<span>The </span><span>Portuguese sailors discovered several Atlantic islands like the </span>Azores<span>, </span>Madeira<span>, and </span>Cape Verde<span>, explored and colonized </span>the African coast<span>, discovered an </span>eastern route to India<span>, </span>discovered Brazil<span>, explored the </span>Indian Ocean, <span>and sent the first direct European maritime trade and diplomatic missions to </span>Ming China<span> and </span>to Japan<span>.</span>
