Why Europe has Why Europe has to come to Asia?to come to Asia?

Factors to Factors to explain the explain the

reasons why:reasons why:

Crusades (1095 – 1291 Crusades (1095 – 1291 AD)AD)

The The CrusadesCrusades were a series of were a series of religiously-sanctioned military camreligiously-sanctioned military campaignspaigns waged by much of Latin waged by much of Latin ChristianChristian EuropeEurope, particularly the , particularly the FranksFranks of of FranceFrance and the and the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire. The specific . The specific crusades to restore Christian crusades to restore Christian control of the control of the Holy LandHoly Land were were fought over a period of nearly 200 fought over a period of nearly 200 years, between 1095 and 1291. years, between 1095 and 1291. Other campaigns in Spain and Other campaigns in Spain and Eastern Europe continued into the Eastern Europe continued into the 15th century. The Crusades were 15th century. The Crusades were fought mainly against fought mainly against MuslimsMuslims, , although campaigns were also although campaigns were also waged against waged against paganpagan SlavsSlavs, , JewsJews, , Russian and Greek Orthodox ChriRussian and Greek Orthodox Christiansstians, , MongolsMongols, , CatharsCathars, , HussitesHussites, , WaldensiansWaldensians, , Old PrussiansOld Prussians, and , and political enemies of the political enemies of the popespopes. .

Marco PoloMarco Polo Marco PoloMarco Polo ( 1254 – January 8, ( 1254 – January 8,

1324) was a 1324) was a merchantmerchant from the from the Venetian RepublicVenetian Republic who wrote who wrote Il MilioneIl Milione, which introduced , which introduced Europeans to Central Asia and Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and MaffeoNiccolò and Maffeo, voyaged , voyaged through Asia and met through Asia and met Kublai KhanKublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice . In 1269, they returned to Venice and were reunited with Marco. The and were reunited with Marco. The three of them embarked on an three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, returning epic journey to Asia, returning after 24 years to find Venice at after 24 years to find Venice at war with war with GenoaGenoa; Marco was ; Marco was imprisoned, and dictated his imprisoned, and dictated his stories to a cellmate. He was stories to a cellmate. He was released in 1299, became a released in 1299, became a wealthy wealthy merchantmerchant, married and , married and had 3 children. He died in 1324, had 3 children. He died in 1324, and was buried in and was buried in San LorenzoSan Lorenzo

Trade RoutesTrade Routes

A A trade routetrade route is a is a logistical networklogistical network identified as a series of pathways and identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. Allowing transport of cargo. Allowing goodsgoods to to reach distant reach distant marketsmarkets, a single trade route , a single trade route contains long distance contains long distance arteriesarteries which may which may further be connected to several smaller further be connected to several smaller networks of commercial and non networks of commercial and non commercial transportation.commercial transportation.

Fall of Constantinople Fall of Constantinople (1453)(1453)

The The Fall of Fall of ConstantinopleConstantinople refers to the capture of the refers to the capture of the capital of the capital of the Byzantine EmpireByzantine Empire which occurred after a siege which occurred after a siege laid by the laid by the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire, , under the command of under the command of SultanSultan Mehmed IIMehmed II. The siege lasted . The siege lasted from Thursday, from Thursday, 5 April5 April 14531453 until Tuesday, until Tuesday, 29 May29 May 14531453 (according to the (according to the Julian CalendarJulian Calendar), when the city ), when the city fell to the Ottomans. fell to the Ottomans. Constantinople was defended Constantinople was defended by the army of Emperor by the army of Emperor Constantine XIConstantine XI. The event . The event marked the end of the political marked the end of the political independence of the independence of the millennium-old Byzantine millennium-old Byzantine Empire.Empire.

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

Prince Henry the Prince Henry the NavigatorNavigator The Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu,The Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu,

March 4March 4, , 13941394 – – November 13November 13, , 14601460 was an was an infanteinfante ( (princeprince) of the ) of the PortuguesePortuguese House of House of AvizAviz and an and an important figure in the early days of the important figure in the early days of the Portuguese EmpirePortuguese Empire, being responsible , being responsible for the beginning of the European for the beginning of the European worldwide explorations. He is known in worldwide explorations. He is known in EnglishEnglish as as Prince Henry the Prince Henry the NavigatorNavigator..

