European Exploration Causes of Exploration G Demand for

European Exploration

Causes of Exploration G Demand for gold, spices and natural resources in Europe G Diffusion (spread) of Christianity G Catholics and Protestants helped convert indigenous (native) peoples G Migration of colonists G Improvements in Navigational Technology

Causes Continued G Competition over colonies (political and economic) G Prince Henry the Navigator was a pioneer in exploration (inspired by Islamic empires)

Christopher Columbus G Believed he could find a shorter trade route to Asia from Spain G Found Islands off Americas but believed they were off the coast of Asia

Columbian Exchange

Impact of Columbian Exchange G Shortage of labor to grow crops led to the use of African slaves G Slavery was based on race G European plantation system in Caribbean and Americas was harmful to the environment and the indigenous (native) people G European diseases such as smallpox killed many American Indians

Ferdinand Magellan G Spanish G found the Pacific Ocean G 1522 - 1 st round-the -world sea voyage (circumnavigated the world)

Cartier G From France G Discovered Newfoundland off of America

Vasco de Gama G From Portugal G Led to overseas trade route from Europe to India and the West Indies

Hernando Cortez G Invaded and conquered Mexico, seized the Aztec ruler for Spain G Searching for gold and silver

Francisco Pizarro G Led an expedition in South America for Spain G Conquered the Incans, a large civilization running along the Andes mountains

Sea Dogs G English sea captains G Sir Francis Drake (1 st Englishman to sail around the world) G Plundered foreign ships (pirates)

Triangular Trade Sugar Tobacco Cotton To Europe Textiles Rum Manufactu red Goods To Africa Slaves to Americas Linked Europe, Africa and Americas

Commercial Revolution G Europeans maritime (water trade) nations competed for overseas markets G New economic system G New money and banking

Mercantilism G Mercantilism (limited amount of wealth in the world and countries wanted to expand to get as much wealth as possible and colonies had to provide for mother country not for themselves) G Colonial economies are limited by the economic needs of the mother country

Effects of Expansion Americas G European immigration G Demise of Aztec and Incan empires G Colonies imitated their parent country in culture and social patterns (Ex: rigid class system in Latin America)

Effects of Expansion - Africa G European trading posts established along the coasts G Trade in slaves to America G Silver, Ivory and gold exported to Europe and Asia

Effects of Expansion - Asia G Colonization by small groups of merchants (India, the Indies, China) G Influence of trading companies (Dutch, British and Portuguese)

Effects of Expansion - Spain G Spain became a superpower because of colonies and international trade G However, other European powers soon surpassed them