The Age of Exploration

How might the ideals of the

Renaissance contribute to Exploration? Classical Learning- Renaissance society had

wanted to learn more Worldly Pleasures- Focused on living in this

world; enjoying what the world had to offer was a way to accomplish this

Celebration of the Individual- Glory for explorers (& eventually nations)

Renaissance on the High Seas?

The “3 G’s” of Exploration: Gold: Search for Profits

Begins with the search for Spices and grows to other elements (gold/silver, cotton, coffee, etc.)

Cut out Arab/Turkish middlemen by going straight to the source

Could make a lot of $$$ Exploring the Seas Glory

Have one’s name remembered forever… eventually turned into a source of national pride

God: Spread Christianity Sacred duty to convert all non-believers

Why Explore the Sea? The Motivations

Caravel: A Faster

Ship constructed frame-

first and covered with planks fitted flush to one another.

carried three or even four masts with lateen (square or triangle) sails

How to Explore? New Technologies

Astrolabe:

ancient astronomy tool used to map stars and planets. Renaissance seamen used it for navigation by measuring the angle of the sun or stars.

More New Technology!

Magnetic compass: aligns with the Earth’s magnetic north-south poles. Mariners used it (and still do to today) to chart their courses and indicate direction.

Wait, There’s More!

Portuguese: Prince Henry

Sponsored school of navigation Expand his Christian Kingdom Quest for wealth

Africa (mid 1400’s) Gold & Ivory Established trading ports on Gold Coast & West

Africa African Slaves: ideal source of labor after plague

60 years—50,000 African Slaves

First Nautical Explorers

Bartholomew Dias (1488)

Navigates the southern tip of Africa; Cape of Good Hope

Vasco da Gama July 8, 1494 leave for India 10 months later arrives Calicut,

India Returns with cinnamon & pepper

in 1499 to heroes welcome—gets $$$

Leads to agreement with Arabs for exclusive trade rights in Indian Ocean, China, and the Spice Islands (Indonesia)

Portuguese Explorers

Christopher Columbus

Helped to propel Spain into the forefront of European exploration, conquest, & settlement

Amerigo Vespucci North & South America named after him

Vasco Nunez de Balboa Claims Pacific Ocean for Spain

Ferdinand Magellan 1519-1522 Travels around the world Proves globe was bigger than thought;

Americas are separate continents

Spanish Explorers

Many explorers (Columbus incl.) were trying to

find an alternate route to Asia (China/India) Instead of going East, we can go West to get to

Asia. Explorers believed there was a water way that led

to Asia. Named The Northwest Passage, this mythical body of water was believed to: 1. Go directly from Europe to Asia

later, after Americas discovered…

2. Connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans– Unfortunately, it did not exist, and North America

stood in their way…what links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans today?

Northwest Passage

Spain vs. Portugal Pope Alexander VI and later Julius II

demands both countries sign Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

Line of Demarcation defined what territories was Spanish and Portuguese in the New World West= Spain East= Portugal

Who Get’s What?

Following Treaty of Tordesillas, other European

nations race to cash in on the New World In defiance of Spanish/Portuguese monopoly

England & France explore North America in search of NW Passage, spices, and gold…later furs, fishing, & to convert the Indians to Christianity John Cabot (1497) claims island of Newfoundland

(east coast of Canada) for England Jacques Cartier (1534) claims St. Lawrence River

and surrounding areas (Quebec/Great Lakes) for France

…Not So Fast!

Where Did European’s Explore?

Exploration of Africa begins with Dias

and De Gama Search for profit: Africa was a region

rich in resources (gold, ivory, salt, etc.) 16th century: Establishment of

plantations and Slave Trade What was the effect on the African

continent?

Exploration of Africa

Columbus begins in 1492: Search for

route to India and eventually the NW Passage

Establishment of Spanish and Portuguese colonies

Conquest of ancient Indigenous American civilizations Aztecs (Cortes) Inca (Pizarro)

Exploration of Americas

Spanish-Dominated colonial

structure/Hierarchy of Power (why would they do this?) Peninsulares – people born in Spain Creoles – American-born descendants of

Spanish settlers Mestizos – Native/European descendants Mulattoes – African/European descendants

Treatment of Indigenous Population Spread of Christianity

Latin American Colonial Life

Europe dominates much of the world

from 1500 to 1900 Connection of African, American, Asian,

and European economies and politics Trade (sharing of ideas), Different foods

introduced to Europe (Corn/Maize, Fruits, Potato) helped end famine in both ends of the world.

Advancement of Western Civilization… precursor to the United States.

Consequences of Euro Exploration

Epidemics (Diseases that spread

quicker than they can be cured): Small Pox, Influenza. These diseases were devastating to the people of the Americas because the Indigenous (Native) population had not yet built immunities to the diseases.

Indigenous Population of the Americas in 1492: 54-100 million. Indigenous Population of the Americas in 1750: Less than 500,000

Consequences of Euro Contact with Native

Americans

Encomiendas: System of forced labor

indigenous Americans had to endure…horrible working conditions

Atlantic Slave Trade: Triangular Trade between Europe,

Africa, Americas Middle Passage (2 million die in transit) 9-11 Million Africans Come to Americas

Social and Economic Consequences