Exploration and Colonization of the New World The

Exploration and Colonization of the New World

The World Pre-Exploration 15 th Century construction of the description of the world by Ptolemy, a Roman mathematician

Europe on the Eve of Exploration When Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492, he was leaving behind a Europe that was just recovering from some significant issues

Europe on the Eve of Exploration • Warfare • The Hundred Years War- England France (1337 -1453) • Significance? • Disease – Bubonic Plague – Significance?

Europe on the Eve of Exploration Impact of the Bubonic Plague Europe had fewer workers Heavier reliance on new technologies Labor saving techniques in almost all industries

Europe on the Eve of Exploration Consolidation of Political Power During the 14 th and early 15 th centuries, much of Europe had been involved in large scale warfare. At the end of the 15 th century, a measure of stability returned to the countries who were going to become involved in exploration

What else was threatening Western Europe? • Ottoman Empire

Europe on the Eve of Exploration Religious Conflict Western Europeans had been united by the Catholic Church for more than a thousand years. The Protestant Reformation introduced a challenge to powerful Catholic Church Martin Luther

Reasons for Exploration Remember the three “G”s God Gold Glory

Advances in Navigation The Caravel- helped increase maneuverability The Magnetic Compassfirst developed in China The Astrolabe- determine position in relation to star’s known location

The Role of Ferdinand Isabella King and Queen of Spain Kept Columbus waiting seven years before they gave their support in the voyage

Christopher Columbus Born in Genoa in 1451 Not the first European to believe he could reach Asia by sailing Westward