The Portuguese were the first European country to begin the Age of Exploration. Their early expeditions were seeking an eastern route to Asia so they no longer had to trade through the Ottoman Empire. This began by exploring and setting up posts along the African coast line. The Portuguese would become highly involved in the African slave trade as well due to their ports created on the coast of Africa.
After the Treaty of Tordesillas, where Spain and Portugal were fighting over land they were able to colonize, the world was split in half. This split occurred before anyone realized there were two more continents laying to the west of Europe. Portugal was able to get only one piece of land in the Americas and that was Brazil. Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until the early 19th century when Brazil became an independent country.
