Transcript Exploration and Discovery

Exploration and Discovery
I. The Renaissance brought new ways of
looking at the world
A. Scientists challenged old assumptions mid 1500’s
B. The Scientific Revolution: A way of thinking
about the natural world based upon careful
observation and willingness to question accepted
beliefs
C. Scientists analyzed the natural world
Studied the human body
Used precise tools- Microscope, Telescope
II. A desire for new trade routes and to spread
Christianity leads to EXPLORATION
A. Spain and Portugal take the lead
B. Prince Henry the navigator of Portugal opens a
navigation center in 1400
C. Spain builds over seas empire: 1500’s
1. Spain Prospers
2.Art and Literature flourish
3. Spain’s Golden Age
III.
Exploration and Colonization lead
to new economic policies
A. Commercial Revolution (1400-1600’s)
a system of trade, profit and investment
1. Merchants invested in bold enterprises to
expand their profits
2. Beginning of capitalism
B. Mercantilism: eco. Theory states a country’s eco.
strength depends on acquiring gold and silver,
manufacturing, commerce, colonies, shipping,
a navy, and more exports than imports
The Great Explorers
1. Christopher Columbus:
Italian who sailed for Spain
under Queen Isabella and
King Ferdinand
a. Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria;1492
b. arrived in present day San Salvador
c. explored Caribbean islands, sighted mainland
S. America over 4 voyages between 1492-1502
The Great Explorers
2. Amerigo Vespucci:
Sailed for Spain
a. credited with the idea that South America
was a continent separate from Asia
b. discovered mouth of the Amazon river
c. 1507 first map with New World labeled
“America” in honor of Vespucci
The Great Explorers
3. Ferdinand Magellan:
a. 1519 led expedition for Spain to find
western route to East Indies
b. known European expedition to
circumnavigate the globe
c. first known crossing of the Pacific Ocean
The Great Explorers
4. Francisco Pizarro
sailed for Spain
a. led inland expedition of Peru
b. Conquered Inca Empire
c. w/ 180 men, he defeated 40,000 Peruvians
d. he captured the Inca ruler Atahualpa;
demanded and received a ransom in gold
e. executed Atahualpa anyway (1533)
The Great Explorers
5. Hernando Cortez:
led expedition for Spain to
conquer Mexico’s Aztec Empire
a. 1518-1521 defeated Aztecs
b. Captured and killed Aztec Emperor
Montezuma
c. destroyed Tenochtitlan, (Aztec capital)
and established Mexico city as capital
of New Spain
The Great Explorers
6. John Cabot
(Italian Giovanni Caboto)
a. Sailed for England in 1497
b. Landed in North America
(Nova Scotia or Newfoundland?)
c. Established England’s claim to
North America
d. First recorded landfall of European’s
in North America since the Vikings.
The Great Explorers
7. Samuel De Champlain:
Sailed for France
• Led expedition that founded Quebec
(first permanent French colony in
N. America; 1608)
b. Pioneered fur trading route into interior
w/Native Americans
c. Efforts promoted colonization of Canada