Transcript Age Of Exploration

Age Of Exploration
Portugal
• Called the “pioneers of exploration”
• Took advantage of their geographical position,
and started exploring
• Prince Henry the Navigator created a
navigational school and sponsored expeditions–
west coast of Africa and beyond (gold, pepper)
• Era of Portuguese naval leadership is shortcountry is too small and weak to control
overseas empires
Spain
• Late 15th century—Spain is competing with Portugal in
the race for a world empire
• Gold, God, and glory are reasons for expansion
• Christopher Columbus persuades King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella to fund a shortcut to the Indies—going
west—
• Leads to the discovery of the American continents
• Spain will move rapidly– by the 1540’s Spain controls
most of northern S. America, all of central America,
much of the Caribbean, and south and southwest
present day United States
France Founded a Vast Empire
• Explorers- Verrazano, Cartier, De Champlain, LaSalle,
Joliet.
• Looking for a northwest passage through North America
to Asia. It would prove to be very profitable.
• Present- day Canada becomes a valuable asset to
France- cooperation with natives and fur trade
• The French learn of a great river- The Mississippi. A
central highway for an inland empire
• New France- The French claim a huge territory in North
America, however, it becomes thinly settled and allows
only Catholics.
English Settlements
• England is late for exploring (Wars of the Roses)
• Joint stock companies (similar to the Dutch)
• Roanoke- 1580’s Present-day North Carolina. Set up by Sir Walter
Raleigh (Outer banks) Colony was a failure- food was too scarce.
• Jamestown- 1606, King James gives a charter to find a colony
between present-day North Carolina and New York.
• Colonists set up on a swampy peninsula named Jamestown, in
honor of King James.
• First few years the colony proves to be a disaster. 7/10 people die
from hunger, disease, or fighting with natives.
• One advantage- much revenue in tobacco is sent back to England.
However, it takes many people to tend to the tobacco. Leads to
indentured servants.
• Jamestown becomes a financial disaster for London investors.
New England Colonies
• 1620, a group called the Pilgrims, found a
second colony- Plymouth, Mass
• Seeking religious freedoms instead of wealth.
• 1629- a group a religious dissenters (Puritans)
set up a colony.
• First governor of Mass.-John Winthrop
• Other colonies- Marylanda place for
persecuted Catholics Georgia people in
debt and convicts who are given a second
chance
Worldwide contact brings hazards
and benefits
• Columbian Exchange- massive exchange of goods,
plants, animals, and diseases that took place b/t east
and west hemisphere after Columbus
• Epidemics- Before the Spanish came, such diseases
were unknown to the New World- Native Americans are
not immune to such diseases.
• Rapidly spreading diseases ( small pox) wipe out
villages in a matter of months.
• Impact of corn and potatoes- The main part of the Inca’s
diet becomes a very important item to the rest of the
world- Asia, Africa, Europe
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Squash
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Avocado
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Turkey
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Pumpkin
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Pineapple
Syphilis
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TOMATO
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Cocoa
(chocolate)
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Peanut
Black
Pepper
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Sweet Potatoes
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POTATO
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CORN
Tobacco
Vanilla
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Liquor
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GUNS
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Olive
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COFFEE BEAN
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Banana
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Rice
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Onion
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Turnip
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Honeybee
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Barley
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Grape
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Peach
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SUGAR
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Oats
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Tea
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Pear
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Wheat
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HORSE
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Cattle
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Sheep
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Pigs
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Flu
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Typhus
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Measles
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Whooping Cough
SMALLPOX
Malaria
Cycle of Conquest &
Colonization
Explorers
Official
European
Colony!
Slave Trade (Middle Passage)
• Slave trade begins with African rulers’
dependence on gunpowder. 1500, Africa trades
slaves.
• Devastates some African societies.
• The growth of the slave trade is directly
connected to the expansion of European
colonies in the New World.-- Slaves needed to
work mines and plantations.
• Conditions are extremely harsh for slaves on the
trip across the ocean. Its been said 1 out of 2
died on the way.
“Middle Passage”
Words to Know
• Joint stock company- buy stock in a company,
the more shares they own, the more profit they
can gain
• Mercantilism- overseas trade between a country
and its colonies and accumulation of precious
metals by requiring colonies to trade only with
their motherland country
• Commercial Revolution- era where Europeans
economies change because of exploration