Age of Exploration 1400 s to 1700 s

Age of Exploration 1400 s to 1700 s

What gave rise to the Age of Exploration? Crusades brought interest in lands beyond Europe’s borders. Marco Polo’s writings about strange customs and unbelievable riches in the Far East (Orient). The Protestant Reformation New technology from the Renaissance.

Marco Polo In 1271, Polo left on a journey that would change the world. Accompanied his father, and his uncle on their second voyage to China. Traveled for 4 years until they reached Beijing. Marco Polo became a favorite of Kublai Khan and became an adviser. They lived there for 17 years, learning customs and seeing sights that no other European could have dreamed of. When they returned, Polo recorded his writings in The Book of Sir Marco Polo Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East. His book revealed a strange black rock the Mongols burned (Coal). Detailed riches, spices, and other luxuries. Described the islands of “Cipango” (Japan) Described the great Pacific ocean beyond “Cipango”. Would influence Christopher Columbus almost 200 years later.

Motives For Exploration Search for New Trade Routes Europeans reopened trade routes with the East. Merchants traded for diamonds, rubies, silk, porcelain, Spices were in great demand, and were worth a fortune. The Silk Road was rugged and often difficult to cross, and many local rulers charged taxes for passing through their territory. Ottoman Turks, the major power in the East, attacked many European caravans and raided trading posts. A new route to the Orient (Far East) was needed, and people began to wonder if they could find a route totally by sea.

Motives for Exploration (Cont) Quest for Gold Stories about great wealth and lots of gold had circulated since Polo’s writings. Europeans were willing to lay down for lives for a chance at a fortune. Desire for Glory The Renaissance and Reformation had inspired a spirit of adventure. Men wanted to achieve worldly fame, and they hoped their adventures would bring this to them.

Motives for Exploration (Cont) Competition Among European Nations Italian merchants held a monopoly on trade with the Orient. As Italian merchants brought back precious gems, spices and silks from the East, other nations began to get jealous. Kings naturally wanted to increase their wealth and power, and this spurred exploration as explorers began to claim their discoveries for their country.

Advancements in Technology The Compass Initially created the Chinese, it was refined by the Europeans. Helped sailors determine direction and follow a definite course when sailing.

Advancements in Technology Maps Became more accurate in the 15 th-16 th centuries. As more sailors explored, maps became more detailed, more refined. With the Printing press, maps were widely distributed.

Advancements in Technology Astrolabe Measured the angle between a star and the horizon Sailors could determine their latitude • Latitude – Distance from Equator. Fairly accurate position could be known.

Advancements in Technology The Caravel Light, fast vessel which had several masts Large square sails to provide power Smaller triangular sails to provide easier maneuverability.

Journal 2/19/14 What were the major motives for exploration? What major technological advancements led to the Age of Exploration?

Exploration Begins Portugal and Spain were the leading nations during the Age of Exploration Because Italy held a monopoly on trade with the Orient, sailors from these nations. Portugal and Spain learned navigational and mapmaking skills from the Muslims.

Prince Henry – “The Navigator” (1394 -1460) Responsible for Portugal’s early navigation success. Fascinated with the continent of Africa. Began a school of navigation on the coast of Portugal. Not a school like what we have today, but a bank of knowledge & information about navigation. Henry sent sailors on voyages to explore the coast of Africa, and every time they went farther and farther south. Lasting Achievement: Laid the foundation for early navigation.

Bartholomeu Dias In 1487, after Prince Henry died, the King of Portugal sent Dias down the coast of Africa to find a sea route to India. He successfully went around the bottom tip of Africa, and found the “The Cape of Good Hope”, hoping it was a direct water route to India. Lasting Achievement: Found the passage around Africa to India.

