The European AmericansThe European Americans• Life in Europe in the 1400s:Life in Europe in the 1400s:•Middle AgesMiddle Ages last from the 5last from the 5thth to to

the 15the 15thth Century Century• Absence of effective central Absence of effective central

governments and the constant governments and the constant threat of famine, disease, and threat of famine, disease, and foreign invasions. foreign invasions.

Middle Ages:Middle Ages:•The Catholic Church strictly The Catholic Church strictly controlled intellectual lifecontrolled intellectual life•Those who did scientific discoveries Those who did scientific discoveries went against the Church teachings went against the Church teachings risked prosecution for heresy, belief risked prosecution for heresy, belief or opinion contrary to orthodox or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) religious (especially Christian) doctrine, by Church courts. doctrine, by Church courts.

CrusadesCrusades: European Christians : European Christians against Southwest Asian Muslimsagainst Southwest Asian Muslims•The The goalgoal was to capture and hold was to capture and hold Jerusalem and all the holy land Jerusalem and all the holy land where Jesus lived and died.where Jesus lived and died.•In the end the Muslims defeated In the end the Muslims defeated the Christian Crusaders.the Christian Crusaders.

Other Lasting EFFECTS of the Crusades Other Lasting EFFECTS of the Crusades that benefited the people of Europethat benefited the people of Europe::•Europeans became aware of Europeans became aware of distant lands and different ways of distant lands and different ways of life (Cultures)life (Cultures)•Crusaders, Europeans, returned Crusaders, Europeans, returned home with goods and raw materials home with goods and raw materials from the East: silks, gems, and from the East: silks, gems, and spices.spices.

RenaissanceRenaissance: (mid-1400s) featured a : (mid-1400s) featured a renewed interest in learning and the renewed interest in learning and the advancement of the arts and sciences. advancement of the arts and sciences. •Trade through the world expanded for Trade through the world expanded for Europeans.Europeans.•Printing Press developed so more books Printing Press developed so more books could be read. The spread of literature could be read. The spread of literature helped promote the daring new ideas of helped promote the daring new ideas of individualism and experimentation. individualism and experimentation. Increased volume of publishing.Increased volume of publishing.

• EuropeansEuropeans were longed for were longed for the riches of India and the riches of India and China.China.•Marco PoloMarco Polo: Italian : Italian

merchant who traveled merchant who traveled across Asia who wrote across Asia who wrote about the riches he found in about the riches he found in Asia (China).Asia (China).

• European expansionists found European expansionists found hope on the Iberian Peninsula of hope on the Iberian Peninsula of southwestern Europe:southwestern Europe:• The kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, The kingdoms of Aragon, Castile,

and Portugal were waging a and Portugal were waging a reconqista reconqista (reconquest) to drive (reconquest) to drive out the Muslim Moors who out the Muslim Moors who ruled Iberia for centuries.ruled Iberia for centuries.

• In 1469, the marriage of Prince In 1469, the marriage of Prince Ferdinand and Queen Isabella Ferdinand and Queen Isabella united Aragon and Castile to united Aragon and Castile to create create “Spain.” “Spain.” • Ferdinand and Isabella Ferdinand and Isabella

completed the completed the reconquista reconquista (reconquest) of the Iberian (reconquest) of the Iberian peninsula to create “Spain.”peninsula to create “Spain.”

• Facing the Atlantic Ocean and close to Facing the Atlantic Ocean and close to Africa, Africa, Spain and PortugalSpain and Portugal were well were well situated to seek new trade routes and situated to seek new trade routes and expand European influence.expand European influence.

• Portuguese took the early leadPortuguese took the early lead. They . They relied on several new devices: compass, relied on several new devices: compass, astrolabe, and the quadrant. These astrolabe, and the quadrant. These inventions helped sailors navigate.inventions helped sailors navigate.

• Better ships were built. The Better ships were built. The caravel caravel had a stern rudder, had a stern rudder, three masts, and better sails.three masts, and better sails.

• 1419, 1419, Prince Henry the Prince Henry the Navigator Navigator directed Portuguese directed Portuguese efforts to sail into the Atlantic efforts to sail into the Atlantic to spread Christianity (God), to spread Christianity (God), find gold, ivory, and slaves .find gold, ivory, and slaves .• He founded a school of He founded a school of

navigation.navigation.