Eine kurzer geschichtlicher Überblick über die Zeit der portugiesischen Herrschaft auf den Molukken (1511 - 1640) in englischer Sprache.
For virtually the whole of the 16th century a Portugal managed to secure and retain a dominant position in the seaborne trade in the Indian Ocean and east of the Straits of Malacca. They reached the Indonesian archipelago at a uniquely fortunate time: The Javanese Hindu empire of Majapahit was then reduced to a steadily declining kingdom and had not yet been supplanted by the rise of the Muslimic empire of Mataram, and the Asian countries were prevented from uniting against the Portuguese because of internal and external rivalries.
Supplies of spices were so abundant and cheap that if the Portuguese were to keep the prices high in Europe it was essential to establish a monopoly and restrict export. The chief difficulty lay in the fact that shortly before the arrival of the Portuguese the Spice Islands had been converted to Islam, but the Molucca Islands were one of the few regions where Muslims did not act hostile against the Portuguese, because the Portuguese offered them much better conditions in the clove trade than the Muslim merchants had.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- FIRST CONTACTS
- THE DISPUTE FOR THE MOLUCCA ISLANDS
- PORTUGUESE MALUCO
- CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to detail the Portuguese presence in the Molucca Islands, a crucial spice-producing region, from the beginning of the 16th century to 1605. The narrative delves into the Portuguese initial encounters, their role in the spice trade, and the complex geopolitical landscape of the islands.
- The Portuguese arrival in the Moluccas and their establishment of trading posts.
- The strategic importance of the Moluccas as a source of cloves and the resulting conflict with other European powers, especially Spain.
- The impact of Portuguese presence on the political structure and social dynamics of the Molucca Islands.
- The role of religion and cultural exchange in shaping the Portuguese experience in the region.
- The eventual decline of the Portuguese presence in the Moluccas.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The chapter provides an overview of the Molucca Islands and their historical significance as the sole source of cloves in the 16th century. It sheds light on the islands' Islamicization and the emerging sultanates of Tidore and Ternate.
- First Contacts: This chapter narrates the Portuguese arrival in the Moluccas following Afonso de Albuquerque's conquest of Malacca in 1511. It describes the initial interactions with the local rulers, the establishment of trading posts, and the early mapping efforts undertaken by Portuguese explorers.
- The Dispute for the Molucca Islands: This chapter explores the rivalry between Portugal and Spain over control of the Moluccas. It examines the basis of their territorial claims based on the papal bull of 1493 and the Treaty of Tordesillas, highlighting the overlapping interests and diplomatic challenges that arose.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The text focuses on the Portuguese presence in the Molucca Islands, highlighting key themes such as spice trade, colonialism, geopolitical rivalry, cultural exchange, Islamization, and the emergence of sultanates in the region.
- Quote paper
- Elke Timme (Author), 1998, A Presença Portuguesa nas Ilhas das Moluccas 1511 - 1605, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/45881
