Portugal's Crazy Plan For An African Super Colony In 1885

Become a member on Patreon & get your name in the credits + exclusive content! https://www.patreon.com/generalknowledge In this video, I explore Portugal’s ambitious plan in the 1880s to create a massive African super colony by connecting Angola and Mozambique. Known as the "Pink Map," this proposal aimed to link the Atlantic and Indian Oceans under Portuguese control. However, the British, pursuing their own Cape-to-Cairo railway vision, rejected Portugal’s claim, leading to a diplomatic crisis. The other European Powers, present at the Berlin Conference of 1884 also refused Portuguese claims as they failed to meet the criteria of de facto occupation and administration of the territory. After continuing to pursue the idea, the British ultimatum of 1890 humiliated Portugal and contributed to the eventual fall of its monarchy. By learning about this and exploring an hypothetical or alternative history scenario where they would have succeeded, we are able to understand the historical context of the time, learn about the key explorers of the region, European colonial rivalries, and the long-term consequences of Portugal’s failed plan. What if Portugal had succeeded? Would it have changed African history or even preserved the Portuguese monarchy? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Portugal's 'Super Colony' Plan 00:20 Portugal as the First European Colonizer 00:59 African Colonies of Angola and Mozambique 02:04 British Refusal of Portugal's plan 03:05 The Ultimatum & Collapse of Portugal's Monarchy 03:49 The Initial Idea of Connecting the Colonies 04:16 Why it was "Crazy" 05:06 Why they wanted to do it 05:28 Scientific Expeditions into the territory 06:05 Initial successful negotiations with the British 06:30 The Berlin Conference & criteria for colonization 07:57 Portugal's insistence on annexation 08:51 Why the British became upset 09:16 Britain's Ultimatum & Portuguese Humilliation 10:04 What if they had succeeded?