1. © Morgan AP Teaching
Age of Exploration

2. © Morgan AP Teaching
Early Modern Era (1450 – 1750)
The early modern Era is the era in which Europe essentially ‘woke up’; known as the Renaissance (rebirth), a reinvigorated Europe would take a primary role in world affairs
Old (Greco-Roman) and new (Chinese and Islamic) knowledge poured in from the Islamic and Mongol world, transforming European knowledge, innovation, politics, economics, and society, and stimulating the growth of European maritime empires
While maintaining the appearance Christianity, the return of classical works inspired a gradual turn away from the constraints of the Catholic Church and hereditary privilege
The role of Europe changed to the dominant world force in military and trade—all enabled by new technologies, tactics, wealth, and motivations for exploration

4. © Morgan AP Teaching
European Renaissance
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 ( ) European invasions to reclaim the Jerusalem;
the scholarly work was written in Greek transferred by the Arabs
Knowledge also crept in through Muslim Spain (print) and Venetian trade
with the Abbasid Caliphate, the Mongols, and the Ottoman Empire (Turks)
This knowledge was either duplicated or catalogued, and disseminated with unparalleled speed and cost efficiency after the invention of Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press in the 15th century
The vernacular languages of English and Spanish were formed by prolific writers and playwrights such as William Shakespeare & Miguel de Cervantes respectively, as well as the published works of breakthrough Scientific Revolution thinkers such as Copernicus, Galileo, Descartes, and Newton
This new and rediscovered knowledge brought Europe out of the Middle Ages, and
advanced their technology, financial power, and weaponry beyond the rest of the world

5. Ability to Explore – Route to China
© Morgan AP Teaching
Ability to Explore – Route to China
New technologies such as the caravel (small maneuverable ship with lateen sails), compass, and astrolabe (mapmaking), were either invented by Europeans or brought over from Asia
Additionally, the portolan map technique (essentially marking distance based on time traveled in a single direction) 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 to and from the New World
Weaponization of gunpowder, gunboats, and horses (in the Americas) gave Europeans a massive advantage vs. foreigners

6. Wind Patterns used by Trade Routes

7. © Morgan AP Teaching
Reconnaissance
With these new techniques, the Europeans, led by Spain and Portugal, were moti-
vated by the 3 G’s: God (spreading Christianity), Gold (Riches through either natural
resources in the Americas or Indian Ocean trade), and Glory (conquest)
Exploration was far too expensive for individual merchants and required the invest-
ment of multiple parties who would fund a percentage of the voyage and receive
profit in proportion to the percentage invested ( this was known as joint stock)
Increasingly powerful and centralized monarchs and nobles began to fund these explorations, such as Henry the Navigator of Portugal & Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain
Many of the early explorers hired Italian sailors (such as Christopher Columbus) due to their expertise, knowledge, & experience as sailors operating in the Mediterranean Sea
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

8. Portugal and the Old World
© Morgan AP Teaching
Portugal and the Old World
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’
With little to offer Asian merchants initially, Portuguese ships resorted to
capturing port cities towns and foreign ships, forcing them to purchase a
cartaz (a permit for trade – ) or to pay for their transportation
Within the next 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
Despite Portuguese and European control, Asian merchants continued to thrive, including the Arab Omani, Javanese merchants, and Gujaratis (West India)

9. Portuguese Empire (1500s – 1600s)

10. © Morgan AP Teaching
Spain and the New World
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’ in the Old World, Spain focused on a conquest-based empire in the Americas
To prevent conflict between Catholic empires, the pope split at Brazil with Portugal getting the East, and Spain the West (Treaty of Tordesillas)
Spain quickly went on to amass large amounts of silver, gold, and income from New World colonies through the cultivation of cash crops (such as tobacco) on plantations and soon became the dominant world power
The success of Spain and Portugal encouraged the British, French, and Dutch to join the fray in the 1600s, and begin settlement of the unclaimed regions of North America and later trade posts in the Indian Ocean

12. Spanish Empire – 1500s – 1700s