Trade Activities and the Spread of Christianity by Portugal: Port of Faifo (Vietnam)

Abstract

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Faifo (Hoi An, Quang Nam province) emerged as one of the busiest international trading ports in Southeast Asia in general and in Vietnam in particular. At the same time, in Europe, Portugal and its formidable navy discovered a new maritime route to Asia. Using this knowledge, the Portuguese became one of the first Western states to explore this part of the world and laid the foundation for trade and missionary activities in a number of different countries and locations there. Among them, Faifo (in Vietnam) was a notable example. In fact, for almost a century (from the second half of the 16th century to the middle of the 17th century), the Portuguese had established business relationships and played an important role in trading activities in Faifo. Meanwhile, the Portuguese Crown strongly supported the Jesuit priests, aiding them in becoming the first Catholic missionary force based in Vietnam, thereby allowing for the introduction and spread of Christianity in Faifo as well as in other locations around Cochinchina. However, at the end of the 17th century, for a number of different factors, Portugal gradually lost its important role in trading and missionary activities in the port of Faifo. This article examines the Portuguese commercial and missionary activities in Faifo in the 16th and 17th centuries. It also aims to make a specific contribution to clarifying the relationship of exchange between Vietnam and Portugal in the 16th and 17th centuries.