Brazil between January and March 1500. Pinzón went from what is today Cabo de Santo Agostinho (Brazilian state of Pernambuco) to the mouth of the Amazon River. There he encountered another Spanish expedition led by Lepe, which would reach as far as the Oyapock River in March. The reason Cabral is credited with having discovered Brazil, rather than the Spanish explorers, is because the visits by Pinzón and Lepe were cursory and had no lasting impact. Historians Capistrano de Abreu, Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen, Mário Barata and Hélio Vianna concur that the Spanish expeditions did not influence the development of what would become the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas—with a unique history, culture and society which sets it apart from the Hispanic-American societies which dominate the rest of the continent. Titles and honors Nobility Moço fidalgo on 30 June 1484. Fidalgo in the King's Council in 1497. Knight in the King's Council around 1518. Honors Knight of the Portuguese Order of Christ awarded in 1497. See also Chronology of European exploration of Asia History of Brazil History of Portugal Portuguese India Timeline of European exploration Endnotes Footnotes References Further reading 1460s births 1520 deaths People from Belmonte, Portugal Portuguese explorers of South America 15th century in Brazil Maritime history of Portugal Portuguese in Kerala Portuguese colonization of the Americas 15th-century Portuguese people 16th-century Portuguese people 16th-century explorers People from Santarém, Portugal