It was the Portuguese hope that the Islamic nations could be bypassed by trading directly with West Africa by sea. These routes were controlled by the Muslim states of North Africa, long rivals to Portugal. For centuries the only trade routes linking West Africa with the Mediterranean world were over the Sahara Desert. The main project of Henry the Navigator was exploration of the West Coast of Africa. Sailing out into the open Atlantic the Madeira Islands were discovered in 1419 and in 1427 the Azores were discovered and both became Portuguese colonies. The first great wave of expeditions was launched by Portugal under Prince Henry the Navigator. The Santa Maria at anchor by Andries van Eertvelt, painted c.