Prince Henry the Navigator was the Prince Henry the Navigator was the third child of King third child of King John I of PortugalJohn I of Portugal, the , the founder of the founder of the AvizAviz dynasty, and of dynasty, and of Philippa of LancasterPhilippa of Lancaster, Henry , Henry encouraged his father to conquer encouraged his father to conquer CeutaCeuta (1415), the (1415), the MuslimMuslim port on the port on the North AfricanNorth African coast across the coast across the Straits of GibraltarStraits of Gibraltar from the from the IberianIberian peninsula, with profound consequences peninsula, with profound consequences on Henry's worldview: Henry became on Henry's worldview: Henry became aware of the profit possibilities in the aware of the profit possibilities in the SaharanSaharan trade routes that terminated trade routes that terminated there and became fascinated with there and became fascinated with AfricaAfrica in general; he was most intrigued by the in general; he was most intrigued by the Christian legend of Christian legend of Prester JohnPrester John and and the expansion of Portuguese trade.the expansion of Portuguese trade.

Vasco de Gama’s Vasco de Gama’s ExpeditionExpedition

Age of Exploration ( 14Age of Exploration ( 14thth – 17– 17thth))

The The Age of DiscoveryAge of Discovery, also known as the , also known as the Age of Age of ExplorationExploration, was a period in history which , was a period in history which EuropeansEuropeans and and European descendants explored the world by ocean European descendants explored the world by ocean searching for trading partners and particular trade goods. The searching for trading partners and particular trade goods. The most desired trading goods were most desired trading goods were goldgold, , silversilver and and spicesspices. . Western Europeans used the Western Europeans used the compasscompass, new , new sailing shipsailing ship technologies, new maps, and advances in astronomy to seek technologies, new maps, and advances in astronomy to seek a viable a viable trade routetrade route to to AsiaAsia for valuable spices which would for valuable spices which would be uncontested by Mediterranean powers. In terms of be uncontested by Mediterranean powers. In terms of shipping advances, the most important developments were shipping advances, the most important developments were the creation of the the creation of the carrackcarrack and and caravelcaravel designs in designs in PortugalPortugal. . These vessels evolved from These vessels evolved from medievalmedieval European designs from European designs from the North Sea and both the Christian and Islamic the North Sea and both the Christian and Islamic Mediterranean. They were the first ships that could leave the Mediterranean. They were the first ships that could leave the relatively placid and calm relatively placid and calm MediterraneanMediterranean, , BalticBaltic or or North SeaNorth Sea and sail safely on the open and sail safely on the open AtlanticAtlantic..

It was not until the It was not until the carrackcarrack and then the and then the caravelcaravel were were developed in developed in IberiaIberia that Western Europeans seriously that Western Europeans seriously considered Asiatic trade and oceanic exploration. One considered Asiatic trade and oceanic exploration. One factor was the lack of Christian European access to the factor was the lack of Christian European access to the spicespice and and silk tradesilk trade, for the , for the eastern trade routeseastern trade routes had had become controlled by the become controlled by the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire after the after the TurksTurks took control of took control of ConstantinopleConstantinople in 1453, and they in 1453, and they barred Europeans from those trade routes, as they did barred Europeans from those trade routes, as they did through through North AfricaNorth Africa and the historically important and the historically important combined-land-sea routes via the combined-land-sea routes via the Red SeaRed Sea. Both spice . Both spice and silk were big businesses of the day, and arguably, and silk were big businesses of the day, and arguably, spices which were both used as preservatives and used spices which were both used as preservatives and used to disguise the taste of poorly to disguise the taste of poorly preserved foodspreserved foods were were something of a necessity—at least to those Europeans something of a necessity—at least to those Europeans of better than modest means.of better than modest means.

The first great wave of expeditions was launched by The first great wave of expeditions was launched by PortugalPortugal under Prince under Prince Henry the NavigatorHenry the Navigator (Infante (Infante D.Henrique). European sailing practices before Sir Henry D.Henrique). European sailing practices before Sir Henry had been primarily coastal. Voyages out of sight of land had been primarily coastal. Voyages out of sight of land relied on proven routes detailed in a relied on proven routes detailed in a portolan chartportolan chart. . Portolan charts showed details of geographic land Portolan charts showed details of geographic land features, allowing navigators to identify their departure features, allowing navigators to identify their departure point, follow a point, follow a compasscompass heading, and on landfall identify heading, and on landfall identify their position and drift from the newly presented land their position and drift from the newly presented land features. Due to the risks involved in this process, features. Due to the risks involved in this process, European sailors avoided sailing beyond sight of land for European sailors avoided sailing beyond sight of land for extended periods. A number of nautical myths explained extended periods. A number of nautical myths explained these risks in terms of oceanic monsters or an edge of these risks in terms of oceanic monsters or an edge of the world. Prince Henry's navigation challenged this the world. Prince Henry's navigation challenged this belief. The belief. The Madeira IslandsMadeira Islands were discovered in the were discovered in the Atlantic ocean in 1419, and in 1427 the Atlantic ocean in 1419, and in 1427 the AzoresAzores. The . The Portuguese settled these islands as colonies.Portuguese settled these islands as colonies.

