13 About “The Book of Duarte Barbosa” The voyages of the Portuguese in the Atlantic, Indian and PaciÀc oceans enabled the knowledge of the peoples who dwelt in the greater part of Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. Many regions of this vast world were visited and described by the Portuguese seafarers, crown ofÀcials and merchants with great detail. Therefore, physical aspects like islands, sea-shores, winds, tides, the stars that enabled the astronomical navigation; were known and described for the Àrst time by the crews of the “caravelas” (Latin sail) and “naus” (Round sail) of the Portuguese. The people who inhabited those shores were regarded with great interest by the sailors, as well as the products with a commercial value namely spices and drugs, gold and noble metals as indeed textiles. Everything was observed, commented upon, and transmitted to the royal ofÀces in Lisbon, which was the head of that maritime and commercial Empire. As this enterprise was mainly a crown endeavor, everything was
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