context age of discovery” was a reflection of the intellectual and political self-confidence of...

ContextAge of Discovery” was a reflection of the

intellectual and political self-confidence of Europe. After 1,500 C.E. cross-cultural encounters took place on a larger geographical scale and became more disruptive.

Europeans linked the lands and peoples of the Western and Eastern hemispheres, as well as Oceania. This projection of European influence brought about a decisive shift in the global balance of power

Main Long-Term Effect was the Columbian Exchange = Global Diffusion of Plants, Animals,Ideas Diseases, and Technology across

all Continents

Causes of Exploration: GeneralConsolidated European Kingdoms => political

self-confidence (eg. Spanish Reconquista and strong crusading spirit)

Urbanization and Developed PortsTechnology

Chinese rudder introduced in 12th centurySquare sails replaced by triangular lateen sales

Work better with cross windsNavigational instruments (astrolabe, magnetic

compass)Knowledge of winds, currents. Now one could also

use lateral winds.

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Wind and current patterns in the world’s oceans

Motives for Exploration: God, Gold, and Glory Money and Trade

Spices become luxury goods during Crusades Value of Spices: kept food from rotting, added flavor to bland foods Nutmeg, Indian pepper and Chinese ginger With rise in demand or spices, goods became more expensive and trade more profitable. Europeans thus sought less costly routes to Asia 

Religion Christianity (still) is a missionary religion Prince Henry the Navigator saw exploration as his personal mission to save

souls Portugal and Spain were both involved in driving out Muslims and Jews

during the Middle Ages Secular and Spiritual went hand in hand

  Personal and National Glory

European monarch wanted to increase their lands and power

Portuguese Breakthroughs1488 Barolomeo Dias rounds Cape of Good

Hope, enters Indian Ocean basinStorms, restless crew force return

Vasco de Gama reaches India by this route, 1497By 1500, a trading post at Calicut

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Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)Believed Earth was smaller

Estimated Japan approximately 2,500 miles west of Canaries (actually 10,000 miles)

Portuguese kings do not fund proposed westward trip

Fernando and Isabel of Spain underwrite voyage

Discovers Bahamas, Cuba

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Hemispheric LinksColumbus tries three times, never reaches

AsiaBut by early 16th century, several powers

followEnglish, Spanish, French, Dutch

Realization of value of newly discovered Americas

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European exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, 1486-1498

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Circumnavigation of the GlobeVasco de Balboa finds Pacific Ocean while

searching for gold in Panama, 1513Distance to Asia unknown

Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) not supported by Portuguese, uses Spanish support to circumnavigate globe in 1519-1522Sails through Strait of Magellan at southern tip of South

AmericaCrew assailed by scurvy, only 35 of 250 sailors survive

journeyMagellan killed in local political dispute in Philippine

Islands

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Formation of Colonial Empires

1510 Portuguese Alfonso de Albequerque conquers the port of Goa in India. Portuguese were not a big and powerful country so they established trading posts in Africa, China, and Indonesia. The only big Portuguese colony was Brazil

Spain had a true colonial empire because of the conquest of Mexico (1519-1921) by Hernan Cortes and Peru (1432-1533) by Francisco Pizzaro

European trading posts in Africa and Asia, about 1700

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ConsequencesEconomic = trade shifted from the

Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. Spanish colonies brought more silver and gold to Europe and the appearance of inflation (the more money circulates the lesser its value)

Social = role of the middle classes increases (bnakers, merchannts, artisans)

Intellectual = greater knowledge of the world (geography, botany, zoology, medicine); proof the world was round