1. Essential Question:
What were the global impacts of the European Age of Exploration?

2. The Impact of the Age of Exploration: Europe

3. Europe was greatly impacted by the Age of Exploration
This was especially true in Spain where the influx of gold turned Spain into one of the wealthiest & most powerful nations in Europe
Overseas colonies increased the wealth of European nations, the power of kings (called nationalism)
The explorations and conquests of the conquistadors transformed Spain. The Spanish rapidly expanded foreign trade and overseas colonization. For a time, wealth from the Americas made Spain one of the world’s richest and most powerful nations. At the height of Spain’s power it was ruled by Philip II.
In the long run, gold and silver from the Americas hurt Spain’s economy. Inflation, or an increase in the supply of money compared to goods, led to higher prices. Monarchs and the wealthy spent their riches wastefully instead of building up Spain’s industries.
King Philip II

4. The increase in trade led to the growth of capitalism, especially in England & the Netherlands
Capitalism is a system in which merchants trade & invest money in order to make a profit; Prices are determined by supply and demand
Citizens can invest money in companies like the British East India Company & share in the profits

5. Nations developed an economic policy called mercantilism based upon the idea that national power comes from a favorable balance of trade
Mercantilism
As a result, colonies are needed to supply the mother country with cheap raw materials

6. Due to mercantilism, a “triangular trade” developed between Europe, their overseas colonies, & Africa

7. The Impact of the Age of Exploration: Asia, America, Africa

8. Asia was greatly impacted by the Age of Exploration
The Portuguese & Dutch seized trade ports in the Spice Islands & in India in order to gain exotic goods like cotton & spices
European merchants began to dominate trade in China & Japan & converted many people to Christianity

9. Catholic missionaries introduced Christianity to the American Indians
The Columbian Exchange
The global transfer of foods, plants, and animals during the colonization of the
Americas is known as the Columbian Exchange. Ships from the Americas
brought back a wide array of items that Europeans, Asians, and Africans had
never before seen. They included such plants as tomatoes, squash, pineapples,
tobacco, and cacao beans (for chocolate). And they included animals such as the
turkey, which became a source of food in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Perhaps the most important items to travel from the Americas to the rest of the
world were corn and potatoes. Both were inexpensive to grow and nutritious.
Potatoes, especially, supplied many essential vitamins and minerals. Over time,
both crops became an important and steady part of diets throughout the world.
These foods helped people live longer. Thus they played a significant role in
boosting the world’s population. The planting of the first white potato in Ireland
and the first sweet potato in China probably changed more lives than the deeds
of 100 kings.
Traffic across the Atlantic did not flow in just one direction, however.
Europeans introduced various livestock animals into the Americas. These
included horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Foods from Africa (including some that
originated in Asia) migrated west in European ships. They included bananas,
black-eyed peas, and yams. Grains introduced to the Americas included wheat,
rice, barley, and oats.
Some aspects of the Columbian Exchange had a tragic impact on many Native
Americans. Disease was just as much a part of the Columbian Exchange as
goods and food. The diseases Europeans brought with them, which included
smallpox and measles, led to the deaths of millions of Native Americans.
Catholic missionaries introduced Christianity to the American Indians
America was greatly impacted by the Age of Exploration

10. The introduction of new foods, plants, & animals between America & Europe was called the Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange
The global transfer of foods, plants, and animals during the colonization of the
Americas is known as the Columbian Exchange. Ships from the Americas
brought back a wide array of items that Europeans, Asians, and Africans had
never before seen. They included such plants as tomatoes, squash, pineapples,
tobacco, and cacao beans (for chocolate). And they included animals such as the
turkey, which became a source of food in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Perhaps the most important items to travel from the Americas to the rest of the
world were corn and potatoes. Both were inexpensive to grow and nutritious.
Potatoes, especially, supplied many essential vitamins and minerals. Over time,
both crops became an important and steady part of diets throughout the world.
These foods helped people live longer. Thus they played a significant role in
boosting the world’s population. The planting of the first white potato in Ireland
and the first sweet potato in China probably changed more lives than the deeds
of 100 kings.
Traffic across the Atlantic did not flow in just one direction, however.
Europeans introduced various livestock animals into the Americas. These
included horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Foods from Africa (including some that
originated in Asia) migrated west in European ships. They included bananas,
black-eyed peas, and yams. Grains introduced to the Americas included wheat,
rice, barley, and oats.
Some aspects of the Columbian Exchange had a tragic impact on many Native
Americans. Disease was just as much a part of the Columbian Exchange as
goods and food. The diseases Europeans brought with them, which included
smallpox and measles, led to the deaths of millions of Native Americans.

11. The introduction of potatoes & corn helped improve the diets & life expectancy of people throughout the world
The introduction of European grains, horses, & cattle transformed many Indian cultures
The introduction of European diseases like smallpox & influenza killed as many as 90% of Native Americas
Traffic across the Atlantic did not flow in just one direction, however.
Europeans introduced various livestock animals into the Americas. These
included horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Foods from Africa (including some that
originated in Asia) migrated west in European ships. They included bananas,
black-eyed peas, and yams. Grains introduced to the Americas included wheat,
rice, barley, and oats.
Some aspects of the Columbian Exchange had a tragic impact on many Native
Americans. Disease was just as much a part of the Columbian Exchange as
goods and food. The diseases Europeans brought with them, which included
smallpox and measles, led to the deaths of millions of Native Americans.

12. Europeans introduced the plantation system in America; These large cash crop farms were called encomiendas
The Columbian Exchange
The global transfer of foods, plants, and animals during the colonization of the
Americas is known as the Columbian Exchange. Ships from the Americas
brought back a wide array of items that Europeans, Asians, and Africans had
never before seen. They included such plants as tomatoes, squash, pineapples,
tobacco, and cacao beans (for chocolate). And they included animals such as the
turkey, which became a source of food in the Eastern Hemisphere.
Perhaps the most important items to travel from the Americas to the rest of the
world were corn and potatoes. Both were inexpensive to grow and nutritious.
Potatoes, especially, supplied many essential vitamins and minerals. Over time,
both crops became an important and steady part of diets throughout the world.
These foods helped people live longer. Thus they played a significant role in
boosting the world’s population. The planting of the first white potato in Ireland
and the first sweet potato in China probably changed more lives than the deeds
of 100 kings.
Traffic across the Atlantic did not flow in just one direction, however.
Europeans introduced various livestock animals into the Americas. These
included horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Foods from Africa (including some that
originated in Asia) migrated west in European ships. They included bananas,
black-eyed peas, and yams. Grains introduced to the Americas included wheat,
rice, barley, and oats.
Some aspects of the Columbian Exchange had a tragic impact on many Native
Americans. Disease was just as much a part of the Columbian Exchange as
goods and food. The diseases Europeans brought with them, which included
smallpox and measles, led to the deaths of millions of Native Americans.
Encomiendas required a large supply of workers which increased the need for slaves

13. Africa was greatly impacted by the Age of Exploration
The demand for workers on American plantations, especially in the Caribbean & Brazil, led to the African slave trade
Africa was greatly impacted by the Age of Exploration

14. The majority of African slaves worked in harsh conditions on sugar & indigo plantations or in gold & silver mines
For 300 years, slaves were sold in West Africa & brought to America along a route across the Atlantic Ocean known as the Middle Passage

15. The “Coffin” Position Used Below Desk
African Captives Being Thrown Overboard
Slave auction upon arrival in America
Sugar plantation in Haiti