1. After the Crusades, Europeans want Asian goods.
Causes of Exploration
After the Crusades, Europeans want Asian goods.
E-F-F-E-C-T
Other nations seek a
water route to Asia.
E-F-F-E-C-T Italy dominates trade because it developed a network during the Crusades.

2. Early European Explorers
As Europeans searched for sea routes to Asia, Christopher Columbus reached the Americas.

3. A Water Route to Asia Caravel—Portuguese ship that improves sailing
Navigator- person who plans the course of a ship
Caravel—Portuguese ship that improves sailing
Portugal:
explorer Bartolomeu Dias reaches south tip of Africa (1488)
explorer Vasco da Gama finds all-water route to Asia (1498)
can now trade with Asia without Italian-Muslim interference
• Portugal grows rich from spice trade
• European rivals want part of this trade, search for water routes to Asia

4. Columbus’ Plan
Italian sailor Christopher Columbus claims sailing west is faster to Asia
Columbus overestimates size of Asia; underestimates size of globe
Portugal turns down Columbus’s request to finance voyage

5. Help from Spain’s Rulers
Spain’s rulers, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella:
want lucrative Asian trade and to spread Christianity
doubt Columbus’s calculations
are low on money because of Muslim wars
are hesitant to pay the high expense for Columbus’s services
• After Muslim wars, Spain agrees to support Columbus
Columbus assembles his ships: Niña, Pinta, Santa María

6. Setting Sail Columbus sets sail with 90 crew members on August 3, 1492
He keeps two logs: one for sailors, other tells truth about voyage
After 10 weeks, crew wants to turn back; agree to sail 3 more days
Two days later, on October 12, 1492, they see land

7. Reaching the Americas
Columbus believes he has landed in Indies, islands in Southeast Asia
Islanders, the Taino people, greet him; he calls them Indians
He calls island San Salvador, takes possession of it for Spain
For 3 months, tours other Caribbean islands; finds some gold, pearls
Convinced he found Asia, he returns to Spain and informs Spanish rulers
Leaves 39 men on Hispaniola; they steal from Taino, who kill them

8. An Expanding Horizon
Columbus makes 3 more voyages to Americas, never brings back treasures
• Disappoints Ferdinand, Isabella; mistreatment of islanders angers queen
Rulers refuse to finance another voyage; Columbus dies a bitter man
In time, Europeans realize Columbus found continents unknown to them
Atlantic Ocean now seen as bridge connecting Europeans to America