The Age of Exploration

An Age of Exploration Europeans Explore the East Advances in sailing technology enable Europeans to explore other parts of the world. New desire for contact with Asia develops in Europe in the early 1400s

For "God, Glory, and Gold" Desire to spread Christianity also spurs exploration Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias wants to serve God and King

Europeans Seek New Trade Routes Main reason for exploration is to gain wealth-spices/gold Contact during the Crusades spurs demand for Asian goods Muslims and Italians control trade from East to West Other European nations want to bypass these powers

Technology Makes Exploration Possible In 1400, the Caravel makes it possible to sail against the wind Astrolabe makes navigation easier Magnetic compass improves tracking of direction

Portugal Leads the Way Prince Henry, the son of Portugal's king, supports exploration In 1419, he founded a navigation school on the coast of Portugal By 1460, Portuguese have trading posts along west coast of Africa

Portuguese Sailors Reach Asia In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias sails around the southern tip of Africa- Cape of Good Hope In 1497-1498, Vasco da Gama sails to India- lands in Calicut-SW India In 1499, Vasco da Gama returns to Portugal with valuable cargo

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 Agreement formalized by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494

A Rival Power Columbus made four voyages to the Caribbean islands and South America After the death of Columbus in 1506. Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci suggested in 1507 that Columbus had discovered a “New World”

A Rival Power Spain and Portugal disputed their claims in the new world- the Pope drew and imaginary line, an agreement formalized by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. Spain would control lands east of the line and Portugal west of the line.

Voyage of Magellan In 1519 a five ship expedition led by Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan set sail under the Spanish flag to find a western route to Asia. Magellan’s ship and two others round the southern tip of South America into the South Sea

Voyage of Magellan When the ships reached present –day Philippines, Magellan was involved in a local skirmish and killed. The surviving crew completed the first circumnavigation of the globe returning Magellan’s body to Spain