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Title
CHAPTER
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CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY, RELIGION, AND TRADITION
H story, Religion,
and Tradition
K
ing Manuel I of Portugal was very fond of Pedro Álvares Cabral. Cabral
and his father, Fernao, had served the throne very well. In return for this
loyalty, the king bestowed on Pedro Cabral various titles, including “Counselor
to his Highness.” It was no small
moniker
and showed the immense pride the
king had in the younger Cabral. The king also showered upon Cabral a hefty
allowance. So it didn’t come as a shock to anyone when King Manuel asked
Cabral to lead an expedition of thirteen ships to India.
At the time, Portugal was small, but its kings were determined to make
the country—and themselves, of course—rich. They outfitted trading ves-
sels with large cannons more powerful than the guns on the ships of other
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