Mr. BarchettoNotes #1

EARLY EXPLORATION & EUROPEAN MOTIVATION IN THE 1400’S

EUROPEAN MINDSET PRIOR TO 1450… Fraught with Peril

Unknown distances Uncharted waters Sea monsters Falling off earth

RENAISSANCE SPARKS EXPLORATION

What changes are taking place in Europe during the Renaissance making it a perfect time for exploration to begin?

- Idea of Humanism - Printing Press - Education/learning - Scientific Revolution - Technology

CAUSES/MOTIVES FOR EUROPEAN EXPLORATION

What country benefitted the most from the trade coming from the east?

Italy WHY?

1400’s Italian middle men controlled trade from Asia.

Watch Crash Course #19 3 Major Motives:

1. Renaissance spirit to learn about new lands.

2. Atlantic powers (Spain, Portugal) sought route to Asia that bypassed Italy and Ottoman Empire.

3. Desire for wealth—God, Gold, Glory

TECHNOLOGY AT THE DAWN OF THE EXPLORATION AGE

GALLEY CARAVEL

Ships were suited for placid waters of Mediterranean Sea.

Required tremendous amount of manpower to row

Studier crafts were needed for open ocean exploration

Small, light and powered by a three-mast sail

More maneuverable than the galley Lateen sail allowed Europeans to tack

into the wind Sternpost rudder and cannons allowed

Caravel to dominate larger vessels

Vs.

TECHNOLOGY AT THE DAWN OF THE EXPLORATION AGE

Ptolemy’s Geography

Reintroduced to Europeans by the Arabs in 1410, showed geographical knowledge of the classical world.

Lead to great strides in cartography and navigational aids.

What errors can you find with Ptolemy’s map?

TECHNOLOGY AT THE DAWN OF THE EXPLORATION AGE

COMPASS ASTROLABE

used to maintain direction

Allowed sailors to explore out of sight of land

Helped sailors maintain a course.

Helped also with plotting latitude and making accurate maps

THE PORTUGUESE

HENRY THE NAVIGATOR BARTOLOMEU DIAS Country/Year:

Portugal1415

Motives/Goals: GOD,GOLD, GLORY

Outcomes: Responsible for creating a

exploration school on the Sagres peninsula.

Henry’s sponsored expeditions helped map the entire West coast of Africa

Country/Year: Portugal1488

Motives/Goals: Find sea to route to

Asia and the Spice Islands

Sail around Africa to get there

Outcomes: Storm helped Dias

round the Cape of Good Hope but ravaged his ship and crew forcing him to return home.

THE PORTUGUESE

VASCO DA GAMA PORTUGUESE SUCCESS

Country/Year: Portugal1497

Motives/Goals: Travel around the

southern tip of Africa w/ hope of getting to the spice islands.

Outcomes: 10 month voyage led

to da Gama to the west coast of India in the great spice port of Calicut.

DaGama’s expedition proved to be worth 60 times the cost of the voyage.

Also laid the foundation of a vast trading empire created by Portugal with it’s capital in Gao, India

See map on next slide

THE SPANISH

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS Country/Year:

Spain1492

Motives/Goals: Travel west to get to

the East Indies.

Outcomes: Columbus would

establish the West Indies and begin the Spanish conquest of the Americas.