, ▁the ▁Portuguese ▁emp ire ▁had ▁a ▁global ▁dimension ▁and ▁sp anned ▁almost ▁. ▁ ▁During ▁his ▁reign , ▁the ▁Portuguese ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁Europe ans ▁to ▁make ▁contact ▁with ▁both ▁China , ▁under ▁the ▁M ing ▁dynast y , ▁and ▁Japan , ▁during ▁the ▁Mur om achi ▁period . ▁He ▁abandoned ▁Muslim ▁territ ories ▁in ▁North ▁Africa ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁trade ▁with ▁India ▁and ▁invest ment ▁in ▁Brazil . ▁In ▁Europe , ▁he ▁improved ▁relations ▁with ▁the ▁Balt ic ▁region ▁and ▁the ▁Rh in eland , ▁hoping ▁that ▁this ▁would ▁bol ster ▁Portuguese ▁trade . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁ ▁John , ▁the ▁el dest ▁son ▁of ▁King ▁Manuel ▁I ▁to ▁his ▁second ▁wife ▁Maria ▁of ▁Arag on , ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Lis bon ▁on ▁ 7 ▁June ▁ 1 5 0 2 . ▁The ▁event ▁was ▁marked ▁by ▁the ▁presentation ▁of ▁Gil ▁Vic ente ' s ▁Vis itation ▁Play ▁or ▁the ▁Mon olog ue ▁of ▁the ▁Cow h erd ▁( Auto ▁da ▁Vis ita ção ▁ou ▁Mon ó logo ▁do ▁Va que iro ) ▁in ▁the ▁queen ' s ▁chamber . ▁ ▁The ▁young ▁prince ▁was ▁sw orn ▁he ir ▁to ▁the ▁throne ▁in ▁ 1 5 0 3 , ▁the ▁year ▁his ▁young est ▁sister , ▁Isabel la ▁of ▁Portugal , ▁Em press ▁Cons ort ▁of ▁the ▁Holy ▁Roman ▁Empire ▁between ▁ 1 5 2 7 ▁and ▁ 1 5 3 8 , ▁was ▁born . ▁ ▁John ▁was ▁educated ▁by ▁notable ▁sch ol ars ▁of ▁the ▁time , ▁including ▁the