European Exploration European Exploration CausesCauses

Reasons for the Age of Exploration

Gold–The desire for wealth was the main reason for

European exploration• Wars fought were very expensive, so they needed to

find lots of gold, silver, and jewels to pay for them. They thought Asia would have lots of it, so they wanted to find it and bring it back

Reasons for the Age of Exploration

God– Desire to spread Christianity

– Believed duty was to continue to fight Muslims (bitterness left over from the Crusades) and seek to convert non-Christians• “To serve God and His Majesty, to give

light to those who were in darkness and to grow rich as all men desire to do.” - Bartolomeu Dias

Reasons for the Age of Exploration

Glory–Wanted to bring fame to themselves and their

country–Expand Knowledge

• They did not know much; most had never been outside Europe. They thought there was only one ocean. Many thought the world was flat; the educated knew the world was round, but they did not know how big it was.

Reasons for the Age of ExplorationFind a Sea Route to Asia– Merchants & traders hoped to

profit from the trade of spices & other luxury goods from Asia• Silk road trade routes were dangerous• Sea was dangerous due to storms and

pirates, so spices were very expensive– Became more expensive due to Turkish

Empire cutting off trade routes. Could not defeat Turks in battle, so needed to find a way around the Turkish Empire

• Find a direct sea route to Asia

Advances in Technology

Cartographers–Map-makers–Began to create maps that were more accurate

Advances in Technology

Improved magnetic compass

Advances in Technology

Improved ships–Caravel

• Ships with three masts, more sails, more cargo• It was able to sail against the wind