THE AGE OF EXPLORATION ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: WHAT MOTIVATED AND ENABLED THE AGE OF EXPLORATION? WHAT WERE THE CONSESQUESNCES OF THE AGE OF EXPLORATION?

EXPLORATION For thousands of years Europeans had stayed in one place… Europe At the end of the 15th century Europeans began to take longer overseas voyages.

EXPLORATION – Where? Europeans were very interested in Asia. Marco Polo and the silk road gave access to new trade markets, precious metals, luxury items and spices Spices were necessary for preserving and flavoring food – big business! Turkish kingdoms in the middle east limited the amount of travelers by land… find a new way to get there!

EXPLORATION – How? European monarchs had increased their power, and resources during the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation time periods. Once things were stable and prosperous in their own countries, they began to look beyond their borders. New technology enabled better travel by sea Carvel Astrolabe Cartographers compass

EXPLORATION – Why? Why did Europeans explore? What motivated them? The 3 Gs … God, Glory and Gold! God – the reformation had created many new denominations. A new need to spread their religion and convert new people to Christianity. Glory – adventure and national fame (celebrity status) Gold – the spice trade could make a fortune for merchants, finding gold and other precious metals and opening new markets to sell to and buy resources

EXPLORATION – Who? Which European countries began exploring beyond their borders? Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, England, France

PORTUGAL Takes the lead in European exploration. 1420 – Prince Henry the Navigator Created a school for mapmakers Invested in a strong navy and trade ships Fleets began exploring the west coast of Africa Discovered gold – became known as the Gold Coast Find a route to India and the East by going around Africa Explored and set up trade ports in the spice islands

SPAIN Wanted to go West to go East Explorers called conquistadors Christopher Columbus believed in a circular world Convinced Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his voyages Reaches the Americas in 1492 but thought he was in Asia! Explorers called conquistadors Were able to use technology to overpower the Native American empires already established in Latin and South America Aztecs, Incas, Maya

SPAIN Set up an Encomienda system to govern new colonies Used Native Americans as slave labor Worked on sugar plantations and in gold and silver mines Hard labor, starvation, and disease killed thousands Smallpox, measles and typhus Hispaniola : 250,000  500 Mexico : 25 million  1 million Catholic missionaries converted Native Americans Set up schools, hospitals and churches Forced Native Americans to abandon their religion, lifestyle, language and culture

SPAIN VS. PORTUGAL With new land to claim, Spain and Portugal were natural rivals and decided on a compromise to make sure each got their fair share of territory. The Line of Demarcation – an imaginary line dividing the spheres of influence of Spain and Portugal Established by the Treaty of Tordesillas Spain gets the Americas, Portugal gets Brazil and the East Indies (Spice Islands)

THE NETHERLANDS (DUTCH) Not permanent colonies. Instead set up trade ports and centers in: India North America (will be taken over by the English) The Spice Islands Set up major trading companies to compete with the other European powers The East India Company (spice islands and Asia) The West India Company (the Caribbean)

ENGLAND Explores the New England coastline in North America Claims lands in: Virginia (Jamestown = first permanent settlement), New England and the Carolinas India Parts of Africa, the Caribbean and Canada

FRANCE Claims land in: Canada, the Great Plains in North America and Louisiana Interested in the fur trade Good relationships with Native Americans