In 1419, under the orders of the Glorious Henry "The Navigator",
it was discovered by João Gonçalves Zarco and
Tristão Vaz Teixeira. The kingdom had a constant lack
of cereals, so they wanted to provide it with it and also be
supportive to the maritime expansion of Portugal. 
Thus, since the 15th century, Madeira has played an important
role on the great Portuguese Discoveries. It became also famous
for the rich trade routes between Funchal and the entire Atlantic
World.
It was also in Madeira and Porto Santo that the merchant Cristovão
Colombo (Christopher Columbus) increased his knowledge of the
art of navigation and planned his famous voyage to America.
In 1425, after the division of the Archipelago into captaincies
of Funchal, Machico and Porto Santo began the organised settlement.
During some decades, cereal production was a factor of richness
and development. At that time, Madeira had about 150 big farms
that produced more than 3.000 m³ of wheat, being great
part exported to the Mainland and to the Portuguese trading
post of the Saccharine and Guinea Littoral.
In 1497 the island's population had reached 5,000. Madeira
was formally annexed into the Kingdom of Portugal, Funchal was
declared the islands' capital (elevated to the rank of a city
in 1508).
Wine and sugarcane (1425) were introduced, Madeira being where
the world's first sugarcane plantation was established. The
sugar industry made the islands prosperous, a prosperity which
lasted until the Portuguese introduced sugarcane plantations
to Sao Tome and then to Brazil - in both cases utilizing Madeiran
experience and manpower (emigration). Then, out shadowed by
Brazilian sugar exports, the Madeiran economy declined.
The Madeira Diogo Teives invented the first mechanical sugar
mill moved by water. This invention determinated a great increase
of production, which in 1506 reached 3.500 tones.
Madeira had its greatest economical and cultural development
during this period and became known all over the civilised World.
In 1516 Funchal was declared seat of a bishop.
In 1640, Madeira had c.30,000 inhabitants.
In 1580 Portugal and Madeira became under the domain of Castille.
However, in 1640, the independence was restored, followed by
the marriage of our Infant D. Catarina de Bragança with
Charles II of England. It was then granted several contracts
with British people who favoured the exportation of Madeira
Wine to England, Occidental India and British colonies in America.
Since the last decade of the 17th century, Madeira knew a new
period of economical and cultural increasing, being its excellent
wine responsible for the fame of the Island all over the world.
Quickly the production achieved 45.000 wine barrels, from which
annually were exported a medium of 30.000. This prosperity called
vineyard cycle had its reflections at arts and architecture.
In 1766, Madeira gained the right to mint coins. Slavery was
abolished in 1775, by Portugal's strongman Marquis de Pombal,
this caused difficulties for the Madeiran plantation economy.
In the 1850es, embroidery was introduced, an industry which
soon added to the islands' revenues. The first tourists visited
the island, and Madeira wine continued to enjoy a high reputation.
According to a census of 1891, Madeira had 132,223 inhabitants.
Around the turn of the century, the banana was introduced as
an additional crop.
In 1901, Madeira was granted a limited degree of autonomy.
In 1926, Portugal was turned into a corporate state similar
to that of Italy. The strongman was Antonio Salazar.
In World War II, Portugal remained neutral. The dictatorship
in Portugal continued until after Salazar's death; only in 1974
was it overthrown by the military coup.
The 1974 coup brought Portugal democratization; its colonies
were quickly released into independence. The Madeira Islands,
Portuguese since 1420, remained with Portugal and were granted
far-reaching political autonomy.
In addition to the Portuguese national flag, Madeira has its
own regional flag. The blue part symbolizes the sea surrounding
the island and the yellow represents the abundance from the
luxuriance. The red and white cross in the middle is identical
to the one on the flag of Prince Henry's ships.
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| Portugal flag |
Madeira archipelago flag |
Portugal's entry into the EEC was a major benefit for Madeira's
economy. In recent years, the tourism industry expanded, becoming
the islands' prime source of revenue.
Nowadays, with both the airport and port expansion and road/tunnel
construction connecting all regions, industrial tourism developed.
Madeira is known all over the world by the diversity of its
splendours beauty, splendid climate and above all, by the excellent
quality of tourist services and population kindness.
