Portugal was to become, in the European context, the first Atlantic expansionist power. As early as 1336 Portugal undertook exploratory initiatives in the Canary Islands, claiming possession in 1345. The first references to the Madeira Archipelago appear in 1350, in 1351 the so called Atlas Mediceu , placed Madeira in its geographical position. In 1418 the Island of Porto Santo was officially discovered, and the Island of Madeira in 1419. The settlement of the Madeira Archipelago begins in the second decade of the 15th century, being an experiment for the imperial structure later to be developed in other parts of the World. Madeira becomes, from an early date, a reference in the logistic support to the Portuguese Maritime Expansion, in particular to the North African fortified settlements, contributing technical and human assistance to the Cabo Verde and Brazil experiences. A great deal of the technology required for the Brazilian sugar production was acquired from the developments firs put into practice in Madeira. Many inhabitants of Madeira joined the Portuguese diaspora in the East. In 1537 native of Madeira, Jordão de Freitas, was appointed lord of the islands of Amboina and Siram in the Moluccas and captain of the fort of São João in Ternate. The Funchal diocese did, in fact, up to 1551 include de dioceses of Angra, Cabo Verde, S. Tomé and Goa.

Although not on the route of the fleets returning from India, Madeira was of strategic importance on the return voyage for the Acapulco route, many of the galleons calling at Madeira before reaching Seville. From an early date, Madeira, due to its exceptional geographic conditions became an experimenting ground for many of the later developments in the Portuguese Empire.

Madeira sugar, exported all over Europe, attracted from early on many foreigners who settled there, contributing to the Madeiran character, of openness to the world, within a cosmopolitan tradition which becomes even more obvious in later cycles of its economy, as in the development of the Madeira wine trade.

After several years of organizing conferences focused on specific aspects of the West-East interchanges, having secured the presence of some of the foremost specialists in their specific areas of expertise, in 2005 we propose a more general approach, a balance of the themes already analysed in previous years. Portugal was able to offer Renaissance Europe direct contact with mythical and mysterious eastern civilizations.

12th November (Saturday) 18h00 Opening of the Exhibition of “Dr. Jorge Mota collection” 13th November (Sunday) 10h00 Guided tour to the Cathedral of Funchal and St. John the Evangelist Church 12h00 Guided tour to Arte Sacra Museum and opening of the exhibition “Madeira in the routes to the Orient” 13h00 Lunch at a “Quinta” offered by the Commission of The 500 Years of the City of Funchal 15h30 Guided tour around Madeira Island 14th November (Monday) 10h00-13h00 Sessão de abertura Nelson Veríssimo Madeira in the Portuguese Expansion context João José Abreu de Sousa Jordão de Freitas – A Madeiran in the Portuguese Oriental Empire 14h30-17h30 Fernando António Baptista Pereira From the Museums in the Orient to a Museum of the Orient – Museological Programming Experiences. Maria Helena Mendes Pinto Objects between Portugal and the Orient – A Look into the Exhibitions that I organised Ezio Bassani Afro-Portuguese Art 20h30 Dinner at the tower “Avista Navios” of de Arte Sacra Museum

15th November (Tuesday) 10h00-12h30 Gauvin Alexander Bailey Artistic and Cultural Exchange on the Jesuit Missions in Asia Amin Jaffer In Asia, the great are never approached empty-handed”; Obstacles confronting European envoys at Asian courts. Anemarie Jordan Gschwend The Quest for the Exoctic in the Renaissance. Agents, Merchants and Royal Collectors 14h30-17h30 Ronald Fuchs II Chinese Porcelain in Henry Francis du Pont Collection at Winterthur Museum William Sargent Chinese Architecture in Western Gardens: The China Trade and its influence on ”Le Jardin Anglo-Chinois” Maria Antónia Pinto de Matos Survey of the inlaid work with Chinese Porcelain in Portugal Rosa e Mário Varela Gomes Evidence of every day life in Funchal. 15th-17th century.

Secretariat
A.A.O. – Associação Amigos do Oriente
Rua da Imprensa Nacional, n.º 30
1250-123 Lisboa
Telefone: +351 21 347 24 28
E-mail: amigosdooriente@mail.cismeios.pt
Tuesday, 9h00-13h00

Accommodation
Reservations through:
Filipa Araújo
TOP ATLÂNTICO
Avenida das Comunidades Madeirenses, 15, 2nd Floor
9000-054 Funchal, Madeira – Portugal
Telefone: +351 291 206 257
Fax: +351 291 206 201
E-mail: f.araujo@topatlantico.com
www.topatlantico.com

Secretariat/registrations
Isabel Andrade
Avenida das Comunidades Madeirenses, 15, 2nd Floor
9000-054 Funchal, Madeira – Portugal
Telefone: +351 291 206 219
Fax: +351 291 206 201
E-mail: madeira.groups.incentives@topatlantico.pt