Intro to the Age of Exploration

Warm-up 5/9 Why do we explore? What do you think explorers were looking for during the Age of Exploration?

Answer these questions as you watch the video Discovery Ed: Age of Exploration Video Why did the Age of Exploration begin? Describe the journey of Columbus. How did America get its name? What are the negative effects of the Age of Exploration?

Pros and Cons List On your paper, make a list of the positive and negative affects of the Age of Exploration

The Age of Exploration Begins Question #5 The Age of Exploration Begins The major purpose of the Age of Exploration was to find new trade routes to Asia Muslims controlled land routes across the Middle East and did not allow Europeans to trade Question #6

Question #7 Trade Routes Because Europeans were unable to trade along the Silk Road, they decided they would have to travel by sea to reach Asia They had two options: 1) Sail around Africa 2) Find a new route around the world Question #8 On your map, sketch these two options!

Question #8 Sail around Africa Sailing around the tip of Africa was very dangerous because of the rough seas

Vasco de Gama A Portuguese explorer Question #9 Vasco de Gama A Portuguese explorer He was the first European to reach India by sea in 1498 Sailed around Africa

Question #8 Sail around the World Europeans did not know that the Americas were in the way At the time, most people believed the earth was flat

Ferdinand Magellan A Portuguese explorer Question #10 Ferdinand Magellan A Portuguese explorer His expedition became the first to travel all the way around the world in 1522 (he died in 1521)

Innovations in Navigation (Sailing) During the Age of Exploration, improved technology allowed ships to become bigger and faster Added rudders to help steer the ship Sails were improved to catch the wind from any direction and were more efficient

Innovations in Navigation (Sailing) Age of Exploration Ship Caravel- A medium-sized ship developed in the 1500s in Portugal. Sailors liked that it was easy to maneuver

Direction The compass was invented in China in the 800s, but later became popular in Europe A magnetic needle always pointed north, allowing sailors to know each direction This was very important in fog or at night

Latitude (how far North or South) The astrolabe measured the position of the sun or a star and helped determine a sailor’s location Astro: star Developed by the Muslims living in Spain around 1000 CE

Longitude (how far East or West) Ptolemy, a Greek philosopher, understood that you could monitor the stars positions and find your position The quadrant was invented by Muslims in 1200 This instrument was not always accurate, but gave sailors a good estimate

Printing Press Developed by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1440s Information on new sailing technologies spread quickly More maps were printed

Video: Navigational Tools As you watch, make a list of the navigational tools used by explorers during the Age of Exploration! http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/14360851-4DD3-4954-82E9-4904578C4F1C