In 1434 the Portuguese explorer Gil Eanes surmounted In 1434 the Portuguese explorer Gil Eanes surmounted the obstacle of the obstacle of Cape BojadorCape Bojador. In the . In the bullbull Romanus PontifexRomanus Pontifex the trade monopoly for newly the trade monopoly for newly discovered countries beyond Cape Bojador was granted discovered countries beyond Cape Bojador was granted to the Portuguese. In 1482 an expedition under to the Portuguese. In 1482 an expedition under Diogo CãoDiogo Cão made contact with the made contact with the Kingdom of KongoKingdom of Kongo. . The crucial breakthrough was in 1487 when The crucial breakthrough was in 1487 when Bartolomeu DiasBartolomeu Dias rounded (and later named) the rounded (and later named) the Cape of Good HopeCape of Good Hope and proved that access to the and proved that access to the Indian OceanIndian Ocean was possible from the Atlantic. Exploring was possible from the Atlantic. Exploring land Pero da Covilha colect important information about land Pero da Covilha colect important information about Red Sea and Quenia coast. In 1498 Red Sea and Quenia coast. In 1498 Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama made good on this promise by reaching India.made good on this promise by reaching India.

Portugal's rival Portugal's rival CastileCastile (predecessor of Spain) had been (predecessor of Spain) had been somewhat slower than its neighbour to begin exploring somewhat slower than its neighbour to begin exploring the Atlantic. It was not until the late the Atlantic. It was not until the late fifteenth centuryfifteenth century, , following the unification of following the unification of CastileCastile and and AragonAragon that Spain that Spain emerged and became fully committed to looking for new emerged and became fully committed to looking for new trade routes and colonies overseas. In 1492 the joint trade routes and colonies overseas. In 1492 the joint rulers of the nation conquered the rulers of the nation conquered the Moorish kingdom of GranadaMoorish kingdom of Granada, which had been providing , which had been providing Castile with African goods through tribute, and they Castile with African goods through tribute, and they decided to fund decided to fund Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus' expedition that ' expedition that they hoped would bypass Portugal's lock on Africa and they hoped would bypass Portugal's lock on Africa and the Indian Ocean reaching Asia by travelling west.the Indian Ocean reaching Asia by travelling west.

Columbus did not reach Asia, but rather found what was Columbus did not reach Asia, but rather found what was to the Europeans a to the Europeans a New WorldNew World: : AmericaAmerica. In 1500, the . In 1500, the Portuguese navigator, Portuguese navigator, Pedro Pedro ÁlvaresÁlvares Cabral Cabral explored explored the land that is today called the land that is today called BrazilBrazil. For the two European . For the two European monarchies a division of influence became necessary to monarchies a division of influence became necessary to avoid conflict. This was resolved by Papal intervention in avoid conflict. This was resolved by Papal intervention in 1494 when the 1494 when the Treaty of Treaty of TordesillasTordesillas divided the world divided the world between the two powers. The Portuguese "received" between the two powers. The Portuguese "received" everything outside of Europe east of a line that ran 270 everything outside of Europe east of a line that ran 270 leaguesleagues west of the west of the Cape VerdeCape Verde islands; this gave them islands; this gave them control over Africa, Asia and control over Africa, Asia and eastern South Americaeastern South America (Brazil). The Spanish received everything west of this (Brazil). The Spanish received everything west of this line, territory that was still almost completely unknown, line, territory that was still almost completely unknown, and proved to be mostly the western part of the and proved to be mostly the western part of the American continent plus the American continent plus the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean islands. islands.

In the Americas the Spanish found a number of In the Americas the Spanish found a number of empires that were as large and populous as empires that were as large and populous as those in Europe. However, small bodies of those in Europe. However, small bodies of Spanish Spanish conquistadorsconquistadors, with large armies of , with large armies of indigenous Americansindigenous Americans groups, managed to groups, managed to conquer these states. The most notable conquer these states. The most notable amongst the conquered states were the amongst the conquered states were the Aztec empireAztec empire in in MexicoMexico (conquered in 1521) and (conquered in 1521) and the the Inca empireInca empire in modern in modern PeruPeru (conquered in (conquered in 1532). Once Spanish sovereignty was 1532). Once Spanish sovereignty was established, the Spanish focused on the established, the Spanish focused on the extraction and export of gold and silver. extraction and export of gold and silver.

