The Age of Exploration

1418-1620

Motives for Exploration

Only one religion in Europe: Christianity

(Catholicism) European leaders were very religious and

believed it to be their duty to spread Christianity to others

Explorers read aloud (in Spanish) “The Requirement”. It offered native people the opportunity to convert to Christianity or suffer the consequences.

Spread Christianity

A policy of extending a country's power and

influence through diplomacy or military force. Kings of Spain and Portugal wanted to claim

as much land as they could. Natural resources of the land Native people as slaves

Larger empire=more power

Imperialism

SPICES!!!

Preserve food during winter (salt) Cover up the taste of food that had gone bad

Only accessible in the Indies (China, Japan, and India)

Very difficult, very expensive, very dangerous Muslim traders brought goods to the East Coast of

the Mediterranean Sea. Italian merchants brought them into Europe

Each group raised the price Bandits and pirates

New Trade Routes

Knew very little about the world beyond

Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East Few people believed the world was flat Map included Europe, Asia, and top of Africa Knew of only one ocean which they called the

Ocean Sea

New Knowledge

Europe was involved with many wars

Fought each other and fought others War is EXPENSIVE! Needed gold, silver, and gems to pay for the wars Believed Asia was loaded riches. New ideology: Getting rich and dominating other

people was viewed as positive Europe had recent success in taking over and

exploiting island societies (Malta, Sardinia, Canary Islands

Glory, Fame and Wealth

Spread Christianity Imperialism New Trade Routes New Knowledge Glory, Honor, and Wealth

Review

People around the world had been traveling by

sea for a long time Prince Henry the Navigator began a school for

navigation. His ideas were based on ideas known to ancient Phoenicians and Egyptians

Evidence of earlier journeys between Europe and the Americas Two Native Americans shipwrecked in Holland

around 60 B .C. became major curiosities in Europe

Vikings to Newfoundland in the year 1000 A.D.

Advances Allowing for Exploration

Cartography is the science and art of making

maps. Prior to the 1400s, only portolan charts

existed. Used by pilots to lay courses from one harbor to

another Gerardus Mercator created a map projection

that he designed to help with navigation. The lines of latitude and longitude are straight, and land masses are distorted near the poles

Cartography

A knarr was a Viking ship that routinely

crossed the Atlantic Ocean

Improved Ship Design

Ship Design Cont.

Portugal and Spain began building new and improved ships known as caravels (from the Egyptian caravos)

Small, fast, easy to maneuver Specials bottoms made it easier to travel along coast lines where the water was shallow. Lateen Sails

Compass helped sailors know what direction

they were going (N, S, E, W) Magnetic needles.

Astrolabe allowed sailors to determine their latitude (how far north or south of the equator they were).

New Navigational Tools

Spanish brought horses. Sailors could fire their cannons onto shore

without leaving their ship.

Improved Weaponry