The new book of the historian Wolfgang Akunov is devoted to the little-known page of the history of the era of the Great geographical discoveries - the development by Portuguese sailors of the sea route to the "land of spices" - Arabia, India and Indochina, an invaluable contribution to which was made by the captain general, knight of the Order of Santiago, an outstanding naval commander, commander, administrator, politician and diplomat Afi onsu di Albuquerque. The book is published in the series "Documents and Materials of the Ancient and New History of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem," since all the activities of Portuguese sailors and explorers of that era were under the auspices of the Order of Christ.