3. What was the "cartaz" strategy?

The "cartaz" system was a naval trade permit (or pass) that was issued by the Portuguese during the Age of Discovery, specifically in the Indian Ocean during the 16th century. The Portuguese, after making advancements in naval technology and cartography and led by figures like Vasco da Gama, managed to find a sea route to India in 1498, which opened up the rich spice trade to Portuguese exploitation.

To control this trade and to impose a monopoly, the Portuguese Crown established a system where any ship that wished to engage in trading activities within the Indian Ocean had to obtain a "cartaz" from the Portuguese authorities. This permit system was a component of the broader Portuguese strategy to dominate maritime trade in the region.

The cartaz served several purposes: it allowed the Portuguese to extract fees from merchants using the sea routes they claimed to control; it provided a licensing system that sought to exclude competitors; and it afforded some protection to the ships that carried it, as those without a cartaz could be considered pirates and be liable to be attacked by the Portuguese navy.

This strategy was a mix of mercantilism and early attempts at establishing a colonial system of regulation. It asserted Portuguese sovereignty over the lucrative trade routes in the Indian Ocean and was a major part of their broader aim to monopolize the spice trade.