Henry The Navigator In The Age Of Exploration

Henry the Navigator in the Age of Exploration Prince Henry was born in Portugal in 1394. He was the third son of King John I. In the year of 1415, Henry helped his two brothers attack the port of Ceuta in Morocco. This inspired him to explore the unknown of South Africa. In the Algarve, Henry constructed his own school of navigation on a promontory called Sagres that juts out into the sea between Cape St. Vincent and Lagos bay. Prince Henry set up this school, so that there would be a place where sailors could study navigation and geography. Sailors learned navigation so that obviously they could guide their ships across the ocean.

Prince Henry had three goals other than his school. First, he wanted to learn about lands not heard of. Secondly, he wanted to bring Christianity to the continents of Asia and Africa. Lastly, he wanted to find an ocean route around Asia and Africa. Prince Henry wanted to expand Portugal's trade and influence along the African coast and to find the source of the gold, that Islamic traders had been carrying north from central Africa for hundreds of years. Henry's skill in astronomy and mathematics helped him organize explorations along the northwest African coast. The money for the explorations was raised and planned by Henry. Astronomers, mathematicians, and mapmakers also helped him.

He acquired many scientists and navigation experts to plan for exploring the West coast of Africa. He was looking for the source of gold that was carried by Saharan caravans. He also wanted to locate the legendary Christian kingdom of Prester John, and see if there was a sea route to Asia other than the Silk Road, which was the land route to Asia.

The outcome of Henry's first voyage happened in 1419 after Joao Goncalves Zarco rediscovered the island of Madeira. In 1427 and then in 1432, voyages were sent to find the Azores. Both voyages succeeded. Starting in 1420 and running for twelve years, Henry dispatched 14 voyages, all aimed at rounding Cape