Transcript The Age of Discovery

The Age of Discovery
• A period of European sea
exploration from the 15th through
17th centuries
• The Columbian Exchange links the
Americas to Europe culturally and
economically.
Before the Age of Discovery
• Early European sea trade was
conducted by Italian merchants
• In the Mediterranean Sea
• Italy became very wealthy
Motives – Page 364
Why Didn’t Other European Nations Explore
• Before the 1500s, there were
limitations on navigation
• Sailors used landmarks
• Navigation by familiar objects along
the shore.
Navigational Tools
• The Compass and Astrolabe
arrived in Europe in the late 1400’s
• Made exploration beyond the shore
possible
Navigational Tools
• The Compass and Astrolabe arrived in
Europe in the late 1400’s
• Compass – Shows which direction
ships were heading
• Astrolabe – shows your position
according to the sun and stars
Improved technologies – Page 365
Portugal and Spain
• Wanted to be wealthy like Italy
• Led the way in European sea
exploration
Prince Henry the Navigator
• Prince who wanted Portugal to
become wealthy from sea trade
• Started a school for explorers
Portugal Sails Eastward – Page 365
Around the Cape of Good Hope
• Portugese explorers try to round
the Cape of Good Hope
• A direct route to the riches of India
and China
Mapping the African Coast – Page 365
Bartolomeu Dias
• First explorer to round the Cape
of Good Hope (The bottom tip
of Africa)
• From Portugal
• In 1488 – does not make it to India
Vasco de Gama
• First explorer to sail from Europe
to India around Africa
• Sells spices from Africa at a 3000%
profit!
On to India – Page 365
The Age of Discovery
• Spain and Portugal seek a route to
India
• Spanish explorer Christopher
Columbus tries to sail West to reach
India
Christopher Columbus
• Spanish explorer accidently
lands in the Americas, opening
the door for other European
explorers
• Other explorers had been to
America earlier, but none had
stayed
Columbus Sails West - 365
The Columbian Exchange
• The trade of people and goods
between Europe and the Americas
A global exchange – (403- 404)
How America Got Its Name
• A German mapmaker saw Amerigo
Vespucci’s route
• Named the new land North and
South America
Naming the “New World” - 367
Ferdinand Magellan
• First explorer to sail around the world
• He didn’t make it, but his crew
returned 3 years later
• Circumnavigation – go around the
entire world
The Search Continues – 367-368
Northern Exploration
• England, France, and the
Netherlands explore the Northern
parts of America
• Henry Hudson searches for a
Northwest Passage to India