Although Portuguese influence gradually expanded, its power was limited and exercised through individual settlers and officials who were granted extensive autonomy. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims between 1500 and 1700, but, with the Arab Muslim seizure of Portugal's key foothold at Fort Jesus on Mombasa Island (now in Kenya) in 1698, the pendulum began to swing in the other direction. As a result, investment lagged while Lisbon devoted itself to the more lucrative trade with India and the Far East and to the colonisation of Brazil.
Although Portuguese influence gradually expanded, its power was limited and exercised through individ,ual settlers and officials who were granted extensive autonomy. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from .Arab Muslims between 1500 and 1700, but with the Arab Muslim seizure of Portugal's key foothold at Fort Jesus on Mombasa Island (now in Kenya) in 1698, the pendulum began to swing in the other direction As a result investment lagged while Lisbon devoted itself to the more lucrative trade with India and the Far East and to th,e colonisation of Brazil.