Transcript 2.1 Age of European Exploration

THE
AND EUROPEAN EXPLORERS
(MODULE 1)
THE RENAISSANCE:
LATE 15TH & EARLY 16TH CENTURIES
 In 15th century Europe there was a ‘rebirth’ or
renewed interest in science and learning. (Wanted to
discover the world and learn more about it).
 Europeans knew only a ‘small world.’ Apart from the
continent of Europe, they knew of the North Coast of
Africa and parts of the Middle East.
 Had vague and romantic concepts about Asia (Marco
Polo’ s journeys).
 The Americas, Australia, and most of Africa unknown
to Europeans.
THE RENAISSANCE:
LATE 15TH & EARLY 16TH CENTURIES
cont’d
 Powerful nations (England, France, Spain, Portugal)
desired exotic spices and riches from Asia.
 The Turks had control over the Ottoman Empire and
blocked all land routes from Europe to Asia. Luxury
goods from Asia became very expensive.
 Europeans needed to discover a new route to Asia –
the sea.
THE World Known to the Europeans
EUROPEAN MOTIVES FOR
EXPLORATION
 Commercial: acquire wealth with gold,
silver, gems, spices.
 Political: Attain more power by creating
an empire by establishing overseas
colonies.
 Religious: missionary work &
conversion of indigenous peoples to
Christianity.
 Technological: more efficient ways of
doing things; new navigation
instruments, better ships (caravel,
galleon), cartography.
 Personal Prestige: glamour, display
courage, be first to discover new
territory.
IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY
EUROPEAN EXPLORATION & EXPANSION IN
THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES
THE MAJOR EXPLORERS
PORTUGAL
 Bartholomeu Diaz (1487) – Rounded southern tip of Africa /
Cape of Good Hope.
 Vasco da Gama (1497) – Reached India by sea.
 Pedro Alvarez Cabral (1500) – Explored coast of Brazil.
SPAIN
 C. Columbus (1492) – Sailed west to find China…hit roadblock…
America!
 Amerigo Vespucci (1499-1503) – Explored east coast of South
America.
 Vasco de Balboa (1513) – Crossed Central America on foot!
First European to see Pacific Ocean.
 Ferdinao de Magalhaes (1519-1522) – First voyage around
world.
THE MAJOR EXPLORERS cont’d
ENGLAND
 Giovanni Caboto (1497) – Reached Labrador and New
Founde Land = COD!!
 Martin Frobisher (1576-1579) – Explored Labrador and
Baffin Island.
FRANCE
 Giovanni Verrazano (1524) – Explored east coast of
North America.
 Jacques Cartier (1534-1542) – Explored mouth of St.
Lawrence and reached village where Montreal now
exists…Yipee!!!