Jorge Álvares
Jorge Álvares | |
---|---|
Born | Late 15th century |
Died | 8 July 1521 |
Nationality | Portuguese |
Occupation | Explorer |
Known for | First European explorer to reach China by sea during the Age of Discovery |
Jorge Álvares (died 8 July 1521) was a
Exploration
In May 1513, Álvares sailed under the
Álvares made first contact on Chinese soil on an island near the historic city of
According to a 1955 book by J.M. Braga, Álvares "learned about China’s culture, religion, finances, and military, valuable information for King Manuel I".[1]
Death and legacy
Álvares died on 8 July 1521 in Tamão in the arms of his friend Duarte Coelho.[5] Aside from questions as to the location of the place, historians also have no evidence as to the cause of death.[1]
Although the manner of his death was not recorded, Tamão was attacked in 1521 by the Chinese navy; it was abandoned and the Portuguese fled to Malacca, in Malaysia. Over the subsequent years, the memories of the significance of his explorations and settlement faded. "Álvares’ role was reduced to a footnote."[1]
According to National Geographic, "Macau may never have existed if not for Tamão" where the Portuguese learned "how China, the Pearl River Delta, and the South China Sea worked". The settlement and Jorge Álvares "kickstarted a chain of events that ultimately spawned Macau".[1]
See also
- Chronology of European exploration of Asia
- Europeans in Medieval China
- Fernão Pires de Andrade
- Rafael Perestrello
- Luso-Chinese agreement (1554)
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f O’Connell, Ronan (March 15, 2021). "The long lost city of Tamão is hiding in plain sight". National Geographic. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-8133-3749-6
- ISBN 0-521-52403-2
- ^ a b Brook, 124.
- ^ Braga, J. M. (May 1939). "The "Tamao" of the Portuguese Pioneers". Tien Hsia Monthly. VIII (5): 423.
References
- ISBN 0-520-22154-0(Paperback).