Early Early European European ExplorersExplorers

Need a NEW Water Route to Need a NEW Water Route to AsiaAsia►WHY? – WHY? –

Italians had a monopoly on the Mediterranean Italians had a monopoly on the Mediterranean Sea (military)Sea (military)

Too dangerous to go by landToo dangerous to go by land

► Caravel – (Prince Henry – Portuguese) ship Caravel – (Prince Henry – Portuguese) ship with triangular and square sailswith triangular and square sails allowed the boat to sail into the windallowed the boat to sail into the wind

► July 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias (Portuguese) July 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias (Portuguese) reached southern tip of Africareached southern tip of Africa

Water Route to AsiaWater Route to Asia

►1498 – Vasco da Gama1498 – Vasco da Gama Sailed to southern tip of Africa and then Sailed to southern tip of Africa and then

north and sailed across the Indian Oceannorth and sailed across the Indian Ocean

► IMPORTANCE? – IMPORTANCE? – ALL WATER ROUTE TO ASIAALL WATER ROUTE TO ASIA

Columbus’s PlanColumbus’s Plan► Italian Sailor – Italian Sailor – thought he knew a faster thought he knew a faster

wayway► Plan: Sail WEST across the Atlantic Plan: Sail WEST across the Atlantic

thought it was shorterthought it was shorter► Mistakes – Mistakes –

1.1. Followed writings of others Followed writings of others WRONG WRONG about size of Asiaabout size of Asia

2.2. Underestimated the distance around the Underestimated the distance around the world – thought it was 1/3 smallerworld – thought it was 1/3 smaller

Help From Spain’s RulersHelp From Spain’s RulersKing Ferdinand and Queen IsabellaKing Ferdinand and Queen Isabella► SupportSupport

1.1. Wanted to share in the richesWanted to share in the riches

2.2. Wanted to spread ChristianityWanted to spread Christianity

► AgainstAgainst1.1. Royal counsel doubted his calculationsRoyal counsel doubted his calculations

2.2. In the middle of a war against the Muslims to In the middle of a war against the Muslims to drive them out of Spaindrive them out of Spain

3.3. Columbus wanted a high paymentColumbus wanted a high payment

Day of OpportunityDay of Opportunity► January 1492 – January 1492 –

Spanish conquered the last Muslim Spanish conquered the last Muslim stronghold in Spainstronghold in Spain

Still had doubts about sending ColumbusStill had doubts about sending Columbus

Finally allowed him to go!!!!Finally allowed him to go!!!!

Setting SailSetting Sail

► Difficulty finding a crewDifficulty finding a crew► August 3August 3rdrd, 1492 - Nina, Pinta, and , 1492 - Nina, Pinta, and

Santa Maria left the port of Palos de Santa Maria left the port of Palos de la Fontera in southern Spain la Fontera in southern Spain

► Two Log Books – Two Log Books – 1.1. Shared with menShared with men2.2. Secret – held the truth about the journeySecret – held the truth about the journey

Returning Home?Returning Home?►October 10October 10thth, 1492 – , 1492 –

Men lost courage and wanted to return home Men lost courage and wanted to return home (at sea for 10 weeks)(at sea for 10 weeks)

Columbus made a bargain – sail for three Columbus made a bargain – sail for three more days and then return home if hadn’t more days and then return home if hadn’t spotted landspotted land

►October 12October 12thth, 1492 – “Tierra, Tierra”, 1492 – “Tierra, Tierra” ““Land, Land!”Land, Land!” Two days later, sailor on the Pinta saw landTwo days later, sailor on the Pinta saw land

Reaching the AmericasReaching the Americas

►Greeted by Natives – called them Greeted by Natives – called them Indians because Columbus thought he Indians because Columbus thought he had landed in the Indieshad landed in the Indies

►San Salvador and Espanola – traveled San Salvador and Espanola – traveled looking for Japanlooking for Japan

►Relationship with Taino people – BAD Relationship with Taino people – BAD angered the Tainos by stealing and angered the Tainos by stealing and committing violence against themcommitting violence against them

An Expanding HorizonAn Expanding Horizon►Four more voyages to the Americas – Four more voyages to the Americas –

Never brought back treasuresNever brought back treasures After 4After 4thth voyage Spain refused to fund voyage Spain refused to fund

anymore tripsanymore trips►Queen Isabella’s Goal – FAILED Queen Isabella’s Goal – FAILED

Upset that Columbus had mistreated and Upset that Columbus had mistreated and enslaved the Taino peopleenslaved the Taino people

Columbus’ LegacyColumbus’ Legacy

Columbus’ LegacyColumbus’ Legacy► 1506 Columbus died 1506 Columbus died

thinking he had reached thinking he had reached Asia – but also thinking he Asia – but also thinking he was a failurewas a failure

► Changed the way Europeans Changed the way Europeans viewed the worldviewed the world

► The ocean became a bridge The ocean became a bridge that connected Europe, that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas.Africa, and the Americas.

► Began an era of great Began an era of great wealth and power for Spainwealth and power for Spain