Iberian Conquest : 139 



duced at least three results of historical importance. It had been dem- 

 onstrated that man could sail in tropic waters and visit tropic shores 

 without falling ill or being burned to death. Up to this time many 

 European scholars, following the classic geographies, had actually 

 believed both that the tropics were uninhabitable and also that they 

 could not even be crossed by any living person. 



The second result was that the Portuguese had begun the develop- 

 ment of African slavery. Slavery, of course, was not unknown before 

 this time and in many countries of Europe serfs and certain classes 

 of servants and prisoners of war lived in a virtual state of slavery. The 

 beginning may have been relatively innocent. Portuguese captains 

 returning home with their ships loaded with gold and ivory and other 

 exotic goods of the West African country probably desired simply to 

 include with their cargoes some Negroes to satisfy curiosity and to 

 serve as examples of the inhabitants of this part of the world that was 

 then new to Europe. After they had served their initial purpose the 

 Negroes were no doubt put to work on Portuguese soil and gradually 

 the idea of a prosperous trade in Negro slaves took shape. Henry the 

 Navigator tried to forbid the slave traffic but it seems to have grown 

 despite his efforts and to have developed into a set pattern after his 

 death. 



The third outcome was that, even leaving slavery out of account, 

 Portugal found the development of West African trade and the estab- 

 lishment of trading posts profitable. Portugal began to be a thriving 

 maritime country. We have seen already that she was establishing con- 

 tact with England and with Iceland and simultaneously was sending 

 her ships to the Atlantic islands and to West Africa. Year by year she 

 was building larger and stronger vessels and sending them on very 

 extensive voyages. It was a matter of policy that so far as Africa was 

 concerned some voyage each year should advance into new territory. 

 Henry had seen a part of his dream come true and had established 

 policies that were for a time to convert little Portugal into the posi- 

 tion of a world-wide empire. 



Alfonso V, on Henry's death, made a contract with a trader 

 named Gomez under which the latter was permitted exclusive devel- 

 opment of the Guinea trade for a five-year period. Gomez undertook 

 to carry forward the work of exploration for at least 100 leagues each 

 year. Under this arrangement in 1470-71 a Portuguese station was 

 put down on the Gold Coast. In 1472 Fernando Po discovered the 

 island named for him and other ships crossed the equator and even 

 reached two degrees south. In 1481, Joao II came to the throne and 