Vasco da Gama 10 years after Dias’ discovery, the King of Portgual sent Da Gama around the Cape of Good Hope. A year after he left Portugal, he arrived in India, finding Muslim merchants dominating trade. Soon Portugal would break the Muslim monopoly in the Indian Ocean, and they would bring back spices to Portugal reguarly. Lasting Achievement: Discovered an all-water route from Europe to India

Christopher Columbus heard about Dias’ success with the Cape of Good Hope. He believed he could reach the Orient by sailing west. He thought Japan & China were 300 miles from Portugal. He secured funding from Spain with three ships: The Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. After weeks of being out of sight of land, his men demanded they turn back. Columbus persuaded them to wait two or three more days. On October 12 th he saw land, and named it San Salvador meaning “Holy Savior”. He had assumed he was in the East Indies, actually he was in the Bahamas. He sailed south to Cuba, which he thought was China, and also to Hispaniola, which he thought was Japan. Columbus never found the great riches he sought, but he opened up a “New World” that attracted European exploration and colonization.

The Real Christopher Columbus Your text describe Columbus as, “a man of religious devotion who believed he was commissioned by God to spread the Gospel in distant lands. However, it is clear that Columbus had other motives for exploration: Pursuit of Wealth Spreading Catholicism The enslavement of the Natives.

Columbus – The Pursuit of Wealth

Columbus – Spreading Catholicism

Columbus – Enslavement of the Natives

Venn Diagram Activity & SRQ pg. 316 Create a Venn Diagram comparing the account of Columbus from your book, with the account of Columbus discussed in class.

The Naming of America Italian merchant Amerigo Vespucci sailed west following Columbus to find out if what he found really was the Orient. Vespucci realized it was not the Orient, but a new continent. He began to explore the Southern continent and a german mapmaker named Martin Waldseemuller helped me make maps of the new continent. He said the lands should be called “America” in honor of its first explorer. The name stuck and it was applied to both continents. “North and South America”.

Line of Demarcation With Columbus’ discovery of the New World, Spain and Portugal competed for trade rights and territory In 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued the Line of Demarcation which ran North & South down the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal could claim lands East of the Line Spain could claim lands West of the Line. A year later, it was agreed to move the line farther to the West.

Impacts of the Line of Demarcation 1) Encouraged Portugal to colonize in Africa and the East Indies 2) Gave Spain the right to nearly all the New World, except Brazil. 3) Cut Spain off from going east around Africa to get to India and China. Who do you think received the better deal?

Ferdinand Magellan Due to the Line of Demarcation, Spain needed a Westward route to the Indies. Magellan left Spain with five ships to circumnavigate the globe. Would complete journey with only one ship remaining. Magellan himself would be killed by natives in the Philippines. Lasting Achievement: First person credited with circumnavigating the world

Amerindian Civilizations Columbus called the natives who lived on the land “Indians” after the East Indies. These peoples had lived in the Americas several thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. 5 Major Tribes in North America: Northwestern – Five tribe confederation led by Iroquois Southeastern – “Mound Builders” Central Plains – “Hunters & Roamers” Southwestern – “Cliff Dwellers” West Coast – Totem Poles 3 Major Civilizations in South/Central America Mayan Aztec Inca

Mayan Civilization Not unified, but many independent city-states very similar to Ancient Greece. Built pyramids, temples, and altars. Studied astronomy and computed the length of a year. Religion: Polythestic Began to decline during the 9 th & 10 th centuries. When the Spanish arrived, only traces of the Mayans were found.

Aztec Civilization Established after the Mayans declined. Aztecs were barbaric fighters who instilled fear into their captors. Every able man fought in the army, and they conquered more than 5 million people. Aztecs were terrible governors, and they never developed into a real empire. Religion: Extreme Polytheism and Barbaric Rituals Many times the army took POW’s and sacrificed to their gods. Aztecs also practiced cannibalism by eating the flesh of their human sacrifices.

Inca Civilization Incas ruled an Empire They abolished human sacrifices and cannibalism. Cities were planned carefully and roads were constructed connecting them. A courier system was set up that could deliver messages over 150 miles/day.

