In 1420, Portuguese settlers introduced sugar cultivation to Madeira, establishing early models for Atlantic plantation economies. This marked the beginning of a significant agricultural shift that would have profound economic implications, leading to the rise of sugar as a major commodity in global trade. The cultivation of sugar on Madeira laid the groundwork for the later expansion of sugar plantations in the Americas.

The introduction of sugar to Madeira by the Portuguese in 1420 inspired narratives of exploration and exotic goods. Poets like Luis de Camões captured the allure of sugar as a symbol of wealth and desire in their epic poetry, intertwining themes of colonialism and cultural exchange.