Age of Exploration

Early Modern Era (1450-1750) The era that Europe ‘woke up’ (Renaissance – rebirth) Old (Greco-Roman) and new (Chinese and Islamic) knowledge poured in from the Islamic and Mongol world This caused the Renaissance (rebirth) of European knowledge, tech, and culture The role of Europe changed to the dominant world force in military and trade these Europeans are here to stay and take your stuff!

European Renaissance (rebirth) 1300-1600 After centuries of world irrelevance in the Middle Ages, European knowledge and power grew massively in the 15th and 16th centuries Classical Greco-Roman knowledge was rediscovered through the crusades (1095-1291) European invasions to reclaim the Jerusalem The scholarly work was written in Greek and kept/translated by the Arabs Knowledge also crept in through Muslim Spain (print)and Venetian trade with the Abassid Caliphate, the Mongols, and the Ottoman Empire (Turks) This new and rediscovered knowledge brought Europe out of the Middle Ages, and advanced their tech and weaponry beyond the rest of the world

Ability to Explore – Route to China New tech: caravel (small maneuverable ship with lateen sails), compass, and astrolabe (mapmaking) Additionally, the portolan map technique (based on time and distance traveled) made it far easier to accurately chart and navigate new areas Europeans also developed a better understanding of global wind patterns (trade winds and Westerlies) and harnessed their patterns for travel Weaponization of gunpowder (cannons and guns) gave Europeans a massive advantage vs. other civilizations

Reconnaissance With these new techniques, the Europeans (Portuguese and Spanish first) sought God (spreading Christianity), Gold (a path to the East), and Glory (conquest) Exploration was far too expensive for individual merchants and required the investment of multiple parties (joint stock) Increasingly powerful and centralized monarchs (kings) began to fund these explorations (Port/Spa) Wealthy Italian-city states invested and sent their knowledge, and well-educated & experienced sailors Over the course of the next two centuries (1500s-1700s) Europeans would compete over trade and territory, fighting wars, pirating, and establishing vast maritime empires

Portuguese Empire (1500s/1600s)

Exploration Begins The first explorers were funded by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal in 1443 to find a route around Africa to the Indian Ocean Upon arrival, European guns were too powerful for Muslim and Indian empires, so the Portuguese setup a ‘trade-post empire’ Portuguese ships captured towns and other ship, forcing them to purchase a cartaz (a permit for trade – 1502-1750) Within the next 100-150 years, the Spanish, British, and Dutch also captured areas within the Indian Ocean (as well as the rest of the world) While Europeans did not have many goods to offer, they did control and run the trade for high profits, thus enhancing trade networks already in existence***

Portuguese Empire (1500s/1600s)

Spanish Empire – 1500s-1700s

Spanish Success Following Portugal’s lead, other Europeans enhanced existing Asian trade routes by functioning as the trade transporters and profiteers After the Portuguese setup their ‘trade post empire’ along the African and Indian Ocean Coast, Spain focused on the Americas Dividing the ‘New World,’ the pope split at Brazil With Portugal getting the East, and Spain the West Spain quickly went on to conquer for G/G/G, and amassed large amounts of silver, gold, and income from overseas colonies (tobacco) The success of Spain and Portugal encouraged the British, French, and Dutch to join the fray in the 1600s, and begin settlement and trade post empires of their own