European Exploration

Motives and new

Technology1400-1600

Introduction

• Europe’s inspiration for trading came during the Crusades. The European Christians saw the splendors, advancements, and connections the Muslims had with others areas of the world.

• New technology was mostly of foreign influence, such as the Chinese compass and the Arab astrolabe.

• These innovations and improvements allowed European powers to pursue their main objectives in exploration; profits and Christian converts.

Reasons for Exploration –The 3 G’s

• God – spread of Christianity

• Goods – to trade and become wealthy (gold and spices)

• Glory– explorers were seen as heroes if they discovered new lands

Main countries involved in exploration:

Portugal, Spain, England, France

Portugal begins the push 13th Century Portugal

was a relatively poor land in need of outside resources

Portuguese mariners began pushing out into the Atlantic and found islands that would support Europe’s demand for sugar production

By the 15th Century, Portuguese mariners were working with Italian entrepreneurs to establish sugar plantations

Motives: Trade The collapse of the Mongol Empire and the

spread of the bubonic plague had made overland travel on the Silk Roads more dangerous than before

Motives: Trade

Muslim mariners brought Asian goods to Cairo where Italian merchants purchased them for distribution in western Europe

Europeans wanted more and cheaper Asian goods, especially spices

Began seeking maritime trade routes directly to Asia which would cut out the Muslim middlemen

Likewise maritime access to Africa would provide the gold, ivory, and slaves the Europeans wanted without having to go through Muslim merchants

Motives: Missionary

The New Testament commands Christians to spread the Gospel

Some missionary efforts were peaceful such as Franciscan and Dominican travels to India, central Asia, and China

Others were violent such as crusades against Muslims in Palestine, the Mediterranean, and Iberia

European Explorations:

Technology Ships

Instruments

Winds and currents

Sternpost rudder

Back staff

Technology: Ships European 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

• Example: Santa Maria

Ships: Caravel• Portuguese developed the caravel which was an

advanced ship that combined the square sails of European ship with Arab triangular sails.

• About 30 meters long; Maximum capacity: 130 tons

• Axled rudder

• Examples: Nina and Pinta

Examples of Caravel Ship – Nina and Pinta

In 1492, Columbus sailed from Spain with three ships. Two of the ships, the Niña and the Pinta were small caravels. The third ship, the Santa Maria, was a larger type of ship, a carrack, and was captained by Columbus. The ships were from 15 to 36 meters long.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/columbus.shtml

Technology: Instruments

Magnetic compasses used to determine direction

Cross 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: Astrolabe An astronomical

instrument used by astronomers, navigators, and astrologers

It has many uses:

locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars,

determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa.

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/25100/25161/astrolabe2_25161.htm

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 patterns

In the summer, monsoon winds blow from the southeast

In 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

Discovery of fine goods in the East

Marco Polo – Spent 24 years in China, brought back fascinating tales.

Eastern goods sought after by Europeans.

Trade Routes

Italy dominated trade overland:

Merchants became very wealthy

Had good relationship w/ Muslims

Controlled the Mediterranean sea

Trade Routes (Cont.) Portuguese wanted in on Eastern

trade:

Goal = find water route to Asia Best sailors – invented Caravel

(triangular sails allowed ship to sail into the wind)

Bartolomeu Dias – first sailor to reach the tip of Africa

Vasco de Gama – followed Dias’s route, sailed to India

Portugal found all water route & became rich

Bartolomeu Dias at the cape of good Hope

Vasco de Gama

Trade Routes (Cont.)

Spain (Portugal's neighbor) also wanted in on trade.

Queen Isabella & King Ferdinand took a risk and financed Columbus’s voyage.

Columbus thought he would find a faster route to Asia by sailing directly West.

Found the Americas instead

Spain would became very rich

Christopher Columbus

King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella of Spain

Mercantilism European countries sought raw goods: gold, silver,

sugar, etc.

As colonies developed, provided a market for manufactured goods.

Goal of Mercantilism = acquire colonies & make Mother Country very rich through favorable balance of trade.

Empire Building

Spanish Conquistadors:

Sought Gold for Spain

Hernando Cortez conquered the Aztecs of Mexico.

Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incas of Peru.

Spanish Explorers

European Rivalries Fight over North America:

Spain claimed the Americas French & English sailors looking for Northwest

passage claimed lands in N. America

Religious Conflicts:

Spain = Catholic England = Protestant Protestant & Catholic = bad combination

Spain

VS

Britain (England)

European Rivalries (Cont.)

Spain & England Clash:

England’s Queen Elizabeth sent Sea Dogs like Francis Drake to steal Spanish treasure.

Spanish King enraged; sent Spanish Armada to conquer England & restore Catholicism

England defeats Spain Spain never as powerful Other nations started

challenging Spain

Queen Elizabeth Sir Francis Drake

Works Cited

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/columbus.shtml

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_an_astrolabe_important_to_exploration

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/ship.html

http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/age_of_exploration.html

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/113196931/Santa_Maria_Ship_Model.html