The Codex Casanatense: first example of intellectual fusion between Asia and Europe?
The Codex Casanatense, or Códice Casanatense in Portuguese, is a set of 16th century Portuguese illustrations. Likely the work of an...
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Spencer Low
- Aug 15, 2021
- 2 min
When the Portuguese first arrived in India...
Vasco da Gama led the first Portuguese expedition to India, setting sail from Lisbon on July 8, 1497 and arriving in Calicut only on May...
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Spencer Low
- Aug 7, 2021
- 1 min
Not all Portuguese were excited about the Discoveries
Why pass so many storms, and life and times so sore, forever at death's door? I'd give up pepper without qualms. Par passar tanta...
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Spencer Low
- Jan 1, 2021
- 2 min
Portuguese influence on Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine should perhaps be more accurately referred to in the plural: there are so many regional differences, from seafood-heavy...
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Spencer Low
- Dec 26, 2020
- 1 min
Portuguese influence on Southeast Asian cuisines
The Portuguese introduced ingredients to the Asia palate that some would consider to be fundamental today. What would Thai food be like...
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Spencer Low
- Dec 11, 2020
- 2 min
Japanese words of Portuguese origin
Although the Japanese were more deeply familiar with the Dutch language (Western knowledge was called 蘭学 rangaku or "Dutch studies"), the...
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Spencer Low
- Nov 28, 2020
- 1 min
Thai words of Portuguese origin
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to make contact with the Kingdom of Siam more than 500 years ago in 1511. In 1518 was signed the...
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Spencer Low
- Nov 7, 2020
- 1 min
So what? Why this history still matters today
Interesting as it may be, the influence that the Portuguese exerted in Asia so many centuries ago is often relegated to the introductory...
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Spencer Low
- Nov 7, 2020
- 1 min
Decline & displacement
Portugal was united with Spain in 1580 by virtue of sharing the same king in the person of Philip (Filipe I in Portuguese). The Spanish...
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Spencer Low
- Nov 3, 2020
- 1 min
The Portuguese in Southeast Asia
Starting with the conquest of Malacca, the Portuguese finally found in Southeast Asia the source of the spices they were looking for.
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Spencer Low
- Nov 1, 2020
- 1 min
Why the Portuguese went East
I intend to explore this topic through four perspectives: What were the political drivers for what was a costly national undertaking? Was...
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Spencer Low
- Oct 17, 2020
- 1 min
The Portuguese in India
In their quest for spices, Europeans raced to be the first to reach India. The Portuguese won, but this was merely the start of their...
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Spencer Low
- Oct 17, 2020
- 1 min
The Portuguese in China
While China long had contact with Europe through the Silk Road, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to show up by sea. And they...
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Spencer Low
- Oct 17, 2020
- 1 min
The Portuguese in Japan
Arriving from southern China, the Portuguese were called "Southern Barbarians" (南蛮) by the Japanese. These barbarians brought lucrative...
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