The First Global Exchange and Dispute over the Globe : the Portuguese-Spanish Nautical Interchange (1415–1580)

This chapter focuses on the intra-Iberian nautical exchange between Portugal and Spain, beginning in the 15^th century and ending in 1580 with the political union between Portugal and Spain under the Iberian Union. It demonstrates the intensity of the Portuguese-Spanish interchange and shows how Portuguese contributions to Spanish nautical science were crucial at several key moments during the 16^th century. Additionally, it argues that Spanish contributions to Portuguese scientific and overseas developments were meaningful, and that the process of interchange between Portugal and Spain also affected the rest of Europe.