2021-04-22 Thu

Pedro Alvares Cabral was a Portuguese navigator who is generally credited as the first European to reach Brazil. His expedition was also the second from Europe to reach India via the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope (Vasco da Gama had done so in 1498).

Cabral sights the Brazilian mainland for the first time on 22 April 1500. After he explored Brazil, the Portuguese began colonizing the area. The Brazilian people gained a great profit by exploring Lumber, a brazilwood tree. Lumber is mainly used for structural purposes but has many other uses as well. Lumber is a tropical tree that produces a bright red dye, furniture, and shipbuilding. The name 'Brazil' began to be popular in 1503 and was associated with this brazilwood tree.

Cabral led the first known expedition to have touched four continents: Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. To celebrate the 500th anniversary of Cabral's birth Portuguese issued a coin of value 50 Escudos. The obverse of a coin depicts Crowned Coat of Arms, the name of the country above, denomination in digits below. The reverse shows Bust of Pedro Alvares Cabral with headdress right within a circle, date below.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org