The European Age of Exploration “Old Imperialism” and The Birth of the Global Economy

Causes for Exploration: Christian Crusaders in 11 th to 13 th centuries created European interest in Asia and Middle East Desire to spread Christian religion; Francis Xavier Catholic missionary in 16 th c. Rise of nation states (“New Monarchs”) resulted in competition for empires and trade. Portugal and Spain sought to break the Italian (Venetian) monopoly on trade with Asia. Ottoman Turks restricted trade to Asia after conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Causes for Exploration: Technology facilitated sea travel: astrolabe, better maps · Commercial revolution resulted in capitalist investments in overseas exploration · Mongol domination of central Asia disrupted flow of goods over the Silk Road routes. · Impact of Renaissance: search for knowledge, adventurism, monopoly of Italian trade with East

Portugal: Explorers Prince Henry the Navigator ( ): financed exploration, established schools Bartholomew Diaz ( ): rounded southern tip of Africa Vasco da Gama ( ): route to India

Portugal: Explorers Alphonso d’Albuquerque ( ): established empire in Spice Islands after 1510 Pedro Cabral ( ): sighted Brazil, defeated Arabs in Indian Ocean Amerigo Vespucci: “America” named after him

Spain: Explorers Christopher Columbus ( ) – pursuing western route to Asia Bartholomew de las Casas ( ) – writings helped spread “black legend” (mistreatment of natives) The Destruction of the India 1542 · Vasco Nunez de Balboa ( ): cross the Isthmus of Panama, first European to see the Pacific Ocean · Ferdinand Magellan ( ): circumnavigation of the globe

Spain: Conquistadores: began creating empires by conquering Indians Hernando Cortès ( ): Aztecs Francisco Pizzaro ( ): Incas Mestizos: mixed white and Indian descent Creoles: American-born Spaniards Audencias: Board of 12 to 15 judges served as advisor to viceroy and highest judicial body. Encomienda: Indians worked for owner certain # days per week; retained other parcels to work for themselves.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) Line of Demarcation established by Pope Alexander VI (Spaniard) in 1493 between Portuguese and Spanish territories. Renegotiated by King John II of Portugal and Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain to be moved 270 leagues further west. Establish Spanish domination in the New World and Portuguese domination in Asia for the next century

Cartography Martin Behaim ( ) and Schoner Martin Waldseemuller – created map in 1507 based on Amerigo Vespuci’s voyages – gave name “America”

The Netherlands Establishment of Dutch East India Co. Expansion in Asia (specifically Indonesia and South Africa… replaced Portuguese) Henry Hudson explores North America Establishment of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island.

France Giovanni da Verrazano ( ): explored northern Atlantic coast of modern-day U.S. Jacques Cartier ( ): search for Northwest Passage (explored Canada) Samuel de Champlain: “Father of New France”

England John ( ) and Sebastian ( ) Cabot: explored northeast coat of N. America Sir Francis Drake ( ): led English “sea dogs” against Spanish shipping Sir Martin Frobisher ( ): northeastern Canadian coast Sir Walter Raleigh ( ), Roanoke Settlement