Who was Pedro Álvares Cabral?
Q: Who was Pedro Álvares Cabral?
A: Pedro Álvares Cabral was a Portuguese nobleman, navigator and explorer who was the first European to see Brazil.
Q: When did he first sight land in Brazil?
A: He sighted land in Brazil on 22 April 1500.
Q: What name did King Manuel I give this new land?
A: King Manuel I initially named the new land "Island of the True Cross" but later renamed it "Holy Cross". It was eventually renamed once again to "Brazil".
Q: What happened during his journey to India?
A: During his journey to India, Cabral suffered storms and destruction of some ships at the Cape of Good Hope, and fighting against Muslim traders in Calicut, India (50 men of Cabral were killed in this attack).
Q: Where did he successfully trade for spices?
A: He successfully traded for spices in Cochin, now called Kozhikode, India.
Q: How many ships returned with him from his expedition?
A: Only 5 out of 13 ships returned with him from his expedition.
Q: Why did King Manuel I appoint Vasco da Gama to head the next expedition instead of Cabral?
A: After his return from India, Cabral refused to command another expedition so King Manuel I appointed Vasco da Gama instead.
