The Age of ExplorationThe Age of Exploration

PORTUGAL and SPAINPORTUGAL and SPAIN

The “Age of Exploration” began long before the The “Age of Exploration” began long before the time of Columbus.time of Columbus.

As early as the 13As early as the 13thth Century, Italian merchants sought Century, Italian merchants sought ways to bring foreign goods to their customers’ hands and ways to bring foreign goods to their customers’ hands and handsome profits to their own pockets.handsome profits to their own pockets.

The son of one such merchant from Venice, The son of one such merchant from Venice, Marco Polo, traveled to China and returned with Marco Polo, traveled to China and returned with useful information for establishing trade routes.useful information for establishing trade routes.

With these new found trade routes and their With these new found trade routes and their control of the Mediterranean Sea, Italians soon control of the Mediterranean Sea, Italians soon established a foreign trade monopoly in Europe.established a foreign trade monopoly in Europe.

Other nations of Europe soon grew envious of the Other nations of Europe soon grew envious of the Italians’ wealth and power and began to explore for new Italians’ wealth and power and began to explore for new trade routes.trade routes.

PORTUGAL and SPAINPORTUGAL and SPAIN

The Iberian nations of Portugal and Spain were the first to send The Iberian nations of Portugal and Spain were the first to send expeditions in new direstions.expeditions in new direstions.

Prince Henry of Portugal started a school for geographers and Prince Henry of Portugal started a school for geographers and sailors in 1418.sailors in 1418.

Portuguese explorers such as Batholomeu Dias and Portuguese explorers such as Batholomeu Dias and

Vasco da Gama sailed along the African coast in an effort to find a Vasco da Gama sailed along the African coast in an effort to find a way to India during the 1480s and 1490s.way to India during the 1480s and 1490s.

Spain’s biggest success in the Exploration Age came from an Spain’s biggest success in the Exploration Age came from an Italian sailor trained in Portugal named Christopher Columbus.Italian sailor trained in Portugal named Christopher Columbus.

In 1492, Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean, but In 1492, Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean, but instead of discovering a new trade route to Asia; he found new instead of discovering a new trade route to Asia; he found new lands for Spain.lands for Spain.

Later, Spanish explorers claimed vast areas of these new Later, Spanish explorers claimed vast areas of these new continents and conquered the native civilizations there.continents and conquered the native civilizations there.

FRANCEFRANCE

France joined the competition to find a new route to Asia in 1524 France joined the competition to find a new route to Asia in 1524 when they employed an Italian named Giovanni Verrazano.when they employed an Italian named Giovanni Verrazano.

Verrazano’s voyage took him along the coast of North America, Verrazano’s voyage took him along the coast of North America, but it did not lead to the Orient.but it did not lead to the Orient.

It did lead, however, to further exploration by French explorers who It did lead, however, to further exploration by French explorers who traveled to the interior of the continent and established successful traveled to the interior of the continent and established successful relations with the natives there.relations with the natives there.

With help from their new found friends, the French built colonies With help from their new found friends, the French built colonies along the St. Lawrence, Mississippi , and Ohio Rivers.along the St. Lawrence, Mississippi , and Ohio Rivers.

ENGLANDENGLAND

Like Spain and France, England turned to an Italian navigator to Like Spain and France, England turned to an Italian navigator to lead their first voyage west across the Atlantic.lead their first voyage west across the Atlantic.

Giovanni Caboto (called John Cabot) failed to find an all water Giovanni Caboto (called John Cabot) failed to find an all water route to Asia, but claimed “new found land” in North America for route to Asia, but claimed “new found land” in North America for England.England.

The first attempts to set up English colonies in these new found The first attempts to set up English colonies in these new found lands failed during the following century.lands failed during the following century.

However, during the 1600s, groups from England that sailed to However, during the 1600s, groups from England that sailed to America in search of religious freedom and economic rewards were America in search of religious freedom and economic rewards were able to start successful colonies.able to start successful colonies.

The colonies of Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsyvania The colonies of Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsyvania became shining examples of the “land of opportunity”.became shining examples of the “land of opportunity”.

CONFLICTS and SUMMARYCONFLICTS and SUMMARY

Spanish, French, and English claims in the Americas soon led to Spanish, French, and English claims in the Americas soon led to conflicts.conflicts.

Spain and England faced off in a great naval battle in 1588 which Spain and England faced off in a great naval battle in 1588 which ended Spain’s “Age of Glory” and began England’s three hundred ended Spain’s “Age of Glory” and began England’s three hundred years domination of the seas.years domination of the seas.

France and Englan both claimed areas of North America and their France and Englan both claimed areas of North America and their disputes caused numerous wars during the 18disputes caused numerous wars during the 18 thth Century. Century.

Although England prevailed over the other nations’ colonies in Although England prevailed over the other nations’ colonies in North America, elements of all these cultures are still evident North America, elements of all these cultures are still evident today.today.

THE ENDTHE END

THANK YOUTHANK YOUto Chris Longe, Deb Tryggestad,to Chris Longe, Deb Tryggestad,and the John Muir Academyand the John Muir Academy