Spain

- Formally known as the Kingdom of Spain, is a nation in southern Europe having two small
enclaves in North Africa. It is the largest of the Iberian Peninsula's three independent states.

- Spain has a lengthy history of religious conflict including Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism, and
is notorious for the Spanish Inquisition, the murder of Jews, and extensive expulsions of Jews, as
well as being a stronghold of Roman Catholicism.

- For decades, Spain was probably the richest and certainly the most remote country on the
planet. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, its continental and foreign empires were steadily
eroding.

- It is now a nation that can boast of success in the administration of its autonomous
communities, since each is permitted to operate in a very autonomous manner. The decentralized
government of Spain functions as a personalized support system for particular areas. Another
modern achievement for this country is its transition from dictatorship to democracy, for which it
may serve as an example to many other countries.

Portugal

- is a country in Southwestern Europe located on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost

sovereign state in mainland Europe, surrounded on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean, and
on the north and east by Spain, which is the only country in Europe with a land boundary with
Portugal.
- Portugal, formerly the most powerful country in continental Europe, shares physical and
cultural similarities with countries in northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

- It is sparsely populated, beautiful, and wild northern coast and hilly interior, whereas the
country's south, the Algarve, is warm and fruitful. The rocky Estrela Mountains, located between
the Tagus and Mondego rivers, are home to mainland Portugal's highest peak.

- Portugal rose to prominence in the Age of Exploration beginning in the 14th century.
Portuguese explorers like Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan began the process of
transforming Portugal into a large colonial empire. In the Americas, Africa, and the Far East,
Portugal built colonies.
 Reasons for exploration

Spain

- The goal of Spanish exploration was to locate the Northwest Passage, which they felt would
provide a straight and efficient path to the Orient, which they believed was home to spices, silks,
and wealth.

- The Spanish explorers were seeking for mineral wealth and desired to propagate Christianity.

- They were looking for El Dorado (the City of Gold). In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian
adventurer, traveled across the Atlantic Ocean hoping to find a route to India in order to trade for
spices.

- Wanted to take possession of the fabulous riches of lands outside Europe, particularly gold,
pepper, ivory, and even African Slaves.

Portugal

-Portugal's geographical location influenced its development.

-With Spain to its east and north and no ports on the Mediterranean, Portugal was forced to rely
on the Atlantic Ocean as its primary mode of transportation.

- John I of Portugal ushered in a golden age for his country. The North African city of Ceuta fell
in 1415, giving a European power its first toehold on the African continent.

-Prince Henry, a navigator and John's son, gathered Portuguese resources and intelligence for
exploration.

-The Azores and the Madeira Islands were visited during voyages across the Atlantic.

- Wanted to take possession of the fabulous riches of lands outside Europe, particularly gold,
pepper, ivory, and even African Slaves.
 Known Personalities on The Age of Exploration

Ferdinand Magellan

- First to circumnavigate the world.

- From 1519 to 1521, he was a Portuguese explorer who planned an expedition to the East Indies.

- Born in Northern Portugal on February 3, 1480 & Died in the Philippines on April 27, 1521.

- He named Samar Island St. Lazarus for it was Saturday before the Passion Sunday, which later
on was named for the whole archipelago.

Christopher Columbus

- He was an Italian navigator, explorer, and colonizer under the flag of Spain.

- He conducted four Atlantic Ocean journeys, paving the way for broad European exploration
and colonization of the Americas.

- He was born in the Republic of Genoa, Italy.

Antonio Pigafetta

- He is Ferdinand Magellan Chronicler.

Ruy Lopez de Villalobos

- He named the Bangaga Bay in Davao Oriental, Philippines in honor to Philip, Prince of
Asturias, which later on named to the whole country replacing the named that was given by
Magellan.

- Villalobos died of severe melancholia at Amboina in the spring of 1546.

Juan Sebastian del Cano

- Sub-Officer of Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet.

Juan Garcia Jofre de Loaysa

- The leader of another fleet that was sent by Charles V.

- The Sea of Hoces, south of Cape Horn, and the Marshall Islands, in the Pacific, were
discovered as a result of the voyage. On the first day of the year 1527, one ship landed in the
Spice Islands.
- Loaysa died in crossing the Pacific on July 30, 1526.

Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

- known as El Adelantado and El Viejo.

- He was a Basque-Spanish sailor and governor who founded Spain's first settlement in the East
Indies.

- The first Governor-General of the Spanish East Indies, which comprised the Philippines as well
as other Pacific archipelagos such as Guam and the Mariana Islands.

- On August 20, 1572, Legazpi died in Manila and was buried in the Augustinian Church within
the Manila Walled City.
 Important Facts on The Age of Exploration

- The voyage of Magellan was a pivotal moment in human history as a man was able to circle the
globe for the first time, proving that the earth is really round.

- Lapu-Lapu was recognized as the first Filipino independence warrior after beating Magellan.

- Given that he was the first Asian to repel a foreign invader, Lapu-Lapu's victory over the first
circumnavigator of the world was important.

- The Victoria ship accomplished the incredible accomplishment of circumnavigating the world
in a single voyage.

- Jeronimo Jeminez, Nicholas de Perea, Sebastian de Trasierra and Alonso de Alvaro were the
first priests and missionaries who circumnavigated the world.

- The Portuguese are the first to set sail in the age of exploration.

- During the Age of Exploration, Portugal and Spain rose to the top. The Treaty of Tordesillas
established a division of the New World between the two countries.