Contents -- Chapter 1. West-East Relations from Ancient Times to the Fourteenth Century A.D. -- West-East Contacts to Roman Times -- Roman Expansion and World Concepts -- The Small World of Medieval Europe -- The Muslim World and Eastern Contacts -- The Gradual Awakening of Western Europe -- The Christian Counteroffensive against the Muslims -- The Birth of Portugal: 1095-1211 -- The Mongols East of the Muslims: Genghis Khan, 1155-1227 -- The Political and Economic Growth of Portugal, 1211-49 -- The West Seeks Mongol Aid Against the Muslims -- The Polos and Christian Missionaries in the East: 1260-1328 -- The Continued Economic Growth of Portugal: the Reign of King Dinis, 1279-1325 -- Growing Western Efforts to Get Behind the Muslims -- Chapter 2. Prelude to Empire: Portuguese and European Expansion to 1415 -- The Search for a Way around Africa to the East -- Portuguese and Spanish Interest in Northwest Africa -- Genoese Activities in West Africa and the Canary Islands -- Portuguese-Spanish Rivalry in Africa and the Canary Islands -- The Catalans and Mallorcans in Africa and the Canary Islands -- Travel Accounts, Real and Imaginary, Stimulate Interest -- Land Barriers between East and West: Mamelukes and Ottomans -- Fall of the Mongols, 1368: New Trade Difficulties -- The Economic and Political Progress of Portugal to 1383 -- A New Dynasty in Portugual: the Aviz, João I -- The Portuguese Kings as Trade Promoters -- Rivalry in the Canary Islands: Catalans and Castilians -- A Spanish Foothold in the Canary Islands: Bettencourt, 1402-18 -- Renewed Portuguese Interest in Northwest Africa: Ceuta -- Chapter 3. Ceuta - the Beginning of Empire -- Preparation for the Attack on Ceuta -- Perennial Trade and War between Portugal and the Muslims -- Divided Counsel: Renew War with Spain or Attack in Africa? -- The Capture of Ceuta, 1415.

To Hold or Evacuate Ceuta? -- A Dual Policy: Hold Ceuta and Advance along the African Coast -- Chapter 4. Portuguese Expansion in Africa and the Atlantic, 1415-37 -- The Madeiras and Canaries, 1418-25: Portuguese-Spanish Rivalry -- Exploring the Atlantic: the Azores Islands, 1427-32 -- The Policy Debate Continues: Attack in Africa or Granada? -- Portuguese Efforts to Capture the Canaries -- Chinese Expansion: Westward Expeditions, 1405-33 -- Portuguese Exploration of the African Coast: the Passage of Cape Bojador, 1434 -- Attempted Expansion into Northwest Africa: Disastrous Failure at Tangier -- Chapter 5. New Discoveries along the African Coast and the Old Spanish Rival -- Prince Henry: Reasons for Coastal Exploration -- Coastal Trade: The First Slaves, 1441 -- Slave Raids, 1443-46 -- The Slaving Voyages of 1444-45 -- The Slaving Voyages of 1445-46 -- Henry the Navigator Granted a Monopoly beyond Bojador -- Prince Pedro and King Afonso V Take a Share in Expansion -- Portugal's Success against Spain on the Coast: Failure in the Canaries -- Chapter 6. Explorations to Guinea and the Cape Verde Islands -- The Venetian Merchant Alvise da Cadamosto -- Slaving: Ten Men for a Horse -- Cadamosto's Admiration for the Africans -- Usodimare Joins Cadamosto: Maritime Insurance -- The Cape Verde Islands -- Who Discovered the Cape Verde Islands? -- Portugal and the Fall of the Byzantine Empire -- Capture of Alcácer-Seguer, 1458 -- Portuguese Expansion to the Death of Henry, 1460 -- Chapter 7. Henry "The Navigator" Who Followed His Stars -- Was Henry a Learned Man? -- The "School" of Sagres -- Was Henry Surrounded by "Scientists"? -- The Ships of Discovery -- Navigation and Maps -- What Sort of Man Was Henry? -- Henry's Legacy to Portugal and the World -- Chapter 8. Navigation: Portuguese Haven-Finding in the Ocean Sea -- Navigational Science about 1415.

