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Page 1: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

An Age of Explorations 1400–1800

Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers isolate their societies from Europeans.

Caravel—a small, light ship—with triangular sails.

Page 2: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Europeans Explore the East For “God, Glory, and Gold”

See Factors Behind 15th-Century European Exploration

Page 3: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Europeans Seek New Trade Routes• Main reason for exploration is to gain wealth• Crusades had created demand for Asian goods• Muslims and Italians control trade from East to West• Other European nations want to bypass these powers

Page 4: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

The Spread of Christianity

Desire to spread Christianity also motivates exploration

Page 5: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Technology Makes Exploration Possible• In 1400s, the caravel makes it possible to sail

against wind• Astrolabe makes navigation easier• Magnetic compass improves tracking of direction

Astrolabe, used to determine altitude of stars, with planispheres, or adjustable overlays. Georg Hartmann (1532).

Many navigation techniques had been developed by the Arabs and Chinese

Page 6: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Portugal Leads the Way

The Portuguese Explore Africa• Prince Henry, the son of Portugal’s king,

supports exploration• In 1419, he founds navigation school on coast of

Portugal• By 1460, Portuguese have trading posts along

west coast of Africa

Henry the Navigator, Portuguese prince noted for patronage of voyages of discovery. Panel detail (about 1465).

Page 7: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias wants to serve God and king

First to sail around the southern tip of Africa in 1488.

Explores southeastern coast of Africa.

Did not make it further east.

Page 8: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Portuguese Sailors Reach Asia• In 1498, Vasco da Gama sails to India• In 1499, returns to Portugal with valuable cargo

I gave Portugal a direct sea route to Asia!

Page 9: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Spain Also Makes Claims

A Rival Power• In 1492, Christopher Columbus sails for Spain• Convinces Spanish to support plan to reach Asia by sailing west• Reaches the Americas instead• Opens Americas to exploration and colonization

More on him later . . .

Page 10: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Columbus returns, and meets with Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella. Eugene Delacroix (1839).

Page 11: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Zheng He's treasure ship compared in size with Christopher Columbus's smaller Santa Maria.

Page 12: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Trading Empires in the Indian Ocean

Portugal’s Trading Empire• In 1509, Portugal defeats Muslims, takes over

Indian Ocean trade

• Ends Muslim-Italian hold on Asian trade

Page 13: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain

His expedition of 1519–1522 completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth.

Magellan did not complete the entire voyage. He was killed in battle.

Ferdinand Magellan

Page 14: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Other Nations Challenge the Portuguese

• English and Dutch begin moving into Asia in 17th century• Dutch and English weaken Portuguese control of Asian trade

• Form Dutch East India Company for Asian trade

Page 15: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Spain Builds an American Empire

The voyages of Columbus prompt the Spanish toestablish colonies in the Americas.

Christopher Columbus, Spanish explorer, as young man.

Page 16: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

The Voyages of Columbus

First Encounters• Genoese sea captain Christopher Columbus

reaches Americas (1492)• Thinks he is in East Indies, calls natives “los indios”—Indians• Actually lands on an island, probably in the Bahamas• Unable to find gold, he claims many islands for

Spain

See Point/Counterpoint: Legacy of Columbus

Page 17: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

See Interhemispherical Exchange of Plants & Animals;

One of the most significant events in the history of world ecology, agriculture, and culture that permanently changed Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Page 18: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Conquistadors•In 1519, Hernando Cortés—Spanish adventurer—lands in Mexico •He and others become known as conquistadors—Spanish conquerors

Cortés Conquers the Aztecs•Cortés and 600 men reach Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán•By 1521, they conquer Aztec empire•Conquest aided by superior weapons, Native American allies•European diseases wipe out large numbers of Aztecs

Page 19: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

Hernando Cortés, Spanish conquistador, received by Montezuma, Aztec emperor.

Page 20: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers
Page 21: An Age of Explorations 1400–1800 Motivated by Christian faith and a desire for profit, Europeans explore distant lands, while Japanese and Chinese rulers

A few words on Economics . . .

• The economic theory behind the Age of Exploration was Mercantilism

• Mercantilism was a precursor to Capitalism

• See Mercantislism v. Free Market 1500-1776


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