In early 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral, an experienced Portuguese navigator, was appointed to command a fleet intended for the lucrative spice trade in India. His voyage departed from Lisbon as part of Portugal's efforts to dominate maritime exploration and trade routes established under the Treaty of Tordesillas. This treaty, ratified in 1494, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, allowing for imperial expansion under the guidance of monarchies in the Iberian Peninsula.

As Cabral's fleet navigated across the Atlantic, a deviation from the planned course led him to land on a vast, previously uncharted territory in South America. On April 22, Cabral's fleet reached what is now known as Brazil, claiming the land for Portugal. This discovery was significant not only because of the territorial expansion beyond the treaty’s terms but also because it opened opportunities for future colonization and exploitation of resources, profoundly impacting indigenous populations.

The fleet eventually continued its journey to India, establishing the groundwork for Portuguese colonization in both Brazil and parts of Asia. The dual impact of this voyage would shape cultural and economic exchanges between Europe and the newly discovered regions, setting a precedent for further explorations and territorial acquisitions.