In 1492 Age of Exploration Motivations of Exploration

In 1492… Age of Exploration + Motivations of Exploration

The Age of Exploration 1. The Age of Exploration (1450 -1550) has often been described as a… ▪ Time when Europeans sailed the oceans searching for new routes to restart the Spice Trade. ▪ Exploration resulted in the… ▪ Discovery of the New World (N. & S. America). ▪ Trade between the New & the Old World (Europe, Asia, & Africa). ▪ Expansion of European influence.

The Age of Exploration �The big question is why? � Why did European not set sail earlier? � Why did they know so little about the world around them? � What motivated them to sail when they did? �Let’s compare these two maps to see what Europeans knew of world geography at the time.

The Age of Exploration Known World 2017 What continents & nations do we know about?

The Age of Exploration Known World 1450 AD What continents & nations are we missing?

The Age of Exploration 2. Europeans at that point in time knew of about ¼ of the world. ▪ Europeans’ world view focused only on the Mediterranean. ▪ Most Europeans could not afford exploration. ▪ European merchants only traveled to known places & for profit. ▪ As long as the Spice Trade was open, merchants did not need to discover any new routes to Asia.

The Age of Exploration What two (2) routes are there for the Spice Trade?

Earlier Explorations 1. Silk Roads Spice Trade 2. China’s # 1 *Chinese Admiral Zheng He & the Ming “Treasure Fleet” 3. A New Player Europe Marco Polo- Italy, 1271 Expansion becomes a state enterprise monarchs had the authority & the resources. Better seaworthy ships.

Admiral Zheng He Chinese Admiral Zheng He & the Ming “Treasure Fleet” Each ship was 400’ long and 160’ wide! 1371 -1435

Zheng He’s Voyages

The Age of Exploration 3. In 1453, the Ottoman Empire blocked the known routes for the Spice Trade preventing trade w/ Asia. ▪ If Europe was to continue its luxurious ways, new routes to Asia had to be found.

The Age of Exploration 4. The Cause & Effect of the Spice Trade becoming blocked (cause) was the beginning of exploration of the oceans to find new routes to Asia. (effect ) ▪ What nations would lead this push for exploration? Why?

The Age of Exploration 4. The Cause & Effect of the Spice Trade becoming blocked (cause) was the beginning of exploration of the oceans to find new routes to Asia. (effect ) ▪ What nations would lead this push for exploration? Why? Portugal & Spain, geographically closer to the Atlantic. ▪ They also had sailing cultures & had stable governments. Why would these two factors matter?

The Age of Exploration 5. Using the map to right, what three (3) routes were left to the Europeans?

The Age of Exploration 5. Using the map to right, what three (3) routes were left to the Europeans? ▪ Sail around Africa. ▪ Sail around Russia. ▪ Sail west across the Atlantic. ▪ Problems with these routes? Everyone knew where Asia was: in the east. But no one knew what was between Point A & Point B. This is why exploration & map-making was so difficult.

Motivations for Exploration �We know where Europeans will go, but other questions have yet to be answered: what motivated Europeans to explore & what technology allowed European to go explore? ▪ This question is best answered through answering the next question.

Motivations for Exploration �Let’s suppose NASA found a portal out in space. Scientists know that it would transport any object to a different planet billions upon billions of miles away. NASA wants to know what is on the other end so it asked you to go through this gateway into the unknown. Would you go through it? Explain your answer.

Motivations for Exploration 1. Much like most of you that decided to go through the portal, Europeans were motivated for the same reasons. Those that went made discoveries only their dreams could outmatch while those that stayed were left behind in the dust. The four (4) main motivating factors that began the Age of Exploration were…

Motivations for Exploration �Gold. ▪ Gold would come from restarting the Spice Trade & finding new sources of wealth. Gold, Spices, Silk, Perfumes…it’s all good.

Motivations for Exploration � Gold. ▪ Gold would come from restarting the Spice Trade & finding new sources of wealth. ▪ Many explorers persuaded the King/Queens of Spain & Portugal to finance their trips in return for claims to new land. ▪ Exploration was expensive & there was no guarantee you would recuperate your losses. ▪ But the potential gain was 10 x the cost. Gold, Spices, Silk, Perfumes…it’s all good.

Motivations for Exploration

Motivations for Exploration

Motivations for Exploration �God. ▪ Many clergymen saw this as an opportunity to spread the Christian faith. ▪ It also meant more money from offerings & tithes. ▪ Many explorers took priests on their trips to act as advisors, recorders, & luck. ▪ Explorers wanted God’s blessing so they sailed for Christianity. Naturally all the native peoples they would find were just waiting to be converted to a new religion & give up their thousand year old culture…right?

Motivations for Exploration �Glory. ▪ Many explorers wanted fame & glory more than anything; to be immortalized in history. ▪ With glory comes respect, power, & influence. ▪ Being the first there was a personal accomplishment, a sign of greatness; Humanism at its finest. Who is this man, why is he significant, & how do we honor him?

Motivations for Exploration � Curiosity. ▪ Many explorers simply wanted to know what else was out there. ▪ Some men wanted to escape the world they were in or wanted something new. ▪ Humans are curious by nature, but the Renaissance had changed human perspective on life by awakening a spirit of discovery in Europe; life was a mystery to be solved. We have all been there for one reason or another: Christmas gifts, being told not to, or the just plain boredom.

A Map of the Known World, How do we know that the cartographer had limited info? ? pre- 1492