Lisbon (2)

During the Middle Ages, Lisbon's Muslim population was confined to the Mouraria quarter. This measure proved counterproductive. Many Muslims left the city. Their departure damaged the local economy, as they performed essential crafts and labor.

​At the end of the medieval period, Portugal launched its maritime expansion. The endeavor gained momentum in 1415 with the conquest of Ceuta. That milestone marked the beginning of the Age of Discovery. Expeditions pushed south along the African coast. They passed Cape Bojador and crossed the equator. Later, they rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Lisbon became the primary port of departure and return for these voyages. The city established itself as a global commercial hub.

​Vasco da Gama's arrival in India in 1498 ushered in the era of greatest splendor. Portugal founded trading posts and strategic enclaves in Zanzibar, Timor, and Japan. It also controlled the spice trade and established commercial ties with the Kingdom of Siam (modern-day Thailand), creating its own settlement in the capital, Ayutthaya (founded by the Siamese, not the Portuguese). However, by the late sixteenth century, the acquisition of new territories ceased, initiating a period of imperial stagnation.

​On November 1, 1755, a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami destroyed much of Lisbon. The tragedy struck during All Saints' Day mass, killing thousands. The disaster shocked all of Europe. Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire opened a profound philosophical debate on providence and divine justice, to which Rousseau responded by pointing to human responsibility in urban overcrowding.

​The Marquis of Pombal led the city's reconstruction. He designed the innovative, grid-like layout of the Baixa. Through this urban renewal, Lisbon entered the modern era. It preserved its cosmopolitan character and strong literary heritage. Later on, Fernando Pessoa would wander the streets of Chiado and the Baixa, reflecting in his writing the sense of disquiet characteristic of Lisbon's atmosphere.