Sea Routes: Back to the 16th Century

This analytical piece draws a striking parallel between contemporary geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the historical events of 1507. It recounts how Portuguese commander Afonso de Albuquerque seized control of the strategic island of Hormuz, a vital transshipment hub for global trade goods such as Persian horses, Indian pepper, and Chinese porcelain. By implementing a strict licensing system known as the cartaz, Portugal enforced customs duties, regulated shipping routes, and imposed discriminatory rules, effectively monopolizing maritime traffic between the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The article argues that modern states are increasingly mimicking these imperial tactics, using military power to protect sea routes and create their own geographical realities. This shift signals a return to a 16th-century style of governance where empires dictate global commerce through force rather than cooperative international law. The narrative highlights how the control of chokepoints remains a central element of global power dynamics, suggesting that the current crisis is not an anomaly but a recurrence of historical patterns where dominant powers enforce their will on global trade arteries.