How far did the Portuguese empire extend?

• A. From western Africa to Congo to western India to Brazil
• B. Only along the coast of West Africa
• C. To Egypt and Morocco
• D. To Japan and China

Answer: (A)

The question tests how far the Portuguese empire reached during the age of exploration by showing a global maritime footprint rather than a land empire. The Portuguese built a network of trading posts and colonies that spanned multiple oceans. They extended along the African coast—from West Africa down toward the Congo—established key presence on the western coast of India, and reached across the Atlantic to Brazil in the Americas. This combination—Africa, India, and Brazil—best reflects the actual breadth of Portuguese expansion, driven by sea power and trade routes rather than inland empire. The other options don’t capture this global reach; for example, their influence wasn’t confined only to West Africa, nor did it stretch to places like Egypt and Morocco or to Japan and China in a sustained, organized way.