Portugal's contacts with the venerable kingdoms and empires of Africa and Asia, and later with the vast expanse of Brazil, led to unprecedented examples of cultural exchange, including the creation of strikingly beautiful and highly original works of art.

Encompassing the Globe features more than 250 full-color reproductions of extraordinary creations that demonstrate how the Portuguese forged links among the continents and began cross-cultural dialogues. Essays by leading authorities shed light on the principal personalities of the period, the economic and religious motivations behind Portuguese expansion, and the technological advances that made the new sea routes navigable.