The Age of Exploration

Objective: To identify and

understand the motives for

exploring and the lasting effects that

the nations of Europe had on the

world.

Essential Question: How have the nations of Europe changed the world following the Age of Exploration?

Background:

1450s- 1700s Nations of Europe explore world Sail the globe Map out oceans and landmasses

Gain might and wealth- control territories they conquer Superior technology Conquered people exposed to disease Nations of Europe gain geographical, navigational &

scientific knowledge Colonization helps European culture become dominant

Background Contd:

Moral price to pay- at expense of native people

Exploration/ Colonization went with war, greed, prejudice, religious tolerance, and slavery

Many parts of the world remained under European control for 100s of years.

Europe’s “Backwardness” Prior to 1450

Why & How did the Europeans become the 1st to explore the world around them? For centuries less advanced than counterparts in the

M.E. and China Middle Ages- manoralism, Black Death, poor classes

1400s – Limited understanding of world around them (Knew the Mediterranean, Baltic and North Seas)

Africa, M.E. Russia and Atlantic still largely unknown

Economic Motives:

Primary motivation = economic

During Middle Ages know of wealth of Far East

- Mediterranean trade

- Crusades

- Marco Polo

*** All give Euro. Ideas of China, Indies and Jpn.

-Thirst for silk, spices, fruit, jewels, slaves and metals

New Technology:

Use loadstone from Chinese to make compasses

Better knowledge of stars (Arabs)

Better navigational tools (astrolabe a& sextant)

Improved naval technology (bigger ships, longer heels)

Gunpowder & Artillery

The 1st Wave of Exploration: Spain & Portugal:

• Spain and Portugal had knowledge of Mediterranean (wars with Ottomans)

• Portugal head around tip of Africa & sail around India

• Spain looks for route to China by sailing west -Discover Americas & Pacific

• By 1520 sail around the globe for the 1st time

Prince Henry The Navigator:

Portugal begins Exp. w/ Prince Henry

Attempt to find sea route to India & bypass trades of the Middle East

Claim islands in Atlantic, coastal areas of W. Africa

1400 Bartolomeu Diaz – reaches southern tip names it Cape of Good Hope

Spain: Christopher Columbus & The New World:

Spain wants to find own route to Asia

1492 Columbus voyage- sponsored by Ferdinand & Isabella

Columbus sail west in order to reach China- Atlantic is small enough to do so?

Leaves August lands in Caribbean on Oct. 12th 1492

Convinces he found the Indies- Sp. & Port. aware new lands

Amerigo Vespucci formally maps Americas thus -name from him

Line of Demarcation 1493 by Pope

Other Explorers:

• 1488 Portuguese Explorer Vasco de Gama reaches India • 1513 Balboa discovers Panama- see both oceans –

inspire Magellan • 1520 Portuguese Cptn. Ferdinand Magellan sailing for

Spain transverse Atlantic – goes around the globe• The Conquistadors: Cortes- the Aztecs, Pizzaro- the

Incas • Ponce de Leon- Florida • Spain & Portugal take land in West Africa, the Far East

and the New World – Spread of Roman Catholicism – Roots of slavery- when natives in new world die turn to

Africa

The Northern Wave of Exploration

The English, French & Dutch 1500-1600• Use Spanish & Port. Knowledge of New

World- rivalry

• Search for Northwest passage to China and India through the Arctic

Northern Wave Colonization & Exploration:

• 1520s– Giovanni Verrazano– Jacques Cartier – St.

Lawrence– Canada animal furs – Sam Champlain – Great Lakes &

Mississppi – Joliet & Marquette – Robert La Salle – Louisiana

• Seize colonies from Portuguese – Dutch East

India Co. in Asia

– Indonesia- Sumatra, Java

– Henry Hudson– 1624 New

Amsterdam (Manhattan)

French Dutch • John Cabot- Northwest Arctic passage

• Naval wars with Spanish Armada

• Sir Francis Drake • Colonies from

Carolinas to Canadian border • Jamestown &

Puritans • South Asia • India 1608 • British East India Co

English

• http://www.quia.com/quiz/264141.htmlName that Explorer Quiz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScsguX-zqeM&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL44D6F0E327336860

• Magellan BBC Special

Links

Sources

• Google Images• BBC