Cabral Discovers Brazil

Timeline

1. 1500Lisbon · PortugalCabral set out from Lisbon with thirteen ships and about 1,500 men, under orders to follow da Gama's route to India, carrying missionaries and trade personnel.
2. 1500Eastern coast of Brazil · BahiaThe fleet drifted west of the course toward Africa and sighted the eastern coast of the South American continent on April 22. The crew went ashore, made contact with local indigenous people, and held a mass and flag-raising ceremony to proclaim Portuguese sovereignty.
3. 1500Eastern coast of Brazil · BrazilAfter a brief stay on the coast and dispatching a ship to report back to Lisbon, the fleet continued eastward across the Atlantic toward the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, completing the next stage of the voyage to India.