it may prolongue the life of the Portuguese Monarchy).
 
I believe that if there is no "Cape to Cairo" plans, the Pink Map has a greater chance of becoming reality (and as a side effect, it may prolongue the life of the Portuguese Monarchy).

Maybe if the Portuguese do not receive the territories in Congo as they wanted the British might compensate them with the lands of the Pink Map. I imagine they trying to build a Luanda - Lourenço Marques railway, and considering other examples of African railways that one would be a hell to be done.
 
Britain was a globe spanning Empire at this time, but would Britain have gone to war if the Portugese did not back down? Portugal was their oldest allie, how would other nations trust them in other agreements if war does happen?
 
No Cape-Cairo project would also give the French Dakar-Djibouti railroad a better start.

Dakar-Djibouti plan will also only workable if nobody is standing on the way in Sudan and Egypt, and if Ottoman is just weak enough then British will be in the best position to seize both countries, due to their naval power, as it has been proved IOTL. Both the Ottoman weakness and British incapability to seize Egypt and Sudan post 1877-78 Russo-Ottoman must be achieved to allow this, and the latter is just quite borderline ASB for me.
 
No Cape-Cairo project would also give the French Dakar-Djibouti railroad a better start.

I don't think the Dakar-Djibuti Railway was ever a realistic project. Cape to Cairo wasn't really either - it's still not a reality, and if it is completed, it will run across three different gauges and have ferry connections.

The French ambition was secondary to their desire to connect Algeria with the French Sudan, and the idea of a railway from Dakar to Djibuti was only born of the potential to gain the Sudan due to the Mahdist Revolt.

I suppose that doesn't cancel the territorial ambitions that went with these projects, though...
 
Maybe if the Portuguese do not receive the territories in Congo as they wanted the British might compensate them with the lands of the Pink Map. I imagine they trying to build a Luanda - Lourenço Marques railway, and considering other examples of African railways that one would be a hell to be done.

After a few years of hard work, I believe it would have been done. ;)
 
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