Transcript Chapter 1 Section 4 European Cultures


Fall of the Roman Empire


Weakened Centralized
governments



Western Europe becomes
isolated (Middle Ages)
Feudalism
Manorialism
Economic improvements
by 1000


Plow and horse collar
Revival of trade (Growth
from 1000-1200)


Church - Struggled
mightily after the fall
of Rome to maintain
order
Impact of Crusades


Contact with other
cultures
Influences on trade

New desire for
exploration


Decline of feudalism
Increased wealth for
monarchies

Renaissance


 Growth of four strong
states (England,
Portugal, Spain, France)

Coincided with
growth of unified
kingdoms
Rediscovery of
ancient scholars
New technology
needed for travel




Astrolabe
Compass
Lateen Sails
Caravel





First Europeans to find a sea route to Asia
Prince Henry of Portugal (Henry the
Navigator)
Mapping of West Africa – 1420
Dias – reaches southern tip of Africa (1488)
Vasco da Gama – sails around Africa (1497)

Vikings


Leif Ericsson
Failure to settle
permanently

Spain



Christopher Columbus
 Ptolemy’s map
 Underestimated the
size of the earth
 Portugal refused
support
Spain – Convert people to
Catholicism
Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria
 Thought he was in Asia
 Natives thought they
had been sent by gods





Men left behind in Hispaniola had been killed
New colony inhabited by wealthy. Would not
do manual labor.
Forced locals to work gold mines
Third Voyage – discovered South America
Fourth Voyage – mapped out coast from
Guatemala to Panama


Line of Demarcation (Portugal)
Treaty of Tordesillas
 Portugal – Route around Africa,
Brazil
 Spain – Americas
Amerigo Vespucci
Determined Americas were not
part of Asia
Juan Ponce de Leon
Discovered Florida
Vasco de Balboa
First European to see the Pacific
from the American Coast
Ferdinand Magellan
Died in the Phillipines during
his crews successful
circumnavigation of the
globe.