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The European Age of
Exploration
“Old Imperialism” and The Birth of
the Global Economy
Causes for Exploration:
Christian Crusaders in 11th to 13th centuries
created European interest in Asia and
Middle East
Mongol domination of central Asia
disrupted flow of goods over the Silk Road
routes.
Ottoman Turks restricted trade to Asia after
conquest of Constantinople in 1453.
Portugal and Spain sought to break the
Italian (Venetian) monopoly on trade with
Asia.
Causes for Exploration:
Desire to spread Christian religion; Francis
Xavier Catholic missionary in 16th c.
Rise of nation states (“New Monarchs”) resulted
in competition for empires and trade.
Technology facilitated sea travel: astrolabe, better
maps, lateen sails, caravels.
Commercial revolution resulted in capitalist
investments in overseas exploration
Impact of Renaissance: search for knowledge,
adventurism, monopoly of Italian trade with East
Early Explorers
Marco Polo
Venetian merchant and
explorer who traveled
through Central Asia and
China.
His Book of Travels was
received with
astonishment and disbelief.
His book stimulated
interest in the Orient. It
was widely read. It
stimulated exploration and
trade.
Portugal: Explorers
Prince Henry the
Navigator (1394-1460):
financed exploration,
established schools
Bartholomew Diaz (14501500): rounded southern tip
of Africa
Vasco da Gama (14691525): route to India
Portugal: Explorers
Alphonso d’Albuquerque (1453-1515):
established empire in Spice Islands after
1510
Pedro Cabral (1467-1520): sighted Brazil,
defeated Arabs in Indian Ocean
Amerigo Vespucci: explorer and
mapmaker. “America” named after him
Spain: Explorers
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) – pursuing
western route to Asia
Bartholomew de las Casas (1474-1566) –
writings helped spread “black legend”
(mistreatment of natives) The Destruction of the
India 1542
Vasco Nunez de Balboa (1475-1517): cross the
Isthmus of Panama, first European to see the
Pacific Ocean
Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521)
Set out looking for a
western root to Asia.
He was killed in a battle
with the natives in the
Philippines.
Crew continued journey
home by going westward,
completing the first
circumnavigation of the
world.
Spain: Conquistadores: began creating empires by
conquering Indians
Hernando Cortès (1485-1547): Aztecs
Francisco Pizzaro (1478-1541): Incas
Mestizos: mixed white and Indian descent
Creoles: American-born Spaniards
Audencias: Board of 12 to 15 judges served as
advisor to viceroy and highest judicial body.
Encomienda: Indians worked for owner certain #
days per week; retained other parcels to
work for themselves.
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
Line of Demarcation
established by Pope
Alexander VI (Spaniard) in
1493 between Portuguese and
Spanish territories.
Renegotiated by King John II
of Portugal and Ferdinand
and Isabella of Spain to be
moved 270 leagues further
west.
Establish Spanish domination
in the New World and
Portuguese domination in
Asia for the next century
Cartography
Martin Behaim (1459-1507) and Schoner
Martin Waldseemuller – created map in 1507 based
on Amerigo Vespuci’s voyages – gave name
“America”
The Netherlands
Establishment of Dutch East India Co.
Expansion in Asia (specifically Indonesia
and South Africa… replaced Portuguese)
Henry Hudson explores North America
Establishment of New Amsterdam on
Manhattan Island.
France
Giovanni da Verrazano (1480-1527):
explored northern Atlantic coast of
modern-day U.S.
Jacques Cartier (1491-1557): search for
Northwest Passage (explored Canada)
Samuel de Champlain: “Father of New
France”
England
John (1425-1500) and Sebastian (1474-1557)
Cabot: explored northeast coat of N. America
Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596): led English “sea
dogs” against Spanish shipping
Sir Martin Frobisher (1535-1594): northeastern
Canadian coast
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), Roanoke
Settlement
Atlantic Economy in the 17th
and 18th Centuries
Characteristics
World trade became fundamental
Spain and Portugal revitalized their empires and
began drawing more wealth from renewed
development.
Netherlands, Great Britain, and France
benefited most; Great Britain the leading
maritime power.
Britain’s commercial leadership based on
mercantilism
Atlantic Slave Trade
Basis of the
Triangular Trade
System.
Nearly 10 million
transported.
Millions more died in
the ordeal.
In the 1780s,
European
participation died off,
but it was not
outlawed by Britain
until 1807.