THE

AND EUROPEAN EXPLORERS

(MODULE 1)

THE RENAISSANCE:THE RENAISSANCE:LATE 15LATE 15THTH & EARLY 16 & EARLY 16THTH

CENTURIESCENTURIES In 15th century Europe there was a ‘rebirth’ or renewed interest in science and learning. (Wanted to discover the world and learn more about it).

Europeans knew only a ‘small world.’ Apart from the continent of Europe, they knew of the North Coast of Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Had vague and romantic concepts about Asia (Marco Polo’ s journeys).

The Americas, Australia, and most of Africa unknown to Europeans.

THE RENAISSANCE:THE RENAISSANCE:LATE 15LATE 15THTH & EARLY 16 & EARLY 16THTH

CENTURIES CENTURIES cont’dcont’d Powerful nations (England, France, Spain, Portugal) desired exotic spices and riches from Asia.

The Turks had control over the Ottoman Empire and blocked all land routes from Europe to Asia. Luxury goods from Asia became very expensive.

Europeans needed to discover a new route to Asia – the sea.

THE World Known to the Europeans THE World Known to the Europeans

EUROPEAN MOTIVES FOR EXPLORATION

Commercial: acquire wealth with gold, silver, gems, spices.

Political: Attain more power by creating an empire by establishing overseas colonies.

Religious: missionary work & conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity.

Technological: more efficient ways of doing things; new navigation instruments, better ships (caravel, galleon), cartography.

Personal Prestige: glamour, display courage, be first to discover new territory.

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGYIMPROVED TECHNOLOGY

EUROPEAN EXPLORATION & EUROPEAN EXPLORATION & EXPANSION IN THE 15EXPANSION IN THE 15THTH AND 16 AND 16THTH

CENTURIESCENTURIES

THE MAJOR EXPLORERSPORTUGAL Bartholomeu Diaz (1487) – Rounded southern tip of

Africa / Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama (1497) – Reached India by sea. Pedro Alvarez Cabral (1500) – Explored coast of Brazil.

SPAIN C. Columbus (1492) – Sailed west to find China…hit

roadblock… America! Amerigo Vespucci (1499-1503) – Explored east coast of

South America. Vasco de Balboa (1513) – Crossed Central America on

foot! First European to see Pacific Ocean. Ferdinao de Magalhaes (1519-1522) – First voyage

around world.

THE MAJOR EXPLORERS cont’d

ENGLAND Giovanni Caboto (1497) – Reached Labrador and

New Founde Land = COD!! Martin Frobisher (1576-1579) – Explored Labrador

and Baffin Island.

FRANCE Giovanni Verrazano (1524) – Explored east coast

of North America. Jacques Cartier (1534-1542) – Explored mouth of

St. Lawrence and reached village where Montreal now exists…Yipee!!!