Spanish Exploration Early Spanish explorers found that the Indian tribes could easily be conquered. Spain claimed rights to the New World and sent “Conquistadors” (Conquerors). Search for riches Evangelize the Indians to Spanish Catholicism Establish the authority of the Spanish Crown.

“The Requerimento” Conquistadors were required to read the Indians a document from the King of Spain before they waged war on them. Stated that the eternal God gave the Pope in Rome the authority over all men and the Pope in turn gave authority to Spain over the New World. If they refused, the document called for enslavement and disposal of the Indians. *Read pg. 321*

Hernando Cortes Called the “Greatest of the Conquistadors”. Landed at Mexico and intentionally sunk all his ships so his men would not desert him. Marched on the Aztec Capital. The Aztec king Montezuma thought Cortes was Quetzalcoatl, a God who was supposed to return from across the sea. Montezuma welcomed him with open arms and gave him gifts of gold and jewels. Cortes and the Spaniards lived peaceably among the Aztecs waiting for their chance to strike. Montezuma was stoned to death by his own people and called a traitor. Cortes turned against the Aztecs and sieged the city for four months before their capital and the Aztec Civilization was destroyed.

Francisco Pizarro Was known as the cruelest of all the conquistadors. He came to the New World for one reason: Gold. The Inca were rumored to be very wealthy, so in 1531 he and his men set out to find the Inca Empire. They marched through jungles for six months destroying villages as they went along. They captured the Inca ruler, Atahualpa and held him for ransom. Atahualpa promised to fill a room with gold and silver and buy his release. He paid Pizarro over 13, 000 pounds of gold and 26, 000 pounds of silver. Pizarro broke his promise to Atahualpa and executed him, and conquered the Inca Empire. Later Pizarro would be attacked and killed in his own home by other Spaniards and his gold would be stolen.

Other Spanish Explorers 1539 – Hernando De Soto discovered the Mississippi River. 1540 – Francisco De Coronado explored modern day New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas and Texas, and found the Grand Canyon Both expeditions resulted in finding natives, but no gold. Spain decided to focus primarily on South America, and this left North America open to other European Nations. (France, England)

French/Dutch Exploration French Explorers Jacques Cartier – 3 voyages to Eastern Canada Samuel De Champlain – founded Quebec Jacques Marquette & Louis Joliet – Explored the Mississippi River and claimed the entire Mississippi Valley for France calling it “Louisiana” in honor of King Louis XIV. Dutch Explorer Henry Hudson – Englishman hired by the Dutch. Found the Hudson River, and founded New Amsterdam which is now New York City.

English Exploration John Cabot –First European after the Vikings to set foot on North America. Paved the way for the founding of English colonies in North America. Jamestown (1607) – First permanent English settlement in the New World. Captain John Smith used strict regulations to ensure the success of Jamestown During “Starving Time” (1607 -1608) over half of the population died from starvation Spring would bring new colonists and also the very first slaves from Africa into North America.

The African Slave Trade &The Middle Passage All along the coast of Africa there were sixty European ports that acted as trading posts. Sailors brought rum, cloth, and guns to these posts and traded for human beings. They were transported across the Atlantic and Sold to slave owners in the New World.

The Process of Slave Trade: “Death Marches” Potential slaves were kidnapped from their homes and forced in slave caravans to the coastal forts. Only half the slaves survived these “death marches”. Those took sick or tired to keep up were often killed or just left to die.

The Process of Slave Trade: Underground Dungeons Once they reached the coast, they were chained in underground dungeons where they would stay until they were boarded upon ships. Sometimes they were held in dungeon for up to a full year.

“The Middle Passage” The Middle Passage was the transporting of slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. A typical Atlantic crossing took 30 days, but some lasted up to 2 -3 months. Slaves were stuffed into spaces too low for standing. (4 foot x 18 inches) Men were chained in pairs, wrist to wrist or ankle to ankle Slaves had to lie in each other’s feces, urine, and blood. Disease and Death was rampant, with an estimated 2 million slaves dying during the crossing. The diseased and dead were tossed overboard to stop a major epidemic from spreading. Female slaves were sometimes taken and raped during the passage.

