In the 15th century the Portuguese Prince Henry the Navigator (Henrique o Navegador) summoned the best cartographers & navigators of his time & instructed them to explore the shores of the African coastline They thereby won expertise in navigation & shipbuilding heralding the Age of Exploration & enabling Portugal to later to find a sea trade route to India & China In the height of its power Portugal controlled the sea trade from Brazil to Japan & attained overwhelming wealth with the trade monopoly on spices The players represent wealthy trade dynasties that help to build up the Portuguese colonial empire Tracing the routes of famous explorers they advance all the way to Nagasaki--but sailing into unknown waters is a dangerous venture Founding colonies & building factories helps them to build up an economic base But the prices for sugar gold & spices fluctuate all the time & only the trade dynasty that adapts to the market will be able to finance its lofty plans Competing for new discoveries colonies shipyards & churches it is very important to observe the actions of the other players