Final answer:
Pedro Cabral was an explorer who, in 1500, discovered Brazil and claimed it for Portugal. His arrival in Brazil was a product of being blown off course while en route to India, but it was legitimized by the Treaty of Tordesillas. This led to Portugal's colonization efforts in the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pedro Cabral's contributions are mainly in the realm of exploration during the Age of Discovery. Specifically, he is recognized for discovering Brazil and claiming it for Portugal. In 1500, Pedro Cabral set out on a voyage to India. However, his fleet was blown off course by a storm, leading them to the shores of Brazil. Upon arriving in Brazil, Cabral claimed the land for the Portuguese Crown, which was King Manuel I at the time. This was consistent with the stipulations of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which had divided the New World between the Spanish and Portuguese empires along an imaginary line. Cabral named the land he encountered the 'Island of the True Cross' but stayed there only briefly before continuing his journey to India. With this action, he inadvertently initiated Portugal's colonization in the Americas.