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Title H story, Religion, and Tradition K ing Manuel I of Portugal was very fond of Pedro Álvares Cabral. Cabral and his father, Fernao, had served the throne very well. In return for this loyalty, the king bestowed on Pedro Cabral various titles, including “Counselor to his Highness.” It was no small moniker and showed the immense pride the king had in the younger Cabral. The king also showered upon Cabral a hefty allowance. So it didn’t come as a shock to anyone when King Manuel asked Cabral to lead an expedition of thirteen ships to India. At the time, Portugal was small, but its kings were determined to make the country—and themselves, of course—rich. They outfitted trading ves- sels with large cannons more powerful than the guns on the ships of other

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CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY, RELIGION, AND TRADITION