In 1519 the Spanish crown funded the expedition of the Portuguese In 1519 the Spanish crown funded the expedition of the Portuguese navigator navigator FernãoFernão de de MagalhãesMagalhães. The goal of the mission was to find . The goal of the mission was to find the the Spice IslandsSpice Islands by travelling west, which would place the islands by travelling west, which would place the islands in Spain's economic and political sphere. The expedition managed in Spain's economic and political sphere. The expedition managed to cross the Pacific Ocean and reach the Spice Islands, and was the to cross the Pacific Ocean and reach the Spice Islands, and was the first to first to circumnavigatecircumnavigate the world upon its return three years later. the world upon its return three years later. Magalhães died in the battle of Mactan in the Philippines, leaving Magalhães died in the battle of Mactan in the Philippines, leaving the Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano the task of completing the the Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano the task of completing the voyage. The expedition was a failure in the sense that its route was voyage. The expedition was a failure in the sense that its route was impractical. The Strait of Magellan (Strait of Magalhães) was too far impractical. The Strait of Magellan (Strait of Magalhães) was too far south and the Pacific Ocean too vast. It was not a realistic south and the Pacific Ocean too vast. It was not a realistic alternative to the Portuguese route around Africa. The Spanish were alternative to the Portuguese route around Africa. The Spanish were able to establish a presence in the Pacific, but not based on able to establish a presence in the Pacific, but not based on Magalhães's voyage. Rather, a cross-Pacific route was established, Magalhães's voyage. Rather, a cross-Pacific route was established, by other explorers, between Mexico and the Philippines. The by other explorers, between Mexico and the Philippines. The eastbound route to the Philippines was first sailed by Alvaro de eastbound route to the Philippines was first sailed by Alvaro de Saavedra in 1527. The westbound return route was harder to find, Saavedra in 1527. The westbound return route was harder to find, but was eventually discovered by Andrés de Urdaneta in 1565. For but was eventually discovered by Andrés de Urdaneta in 1565. For a long time these routes were used by the Manila galleons, thereby a long time these routes were used by the Manila galleons, thereby creating a trade link joining China, the Americas, and Europe via the creating a trade link joining China, the Americas, and Europe via the trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes.trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes.

Ortelius Map 1570Ortelius Map 1570

Map of the Pacific 1579Map of the Pacific 1579

Treaty of ZaragozaTreaty of Zaragoza The treaty was signed April 5, 1529, in the Spanish town The treaty was signed April 5, 1529, in the Spanish town

of Zaragoza. It specified that the Portuguese line of of Zaragoza. It specified that the Portuguese line of influence would be marked 297.5 leagues east of the influence would be marked 297.5 leagues east of the Moluccas, a line that at the time was believed to pass Moluccas, a line that at the time was believed to pass near the Mariana Islands.near the Mariana Islands.

The treaty granted sovereignty over the Moluccas to The treaty granted sovereignty over the Moluccas to Portugal, including rights of navigation and trade. Portugal, including rights of navigation and trade. Portugal agreed to pay 350,000 ducats as purchase for Portugal agreed to pay 350,000 ducats as purchase for the Spanish rights. In theory, the treaty implied that the Spanish rights. In theory, the treaty implied that Spain relinquished its rights to occupy the Philippines, Spain relinquished its rights to occupy the Philippines, which according to the treaty would fall under the which according to the treaty would fall under the Portuguese area of influence.Portuguese area of influence.

While the Portuguese in Brazil did occupy territories While the Portuguese in Brazil did occupy territories beyond the Tordesillas line, Spain would attempt to beyond the Tordesillas line, Spain would attempt to establish settlement in the Philippines in 1542 and finally establish settlement in the Philippines in 1542 and finally in 1565, with the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565, with the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi that founded the colonies of Cebu and Manila. Spain that founded the colonies of Cebu and Manila. Spain later established a colony in the Marianas in 1668 under later established a colony in the Marianas in 1668 under Father Diego Luís de San Vitores.Father Diego Luís de San Vitores.

Spain included a clause of Spain included a clause of retro-vendendoretro-vendendo, (an escape , (an escape clause) which granted the nullification of the treaty if clause) which granted the nullification of the treaty if future proof was found that the Moluccas lay east of the future proof was found that the Moluccas lay east of the true antimeridian of the Tordesillas line. In return, João true antimeridian of the Tordesillas line. In return, João III would immediately pay over 350,000 ducats: an III would immediately pay over 350,000 ducats: an advance on his starting offer of 200,000, but advance on his starting offer of 200,000, but substantially less than the original Castilian demand of substantially less than the original Castilian demand of 1,000,000.1,000,000.