Mediterranean Navigation in the Early Middle Ages -- Treatises on the Compass and Navigation -- Italian, Spanish, and Muslim Treatises -- The First Maritime Charts -- Chart Makers -- Navigation in Fourteenth-Century Portugal and Spain -- Longitude and Latitude -- Portuguese Knowledge of Nautical Instruments -- Portuguese Maps -- Portuguese Scientific Interests -- The Astrolabe and Latitude -- Tables of Solar Declination -- Formal Instruction in the Science of Navigation -- Chapter 9. Dividing the Land and the Waters: the Treaty of Alcáçovas, 1479-80 -- Death of Henry: the Dual Policy of Expansion Continued -- Further Discoveries: Fernão Gomes -- The Rivalry of Portugal and Spain -- War: 1475-79 -- Treaty of Alcáçovas-Toledo, 1479-80 -- Chapter 10. João II: the "Perfect Prince" Who Looked South and East -- João II's Vigorous Policy: São Jorge da Mina, 1482 -- Diogo Cão and Martin Behaim -- João II's Triple Play -- Dias Discovers the Cape of Good Hope -- Attempts to Penetrate the Interior of Africa -- Envoys to the East: Paiva and Covilhã -- The Results of the Paiva-Covilhã Mission -- Chapter 11. Christopher Columbus: a Genoese Who Made a "Portuguese" Voyage for Spain -- Columbus in Portugal: 1476-84 -- Speculation about Land to the West -- First Voyage: Columbus Driven by Storm into Portugal -- The Papal Bulls and the Treaty of Tordesillas -- Chapter 12. Vasco da Gama: "May the Devil Take You! What Brought You Here?" -- Why No Explorer Immediately Followed the Dias Discovery -- Vasco da Gama: 1497-99 -- Da Gama's Objectives, Ships, and Men -- From the East Coast of Africa to India -- Da Gama's First Experiences and Surprises in India -- The Agonizing Voyage Home to Portugal -- Home: Results of the Voyage -- Chapter 13. Cabral: the Captain Who Touched Four Continents -- The Prompt Organization of a Second Voyage to India.

Sailing Instructions: Discovery of Brazil -- Description of the Brazilian Indians -- What and Where Was Brazil? a Message to King Manuel -- First Reports about Brazil -- Chapter 14. Preconditions to an Asian Empire -- The National Effort -- The Carreira da Índia -- The Old Trade Routes -- Venice and the Portuguese Discovery of India -- The Genoese, Florentines, and Other Foreigners as Portuguese Commercial Allies -- Morocco: a School for Cutthroats -- The Naval Superiority -- Chapter 15. From Discovery to Conquest -- The Decision to Pursue Empire -- Almeida and the Beginnings of an Imperial Strategy -- The Response of the Sultan -- The Viceroyalty of Almeida, Continued -- The Rivalry with Gujarat -- The Showdown Fights -- The Great Victory at Diu -- Chapter 16. The Shape of Empire: the Nucleus, 1509-15 -- An Initial Failure -- Albuquerque as Governor -- Malacca -- Firepower at Benasterim -- Failure before Aden -- The Conquest of Ormuz -- Chapter 17. The Shape of Empire, Continued: the Nucleus, 1515-80 -- Morocco versus India -- The Ruinous Reign of João III -- The Acquisition of Diu -- The First Siege of Diu -- Toward a Portuguese Ocean and a Turkish Sea -- India under Siege -- Chapter 18. Institutions of Trade and Government -- Capitalism among the Islands -- The Sweet Taste of Success -- Capitalism and the Portuguese Crown -- The Trading Monopoly in Action -- Cartazes, Customs, and Convoys -- Royal Administration in Asia -- The Viceroyalty -- Civilian Administration: the Municipality -- Rule over the Indigenes -- Chapter 19. The Shape of Empire: the Western Periphery -- Some Technical Considerations -- South-East Africa -- Ethiopia -- Chapter 20. The Periphery: Indonesia -- The Archipelago before Portugal's Advent -- Spain versus Portugual: the Moluccas Question -- The Pattern of Exploitation -- Portuguese Rule in the Spice Islands.

Chapter 21. The Periphery: China and Japan -- China -- Japan -- Chapter 22. The Balance Sheet -- The Simple Profit -- The Period of Geopolitics and Monopoly, 1520 to ca. 1550 -- The Monopoly Fails (ca. 1550) -- Asia: the Other Set of Books -- An Era of Innovation (1570-77) -- The End of a Dynasty (1578-80) -- The Tally -- Appendixes -- Bibliography -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z -- Illustrations and Maps.