The Portuguese Empire existed at the same time as the Renaissance.
Council of Portugal . The council was founded in 1582 by Philip I of Portugal following the model of the Council of Castile . Portuguese Empire . Though the realms continued to be administered separately , the Council of Portugal ruled the country and its empire from Madrid . The Renaissance ( [ rᵻˈneɪsəns ] , [ rɛnəˈsɑːns ] ) was a period in European history , from the 14th to the 17th century , regarded as the cultural bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history .