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

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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)

13. 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

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