Diagram of Middle Passage

The “Zong” Tragedy Had been twelve weeks since it left the coast of Africa with 417 slaves on board. Rampant disease broke out, and the ship was getting dangerously low on supplies. The ship’s captain ordered the slaves who he thought were too sick to recover to be thrown overboard. Over the next two days, 132 slaves were thrown overboard.

Causes of Slave Trade Europeans wanted cheap labor for work in the Americas Due to the demands of the agricultural economies of the New World The native peoples of America did not survive the labor

Effects of Slave Trade Native American civilizations destroyed European diseases killed millions of Native Americans European powers built extensive overseas empires Large numbers of Europeans moved to Americas Native American crops (corn, potato, tomato) brought to Europe [Colombian Exchange] Demand for African slaves increased Capitalism expanded with growth of trade Cultural exchanges occurred [cultural diffusion]

Effects of Slave Trade Encouraged African warfare tribes went to war with other tribes to obtain slaves to trade for guns Disrupted African culture it created a legacy of violence, bitterness and social upheaval Increased cultural diffusion Slaves brought their songs and culture to New World Prejudice against Africans

The Columbian Exchange Columbus’ voyages May have had greater consequences biologically than culturally The Columbian Exchange - the worldwide redistribution of plants, animals, and diseases that resulted from the initial contacts between Europeans and Natives.

What were the Effects of the Columbian Exchange? 2. What was the effect of the Columbian Exchange? a. Both hemispheres were introduced to new foods and animals that changed entire societies. b. Potatoes and corn became major food sources for Europeans allowing populations to increase greatly. c. The introduction of pigs, cows, and horses gave new food sources and new animals for the Native Americans to use.

What were the Effects of the Columbian Exchange? d. The diseases the Europeans brought with them killed up to 90% of the Native Americans in the New World. European conquest of the Native Americans was made easy by the effect disease had on the Natives. e. The Native Americans had never been exposed to these diseases so their bodies could not fight them. Europeans had lived with these diseases for thousands of year and were not as likely to die from them.

The Commercial Revolution – Changes in business thinking and practice during the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Mercantilism – Wealth should completely benefit the mother country. Goal: Obtain as much precious metal (gold) as possible. Nations wanted to establish colonies to become selfsufficient. Favorable Balance of Trade – Exporting more than Importing • Bringing more gold & silver into their treasury.

Mercantilism Colonies existed solely for the mother country. Supplied the mother country with raw materials and provided markets where goods from the mother country could be sold. Not allowed to produce things the mother country produced, as that would mean competition with the mother country. Examples: Mexican Colonies in South America – Mother Country: Spain

Weaknesses of Mercantilism National monopolies were created which deterred competition. Interests of the government were above the welfare of the people in the colonies. Was a detriment to a country’s agriculture & industry. The wealth amassed by the mother country was seldom used for the good of the people.

Capitalism Goal was not only to acquire wealth, but advance wealth through private ownership and investment Company - people pooled their money together, sharing the gains and losses together. Joint-Stock Company Capital – Money invested which financed the business venture. Dividends – profit or losses paid to the stockholders. Examples: Plymouth Company / London Company

Imperialism Domination by one country over the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region

Causes Economic Social • Need for raw materials created by Industrial Revolution • Desire for place to invest excess capital • Drive to spread Christianity Political • Desire for great power status [White Man’s • Competitive Burden] drive to gain • Rule by control of an strongest and area (for fittest- need to military) before spread superior a rival could do culture [Social so Darwinism]

Positive Effects Built roads, railroads, and bridges Education improved Improved medical care Food supply increased Brought stability and unification to some areas Created industries, improved standard of living

Negative Effects People with common backgrounds separated Natural resources exploited Native cultures damaged Promoted racism Economic self-sufficiency lost Destroyed traditional patterns of trade Cash crop overemphasized Family life disrupted Introduced Western vices and diseases