Age of Exploration (1450 - 1750)

“God, gold and glory”

“God, gold and glory”

I. Motives for Exploration A- E (MAKE A LIST) A. Technological

Advances 1. improved navigational methods:

2. - magnetic compass and astrolabe

- improved maps and charts

2. improved ship designs

- the caravel

3. improved weapons

- gunpowder and cannons

Why would this be important?

B. Desire for wealth

1. gain access to the spice trade (also sugar and silk)

Arab and Italian merchants had a monopoly

2. find new sources of gold and silver

C. Growth of Nation-States

1. centralized power (kings and queens who have absolute power at home, allowed for an outward push and colonization of new lands. D. Religious devotion / Crusading Spirit

1. desire to convert new people to Christianity

2. to strike a blow against the Muslims

E. Renaissance Spirit and Values

1. desire to learn about the world (intellectual curiosity)

- Marco Polo returns with stories of the riches in Asia.

2. desire for adventure, fortune, fame and glory.

II. Portugal and Spain

A. Portugal

1. Portugal led the way

in exploration

a. Prince Henry the Navigator encourages exploration and

the study of improvements in seafaring.

b.location – Portugal was well situated to explore based on routes available to explore.

2. Portuguese sailors explored the coast of Africa in an attempt to find a water route to Asian trade.

3. Portuguese explorers included:

Bartholomeu Dias - first to sail around the southern tip ofAfrica

Vasco da Gama - discovered an all water trade route between Portugal and India.

B. Spain

    1. Columbus (an Italian) sails West in an attempt to reach Asia.

a. opened the Americas

to European

colonization and trade.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)- Spain and Portugal sign a

treaty dividing the newly discovered lands

between the two nations

How would you view this treaty if you were the English, French or other Europeans

•Amerigo Vespucci –

Explored the coast of the newly discovered lands

Suggested Columbus had actually discovered a new world

Vespucci’s name begins to appear on maps of the New World.

America gets its name from him.

•Ferdinand Magellan –

attempted to find a Western route to Asia, one of his ships will complete the first circumnavigation of the earth. (1519-1522)

Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived inMexico in 1519.Cortes along with native allies defeated the Aztec.

The “Columbian The “Columbian Exchange”Exchange”

The “Columbian The “Columbian Exchange”Exchange”What is it?What is it?What is it?What is it?

The “Columbian The “Columbian Exchange” refers to the Exchange” refers to the vast exchange of vast exchange of people, plants, people, plants, animals, ideas and animals, ideas and diseases that began diseases that began with the “Age of with the “Age of Exploration”Exploration”

The “Columbian The “Columbian Exchange” refers to the Exchange” refers to the vast exchange of vast exchange of people, plants, people, plants, animals, ideas and animals, ideas and diseases that began diseases that began with the “Age of with the “Age of Exploration”Exploration”

The “Columbian The “Columbian Exchange”Exchange”

The “Columbian The “Columbian Exchange”Exchange” Squash Avocado Peppers Sweet

Potatoes

Turkey Pumpkin Tobacco Quinine

Cocoa Pineapple

Cassava POTATO

Peanut TOMATO Vanilla MAIZE

Syphilis

Olive COFFEE BEAN Banana Rice

Onion Turnip Honeybee Barley

Grape Peach SUGAR CANE

Oats

Citrus Fruits Pear Wheat HORSE

Cattle Sheep Pigs Smallpox

Flu Typhus Measles Malaria

Diptheria Whooping Cough

Trinkets

Liquor

GUNS