A New Challenger Appears

 Most people associate the Spaniards as the pioneers of the high seas who would go on and "discover" the New World. However, another country was responsible for the explosion of sea fare expertise and exploration, a country by the name of Portugal. This small country bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and Spain to the East made moves in the mid-sixteenth century to establish itself as a dominant power in Europe, spearheaded by the efforts of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Henry the Navigator

 Financed by Henry the Navigator, exuberant explorers embarked on a journey to find a way around Africa and up towards Asia. During the course of their voyages, explorers came in contact with the natives the African coast, exploiting them and forcing them into slavery as well as becoming very wealthy in the process through the discovery of gold there. Henry himself would not live to see his countrymen reach the Asian continent by sea, but his inspiration and determination was pivotal in Portugal's expansion. 

A map of Portuguese colonies

Portugal finally made to India, and back, in 1499 through the efforts of Vasca da Gama. With da Gama's return came a load of treasures; spices that the Portuguese had so long sought for. Encouraged by this, Portugal began to regularly trade back and forth across the sea to Asia and specifically India, soon dominating the East Indies trade network. The wealth that Portugal accumulated during these times would have them sitting pretty for a while, even letting them finance trips to South America where they would establish a very important colony in Brazil. Portugal may not be as recognized as it should back then, but their efforts surely had a large impact on seafaring, trading and the New World.

Sources:
http://study.com/academy/lesson/portuguese-and-spanish-empires-growth-in-the-new-world-asia.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-portugal-became-the-first-global-sea-power/