The Age of Discovery Early 15 th Century to 17 th Century

Introduction to Exploration European Exploration was about: Power: Wanted to dominate over the rest of the world Wealth: Competed to become the richest country in the world. Trade : Wanted to discover new trade routes between Europe and Asia. (Trade=exchange of goods between two different countries)

Causes of Exploration Advanced Technology – Result of Renaissance – Able to travel great distances New trade routes to Asia – Spices – Silk – Food Three G’s – God- spread Christian beliefs – Gold- new riches & resources – Glory – become the greatest country in the world

Major European Countries Involved 1. Portugal2. Spain 3. England Monarchies wanted to increase their wealth and power by controlling major trade routes Provided funding to explorers to find direct trade routes – Middle East, India, and China

Cape of Good Hope Africa Europe Before Exploration After Exploration Trade Routes to Asia & India Spain England Portugal

New Technology/Innovations Better and faster ship designs – Able to explore farther distances out into the oceans Printing Press – Maps more widely available – Able to update more quickly Reliable magnetic compass New navigational methods – Astrolabe, sextant, compass – Realized the world was not flat – Increased accuracy of maps Gun powder and new weapons – cannons/muskets/guns

The Search For….GLORY! Exploration sparked competition 1 st Place – Portugal = routes around Africa to India and China Spices, silks, food, slaves/land 2 nd Place – Spain = routes to Americas and Caribbean Land, slaves, sugar, food 3 rd Place – England = routes to North America (Canada) Land, furs, slaves

European Explorers PORTUGAL: – Prince Henry the Navigator – Bartolomeu Dias – Vasco da Gama SPAIN: – Christopher Columbus – Ferdinand Magellan – Amerigo Vespucci ENGLAND: – John Cabot

Prince Henry of Portugal Catalyst for European exploration Son of King John I of Portugal Often called Henry the Navigator Founded navigation school in 1419 – mapmakers, shipbuilders, scientists – Goals: Discover new trade routes Explore West African coast

Bartolomeu Dias First European to reach the southernmost tip of Africa – 1488 – Named it Cape of Good Hope

Vasco da Gama First to sail from Europe to India Around 1498 sailed around Africa’s coast and across Indian Ocean to reach India Portugal set up trade posts in Africa, India, and China.

Christopher Columbus Columbus 3 ships: Niña Pinta Santa Maria Born in Italy, but sailed for Spain Believed he could reach India by sailing west (not around Africa) The King and Queen of Spain funded Columbus’ voyage Made four voyages to the Americas

Columbus 1 st Voyage = (RE)DISCOVERY Thought he had reached India and named the land the “West Indies” Called the natives “Indians” Land was actually modern- day Haiti/Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Spain later discovers that Columbus had not reached the West Indies.

Ferdinand Magellan Born in Portugal Sailed for Spain Proved the new lands Columbus called “West Indies” were not India First expedition to circumnavigate (sail around) the globe

Amerigo Vespucci Italian Explored the Americas Claimed the new lands were not part of Asia. – Route to Asia was blocked by two large continents – N. and S. America named after him.

John Cabot Born in Italy Sailed for England Made voyages to North America Led to the founding of English colonies in America.

England Spain Portugal

Outcomes of Exploration

Lasting contact between Europe, Africa, and Americas Columbian Exchange – exchange of goods, ideas, & diseases between Old World (Europe) and New World (Americas) Devastated native American population Atlantic Slave Trade – Forced movement of native Africans

Columbian Exchange Exploration led to an enormous exchange of: – People – Plants/crops & animals – Technology & ideas – Customs, traditions, & religions Changed the lives of people in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa

Diseases Diseases were exchanged from Europeans to natives These included: – Smallpox – Malaria – Plague – Measles Reduced native population by about 90% Increased starvation Lost native knowledge, customs, and religious traditions Weakened tribal leadership – Allowed societies to be conquered

The Slave Trade Existed before the Europeans encountered Africa – Portuguese replaced European slaves with Africans Traded goods with African leaders for slaves – brought slaves to the new world Largest forced migration of people in history

Global Impact of European Exploration in Europe and the Americas Impact in Europe: – Power – Wealth – Trade – Technological Advances – Land Impact in the Americas: – Spread of disease – Conversion to Christianity – Conquest of natives – Blending of cultural customs/traditions – Slavery – Colonization & imperialism

Lasting Impact of Exploration Globalization – international interchange of world views, culture, ideas, and products Colonization/Imperialism – 17 th century – Expansion of European empires – Slavery 2.0 Interdependence – The Americas dependant on European countries for modern conveniences – Europeans dependant on Americas for resources and cheap labor Transculturation – Blending of cultures to create a new culture