Prince Henry the Navigator - 1394-1460
I have to make an apology because I am starting a new set of cards, but didn't realize that the dates that start on the new set (Red Cards) are behind where we are at in the current set we were in (Orange Cards). So, we will go back further in time again, back to 1394-1460 and learn about Prince Henry today.
Prince Henry was born in Portugal in 1394, and took the lead in opening the African route to Asia by establishing a school of navigation and financing voyages. People who were skilled in mapmaking (cartography) and astronomy, along with those who were navigators, went to this school, and provided Henry's captain's with useful information for their voyages.
Prince Henry actually was not a navigator. He sent out many voyages (at least 50) but he never went on any of them. Henry financed many voyages, but none of them ever reached Asia, which is what they would have hoped for. One of the captains was able to reach Sierre Leone though.
The first known slaves in Europe came from one of Henry's captains who brought the slaves from Africa to Europe.
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