1. The Europeans
Why It Matters Europe in the 1400s experienced enormous cultural, economic, and technological changes. As new ideas swept the continent, some Europeans began to look beyond their shores to satisfy their growing ambitions. They were about to enter an age of discovery and exploration that would change not only Europe but much of the world as well.

2. Life in Europe Around 1400 Economy Mostly agricultural
The Europeans
Life in Europe Around 1400
Economy
Mostly agricultural
Small scale manufacturing
Artisans produced cloth, tools, weapons, and ceramics.

3. Extremes of wealth and poverty characterized European society.
The Europeans
Society
Extremes of wealth and poverty characterized European society.
A ruling elite of less than 5 percent of the population controlled almost all of the land.
About 3/5 of western Europeans were working poor.
Monarch
Aristocrats
Merchants
Peasants

4. Europe divided into warring kingdoms.
The Europeans
Politics
Europe divided into warring kingdoms.
Castile, Portugal, France, and England.
Competing monarchs sponsor voyages to gain wealth and territory.

5. The Renaissance and New Ideas
The Europeans
The Renaissance and New Ideas
Printing Press
Renewed interest in learning and the advancement of the arts and sciences.
Johannes Gutenberg invents printing press (1440).
The spread of literature helped promote the daring new Renaissance ideas of individualism and experimentation.

6. Became aware of distant lands and different ways of life.
The Europeans
Increase of Trade
Crusades
Trade Map
Became aware of distant lands and different ways of life.
Crusaders returned home with goods and raw materials from the East, including silks, gems, and spices.
European traders expanded their businesses to Asia.

7. Portuguese Begin to Explore
The Europeans
Portuguese Begin to Explore
Reconquista (reconquest) promoted a zealous crusading spirit for spreading the Christian faith.

8. Prince Henry the Navigator
The Europeans
Prince Henry the Navigator
Directed Portuguese efforts to sail into the Atlantic, spread Christianity,
Founded a school of navigation.
Sponsored several expeditions down the coast of West Africa.

9. The Europeans
New Technology
Portuguese shipbuilders develop the caravel, designed to travel long distances.
New navigation tools such as the compass, the astrolabe, and more accurate maps allow longer voyages.

10. Transparency: Renaissance Technology

11. Portuguese take the lead.
First Encounters
Portuguese take the lead.
Portuguese mariner Bartolomeu Dias learned how to use the counterclockwise winds of the South Atlantic to get around southern Africa.
Vasco da Gama reaches India.
Portuguese dominated the trade routes south and east around Africa.

12. Sought a route to the East.
First Encounters
Spain Looks to the West
The Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Sought a route to the East.
In 1492, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain provided 3 ships, 90 men, and most of the funding for Columbus’s voyage.

13. The Voyages of Christopher Columbus Who first discovered America???
First Encounters
The Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Who first discovered America???
After 33 days at sea, he reached what we now call the Bahamas.
Thought he landed in the East Indies near Asia.
Referred to the people living on the islands as Indians

14. Other Voyages of Exploration
First Encounters
Other Voyages of Exploration
John Cabot, a Genoese mariner employed by the English, sailed to Newfoundland.
Pedro Alvarez Cabral discovered the coast of Brazil in 1500.
Amerigo Vespucci, another Genoese mariner, explored enough of South America’s coast to deem it a new continent.
Ferdinand Magellan succeeded in encircling the entire globe

15. In-Class/HW Read – Slavery in Africa p. 18-19 Read – All of section 4
First Encounters
In-Class/HW
Read – Slavery in Africa p
Answer questions 5&6 on pg 19.
Read – All of section 4
Answer questions 2, 4-6 on pg 26.