They also needed to contend with the still powerful Republic of Venice, which controlled most of the Eastern Mediterranean not occupied by Islamic rulers. Moreover it will try to illustrate how these buildings represent an architectural continuity and variation from previous Portuguese constructions also in Morocco representing an advanced knowledge in engineering and constructive systems.Since the early 15th century, the Portuguese (and later the Spanish) sought to break the Arab monopoly on the spice market.

The lecture will present an overview of these major architectural works, many located in the cities of Goa, Damão and Diu. The accomplishment of Vasco da Gama enterprise was possible also due to the vision carried out by Afonso de Albuquerque, who became governor of Portuguese India between 1509-1515 and is the author of the real Portuguese settlement program in Indian Ocean. Topic: “A Heritage Memory: the Portuguese Architectural Settlements on the Indian West Coast” João Magalhães Rocha João Magalhães Rocha, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Évora The seaborne empire which was created took time to build and to settle, as this lecture will try to critically illustrate.

Another goal was to create a new Spice Route, which could withdraw the commerce monopoly that the Italian cities of Venice and Genova had at the time. At this time, knowledge about the world was still unclear and the quest for Christians beyond the boundaries of Christendom was one of the main goals of the expedition. The first voyage of Vasco da Gama to East Africa and India took place in 1497-99. Topic: “When the World was a Place of the Unknown and Vasco da Gama United the East and the West” The Spring 2015 Soli Sorabjee Lecture featured a pair of presentations by faculty from the University of Évora in Portugal on the topic of “Portuguese Cultural Heritage in South Asia”:įilipe Themudo Barata Filipe Themudo Barata, Associate Professor of History at the University of Évora Graduate Professional Studies (Online Programs)įilipe Themudo Barata and João Magalhães Rocha Spring 2015 Lecture “Portuguese Cultural Heritage in South Asia” Rabb School: Graduate Professional Studies Heller School for Social Policy and Management

Vasco da gama accomplishment