SYNOPTICAL INDEX.
SKETCH I.
Alfonso, son of the Burgundian Count Henrique: assumes the title of king of Portugal, [7]; which in A.D. 1143 is confirmed by Pope Innocent II, ib.; in 1147 he obtains possession of Santarem and Lisbon, and extends the boundary of Portugal southward to the Tagus, ib.
Africa: is almost entirely unexplored by Europeans in the early years of the fifteenth century, [4]
Alani, the: in the fifth century of our era invade the Iberian peninsula, but most of them are afterwards driven by the Visigoths into Africa, [6]
Alexandria: before A.D. 1500 is the chief market in which Europeans obtain Indian products, [3]
Alexandrian libraries: destruction of, [11]
Algarves, emirate of the: in 1250 is conquered by the Christians, and in 1263 is annexed to Portugal, which thus acquires its present dimensions, [8]
America: is entirely unknown to Europeans in the early years of the fifteenth century, [4]
Arabs, the: before A.D. 1500 know more than Europeans of the geography of Africa, [11]; in the eighth century of our era conquer the whole of the Iberian peninsula except the territory held by the Basques, [6]; their rule at first is mild, ib.; in the eleventh century of our era the caliphate is broken into fragments, ib.; when a struggle with the Christian population commences which lasts for centuries, ib.; gradually a number of little independent Christian states come into existence, [7]; among which in A.D. 1095 is a county that afterwards expands into the kingdom of Portugal, ib.