1. Reformation & Exploration Review

2. Events leading to Exploration 1. Protestant Reformation & Counter Reformation The Protestant Reformation and the Catholic church’s response in the Counter-Reformation marked the end of several centuries of gradual erosion of the power of the Catholic church as well as the climax to internal attempts to reform the church. Protestantism emphasized a personal relationship between each individual and God without the need for intercession by the institutional church. Thus, the rise of Protestantism and the Counter-Reformation, along with the Renaissance, helped foster individualism and create a climate favorable to exploration.

3. Events leading to Exploration 2. The Renaissance In the Renaissance, artists and writers such as Galileo, Machiavelli, and Michelangelo adopted a view of life that stressed humans’ ability to change and control the world. Thus, the rise of Protestantism and the Counter- Reformation, along with the Renaissance, helped foster individualism and create a climate favorable to exploration.

4. Events leading to Exploration 3. Unification of Smaller states into larger ones With the decline of the political power and wealth of the Catholic church, a few rulers gradually solidified their power. Portugal, Spain, France, and England were transformed from small territories into nation-states with centralized authority in the hands of monarchs who were able to direct and finance overseas exploration.

5. Events leading to Exploration 4. New technology As these religious and political changes were occurring, technological innovations in navigation set the stage for exploration. Bigger, faster ships and the invention of navigational devices such as the astrolabe and sextant made extended voyages possible.

6. Events leading to Exploration 5. Establishment & necessity of new trade routes The Orient became a magnet to traders, and exotic products and wealth flowed into Europe. Those who benefited most were merchants who sat astride the great overland trade routes, especially the merchants of the Italian city-states of Genoa, Venice, and Florence. The newly unified states of the Atlantic–France, Spain, England, and Portugal–and their ambitious monarchs were envious of the merchants and princes who dominated the land routes to the East. Moreover, in the latter half of the fifteenth century, war between European states and the Ottoman Empire greatly hampered Europe’s trade with the Orient. The desire to supplant the trade moguls, especially the Italians, and fear of the Ottoman Empire forced the Atlantic nations to search for a new route to the East.

7. Exploration

8. God, Glory, Gold “They connected the Christianization of the world with the second coming of Christ. Such ideas led many Europeans (including Columbus) to believe it was God’s plan for Christians to convert pagans wherever they were found.” “The impulse for exploration was further fueled by the European imagination. The idea of “America” antedated America’s discovery and even Viking exploration. “ “Cortés took control of the Aztecs’ fabulous gold and silver mines. Ten years later, an expedition under Francisco Pizzaro overwhelmed the Inca Empire of Peru, securing for the Spaniards the great Inca silver mines of Potosí.”

11. Terms you need to know! Mercantilism- Economic principle that in order to make a profit, a nation must EXPORT more than it IMPORTS (profitable trading) Columbian Exchange- Triangular Trade: widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, communicable diseases technology and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian hemispheres in the 15th and 16th centuries

12. Effects of the Age of Exploration Within a few decades, a few hundred Europeans had conquered millions of Native Americans. This success would change the pattern of exploration to exploitation for years to come. Good for Conquistadors/Europeans – Sent treasure fleets to Spain from “New World” – Tons of slaves – Spain became the richest and greatest European power Bad for Native Americans  – Thousands of Native Americans were killed and enslaved. – Many were converted to Christianity by Missionaries. – Many assimilated to European culture (language and customs)

13. Founding Settlements Activity