Age of Exploration

Europeans Explore the East

Today’s Goal Today’s Goal You will be able You will be able to…to…

• State the religious, economical, and State the religious, economical, and technological reasons for the Age of technological reasons for the Age of ExplorationExploration

• The West transformed in Renaissance & The West transformed in Renaissance & Reformation…Reformation…

• Now the West EXPANDSNow the West EXPANDS

Background • Vikings had explored northern seas ca. 1000 ADVikings had explored northern seas ca. 1000 AD• 1275 – Marco Polo visited Kublai Kahn in China1275 – Marco Polo visited Kublai Kahn in China

“God, Glory, Gold”• Spread Christianity• Fame! • Find new sources of wealth– New trade routes

“To serve God and His Majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness and to grow rich as all

men desire to do.” ~Bartolomeu Dias

New Technology• Cartography – map-making• Caravel – sturdier ship• Triangular sails – better against wind• Navigational techniques– Astrolabe (Muslims)– Magnetic compass (Chinese)

Portugal Leads the Way• Strong gov’t support of exploration• Prince Henry the Navigator supported

exploration– Founded navigational school

• Est. trading posts on coast of Africa• Began attempt to find

sea route to Asia

Early Portuguese Exploration• 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias – sailed to Cape of

Good Hope (tip of S. Africa)• 1497 – Vasco da Gama – reached port of

Calicut, India– Direct sea route to Asia

Da Gama

Portugal’s Trading Empire• Broke Muslim-Italian dominance on trade – More Europeans could afford goods

• Took control of spice trade from Muslim merchants

• Controlled of the Straits of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca

Spain Follows Portugal’s Lead• 1492 – Christopher Columbus – reached island

in Caribbean – Increased…tensions between Spain & Portugal

• Pope Alexander IV created Line of Demarcation– Lands to the west of the line = Spain’s– Lands to the east of the line = Portugal’s

• 1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas – moved line farther west

Spain’s Trading Empire• 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan arrived in

Philippines–Claimed & settled the islands

Other European Exploration• England, Netherlands, France– Created “East India companies” to mint $, make

treaties, raise armies

• Dutch Republic (Netherlands) – independence from Spain in 1581– Leading sea power – largest fleet of ships– Dutch East India Company

Other European Exploration• Dutch made trade headquarters @ Batavia on

island of Java– Ruled Indonesia & controlled Indian Ocean trade– Controlled Cape of Good Hope– Amsterdam became

leading commercial center

Other European Exploration• England – English East India Company– Outposts in India – traded Indian cloth

• France – French East India Company– Struggled for outpost in India (not profitable)

• European influence in inland S.E. Asia was limited

What does this illustrate about why the West excelled?

• Competition!!!– Among countries & individuals for wealth & power– Led to need for better technology• Led to advances in science, medicine, warfare,

etc.– Encountered new ideas, goods from areas of the

world

Did everyone benefit from exploration?