European ExplorationReasons and Tools

European Exploration1) Why was Portugal the first to set sail?

2) Why do youthink therewas a desireto explore?

Was there aneed?3) What wasColumbus looking for?

European Exploration: Motivations

Motivations (for):1) Europeans were also looking for new trade routesto India, China, and other places… Why?

2) Europeans were also looking to spread Christianity…

The 3 G’s - God, Gold, and Glory

What were the goals of Spanish explorers?

Gold: To acquire riches for themselves and the country they represent. (Some explorers, like Columbus, were not Spanish, but represented Spain.

Glory: To bring power and prestige to Spain.God: To convert the native people to

Christianity.

European Exploration : Motivations (1)

God: Spread the good word!1492 - Christopher Columbus sets out to find newTrade routes to India and China to cut out the middle-men (the Ottomans)The Ottomans were Muslims… bad to Christians…

Every time Europeans wanted to trade with China orIndia they had to pass through Ottoman trading posts;this meant that they had to give money to the Muslims.

If money = power, who was getting powerful in thisdeal?

European Exploration : Motivations (1)

God:

Pre 1517 - The focus of Europe was fighting theMuslimsAfter 1517 - Their focus is on spreading Christianityto new lands… you can’t let the heretics get to themfirst!

By Columbus’ time (1492) the last of the MuslimStrongholds in Spain had been defeated, this led to aShift in European focus…

European Exploration : Motivations (1)

Gold: They wanted money of their own!

Later, Europeans start looking for resources fromthe Americas and Africa… not good for eithercontinent!

Originally they got their money by cutting out theOttomans from trade.

- Spain = South America for silver and gold.- England = North America for natural resources

Africa for manual labor- France = Also North America

European Exploration : Motivations (1)

Glory: For the glory of the king!

If you didn’t get the wealth someone else would! TheyWould win and you would lose!

The way to make the country more powerful was toIncrease it’s wealth. You do this by getting as much asYou can.

The more wealth a country had = more power in war!Victory over your enemies was everything!

European Exploration : Motivations (2)

Early Chinese ships hadtriangle sails, allowingthem to cut throughwind currents…

Viking ships had squaresails to capture the wind…

European Exploration : Motivations (2)

The Portuguese combinedthe 2 sail designs to comeup with their own design.

This design was laterModified by the Spanish…The Galleon…

European Explorations: Technology

Ships

Instruments

Winds and currents

Sternpost rudder

Back staff

Technology: ShipsEuropean sailors began

constructing ships strong enough to withstand adverse conditions

The sternpost rudder increased maneuverability

Ships began using two sails A square one to catch a wind

blowing from behind and a triangular lateen one to catch winds from the side and behind

With both sails European ships could tack (advance against the wind by sailing across it)

Tacking

Ships: Carrack• Mizzen mast with triangular

lateen sail placed toward stern of vessel

• Small square-rigged mast placed to fore of main mast

• Massive ribbed skeleton• 2-3 decks, enclosed structures at

bow and stern • Sternpost rudder • Maximum capacity: 1,000 tons• Example: Santa Maria

Ships: Caravel• About 30 meters long• Maximum capacity: 130 tons• Axled rudder• Early versions: 2-3 masts,

lateen rigged sails, clinker style hull

• Later versions: 4 masts, square rigged sails, streamlined hull

• Examples: Nina and Pinta

Technology: InstrumentsMagnetic compasses used

to determine directionCross staffs and back staffs

allowed mariners to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or pole star above the horizon

The ability to determine direction and latitude allowed mariners to accumulate data for mapping and to navigate with accuracy and efficiency

Technology: Winds and Currents

In the Atlantic and Pacific, strong winds blow regularly to create “wind wheels”To the north, prevailing winds cause “westerlies”

Further south, they cause the “Northeast trades”

In the Indian Ocean, there are also regular patternsIn the summer, monsoon winds blow from the

southeastIn the winter, they blow from the northwest

Technology: Winds and Currents

Understanding these patterns allowed mariners to take advantage of prevailing winds and currents to sail almost anywhere

By the mid-15th Century, Portuguese mariners had developed a strategy called volta do mar (“return through the sea”)

Technology: Winds and Currents

Returning home they sailed northwest into the open ocean until they found westerly winds and then turned east for the last leg

It was a longer but faster, safer, and more reliable way to travel The Gulf Stream

Technology: Winds and Currents