Transcript Slide 1
The Age of Exploration FOR GOLD, GOD, and GLORY! GOLD! (WEALTH! ) New spices in Europe (introduced during the Crusades) = demand for the spices. Europeans wanted to cut out the middle man ! Europeans try to find new trade routes because they want new sources of wealth. Muslims sold Spices to Italians for lots of $ Italians sell it to Europe for MORE $$$ Europe buys it for a higher price GOD (Spread of Christianity) The Crusades pushed Christians to feel it was their duty to spread their religion and convert people to Christianity ( and not to be Muslim) Bartolomeu Dias – “ To serve God and His Majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness, and to grow rich as all men desire to do.”: GLORY ! • BEING “The FIRST!” • First to: Find an spice? Find a area? Create a trading port? Control a COUNTRY!? TECHNOLOGY HELPS ! The introduction of the Caravel made travel easier ! – 65 feet long = more space for food/ppl. – Able to explore close to shore. - Larger sails for easier movement and power! New Maritime Technologies Better Maps [Portulan] Hartman Astrolabe (1532) Mariner’s Compass Sextant New Weapons Technology Explorers from Portugal and Spain As a result of their location facing the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal and Spain were well suited to kicking off the Age of Exploration. The Portuguese • Portugal was first country to launch large-scale voyages of exploration • Begun largely due to efforts of Prince Henry, son of King John I of Portugal • Often called Henry the Navigator, not himself explorer • Patron, supporter of those who wished to explore Navigation Court • Early 1400s, Henry established court to which he brought sailors, mapmakers, astronomers, others • Expeditions sent west to islands in Atlantic, south to explore western coast of Africa • Portuguese settled Azores, Madeira Islands, learned more about Africa’s coast Exploration Attempts Water Route to India • Prince Henry’s ultimate goal—find water route around Africa to India • Died before goal accomplished; attempts to find such a route not abandoned • 1488, Bartolomeu Dias became first to sail around southern tip of Africa da Gama • 1497, Vasco da Gama set out for India, stopped at several African ports • Learned Muslim merchants actively involved in trade • Journey took more than 10 months, eventually reached Calicut in India Lucrative Trade • da Gama’s trip inspired another expedition to India, led by Pedro Cabral • Sailed west; sighted, claimed land that became known as Brazil • Portugal established trading centers; became rich, powerful European nation Christopher Columbus [1451-1506] Columbus • Sailed west to Indies • Landed on the Bahamas • Sailed for Spain (King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella Columbus’ Four Voyages Other Voyages of Exploration Ferdinand Magellan • Sailed for Spain • Searched for passage to Pacific Ocean west through the Americas • Sailed through “straits of Magellan” – Cuts through the southern tip of South America Magellan • Died in Philippines • His crew was the first to circumnavigate (sail all of the way around) the world Ferdinand Magellan & the First Circumnavigation of the World: Early 16c Explorers from the Rest of Europe • Spanish and Portuguese did not remain alone in their efforts. • By early 1500s the English and French were exploring northern parts of the Americas. • Dutch later joined in explorations. The English Sir Francis Drake • 1497, first major English voyage of discovery launched • English soon realized they had reached an unknown land, not Asia • John Cabot sailed to Atlantic coast of what is now Canada • Queen sent Sir Francis Drake out • Tried to repeat voyage; fleet vanished, presumably sunk • After stop in what is now California, Drake sailed north to seek route around North America The weather was too cold, and he ended up heading west around the world to get back to England. He became the second man to circumnavigate the globe. Henry Hudson • • • • • • England wanted to find shorter route to Asia than Magellan found Sent Dutch-born sailor Henry Hudson 1607, Hudson set out to north Hoped to find Northeast Passage around Europe Found nothing but ice, returned to England Later made two more voyages for English, one for Dutch The French • Also wanted to find passage to Asia • Sent explorers to look for Northwest Passage • 1534, Jacques Cartier sailed past Newfoundland into St. Lawrence River, claimed land as province of New France, now Canada The Dutch • By 1600s Netherlands powerful trading nation, hoped to find new products, trading partners • 1609, Henry Hudson set out to find Northwest Passage • Did not find passage, but did explore river now named for him