Exploration Desire for wealth and Christian converts, Europeans began an age of exploration

Motives For Exploration Greater Wealth: luxury goods from Asia (Spices) Find direct route to Asia in order to cut out Italian & Muslim middlemen. Spread Christianity Hostility between Muslims and Christians as a result of Crusades New non-Christian converts Technological Advancements Caravel (triangular shaped sail for sailing against the wind) Astrolabe, magnetic compass

Muslims and Italians Controlled the Mediterranean During the Crusades, the Italians and Muslims began importing and exporting goods throughout the Mediterranean region. The demand for exotic spices grew as the people of Europe were given access to them. Both the Italians and Muslims worked as middlemen between the spice merchants and the traders

Europeans Begin to Explore For many centuries, Europeans had been largely, though not completely, isolated from contact with people from other lands. That changed in the 1400s. One reason for this change was that Europeans hoped to gain new sources of wealth. Marco Polo’s stories of the Orient sparked interest in finding the far east.

Many Factors Encourage Exploration By exploring the seas far from Europe, traders hoped to find new, faster routes to Asia—the source of spices and luxury goods. Their goal was to win access to these lands and bypass the Muslims and Italians who currently controlled this trade.

Desire to Spread Christianity Another reason was the desire to spread Christianity to new lands. The Crusades had ended, but bad feelings between Christians and Muslims remained. The Christians of Europe wanted to convert the people of Asia.

The Caravel Advances in technology made these voyages possible. A new kind of ship, the caravel, was stronger built than earlier ships. It had triangle-shaped sails that allowed it to sail against the wind.

The Magnetic Compass Ships could now travel far out into the ocean. The magnetic compass allowed sea captains to better stay on course.

Portugal Leads the Way Prince Henry the Navigator Determined to find a direct route to Asia Spread Christian faith Founded a navigation school Began to explore western coast of Africa in search for gold and ivory

Bartolomeu Dias Bartolomeu Dias reached the tip of Africa and were blown around the tip by a storm.

Vasco da Gama 1498: Reached the port of Calicut in Asia Gave Portugal a direct route to Asia

Spanish Claims Christopher Columbus: 1492 reached the Caribbean Islands claiming the New World for Spain

Treaty of Tordesillas To settle claim disputes between Spain and Portugal over newly discovered land, Pope Alexander VI proposed an imaginary dividing line north to south called the Line of Demarcation.

Portugal Creates Asian Trade Empire Built a fort at Hormuz Established control over Strait of Hormuz Captured Goa (India) Sailed to Indonesia Captured Malacca (west coast of Malaysia) Gained control of the Spice Islands

Other Nations Drive Out Portuguese Spices now cost Europeans one-fifth of what they had cost before, while still making Portugal very wealthy. Other European nations joined in this trade.

The Dutch and English In the 1600s, the English and Dutch entered the East Indies to challenge Portugal. The Dutch and English had the largest fleets in the world. Each had about about 20,000 ships. These two nations quickly broke Portuguese power in the area. Then both nations set up an East India Company to control Asian trade.

Dutch East India Company These companies were more than businesses. They were like governments, with the power to make money, sign treaties, and raise their own armies. The Dutch managed to drive out the English and grab the Asian trade for themselves.

European Trade Outposts The Dutch made their trading headquarters on the island of Java in the East Indies. By 1700, the Dutch ruled much of Indonesia. They had trading posts in many other Asian countries and commanded the southern tip of Africa. At the same time, both England and France finally gained footholds in India.

The Asian People Remain Isolated While the Europeans controlled the trade between Asia and Europe, they had little impact on most people living in these areas. From 1500 to 1800, the people of Asia were largely untouched by the European traders.

China Rejects Europeans Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Hongwu: Son of a peasant helped to drive the Mongols out of China Founded Ming Dynasty Capital at Nanjing Restored agricultural land Restored merit-based civil service exam system Became ruthless tyrant and conducted purges and killed thousands of government officials

Zheng He Chinese Muslim Admiral Large ships Large fleets Huge distances traveled Spread the splendor of Ming China Expand China’s tribute system

The Qing Dynasty Manchus took over Beijing (1600s) Many Rebellions Chinese men forced to wear pigtail as a sign of submission to the Qing Upheld traditional Confucian traditions

Kangxi Kangxi - 1st of the Qing Dynasty Reduced government expenses Lowered taxes Gained support of Chinese intellectuals Jesuits visited his court

Qian-Long Grandson of Kangxi Led china to ists greatest size and prosperity Allowed trading in only in specific areas to reduce European contact with Chinese Dutch accepted restrictions, English did not.

The End