Chapter 5- The Age of Exploration

How Europeans Saw the WorldMost only knew of three continents- Europe, Asia, and Africa

Many believed there were ocean monsters

Educated people knew the Earth was round

Sailors didn’t have the tools for long voyages. Many left their land, but as soon as they lost sight of land,

they couldn’t tell how far they were from it.

It wasn’t until the advancement of technology that nations began to explore.

Trade and political events sparked this exploration

Reasons for Exploration

Crusades- Religious WarsChristians fought Muslims for control of land they believed to be holy.

The crusades took Europeans to the Mediterranean area, northeast Africa, and southwest Asia.

They saw Arab and Italian merchants in control of busy trade centers. Supplies from India, China, and Japan were being

traded.

Gems, spices, and silk were popular

Europeans dreamed of trading with Asia.

They believed these fine goods would make life better in Europe.

Nutmeg and pepper could be used to slow the meat process so it wouldn’t rot.

The printing press allowed for books to be made available to the public.

Europeans wanted these things for themselves.

Travelling from Asia to Africa would also open the opportunity to spread Christianity.

The Crusades had not won Jerusalem.

But they wanted to crusade on.

They believed Christianity was the only true religion, and thought it was their duty to convert people.

Contact between Asia and Europe also let to important developments in shipbuilding and the ability to navigate

the journey

Even the most experienced sailors did not know what to expect

They feared unexpected currents

Didn’t know when they might cross into enemy territory

For about 1,000 years Europeans moved with these ships. They could only sail close to land and were often blown off course.

In the Mediterranean these lateen sails became popular. They could catch wind at different

angles.

This caravel had a rudder. This brought major improvements in sailing.

1400’s

The caravel was a key factor in launching the Age of Exploration.

Caravels went faster and were easier to control

Exploration needed more than just ships

What did it need?

It needed tools to show how far they had gone and where they were headed.

They used a compass since 1200’s

They used an astrolabe to measure latitude.

These were only designed to be used on land

They couldn’t measure their longitude

Landmarks along the coast allowed them to see how far they had traveled.

What about in the open water?

Sailors also had to carry swords, spears, bows and arrows in case they ran into enemies.

As technology improved, they had cannons and guns

They made Europeans feel powerful!

Chapter 5 Lesson 2

Portuguese and Spanish Exploration

Prince Henry of Portugal

Originally from England

Fought in North Africa against Muslims

Lived in Portugal

Muslims controlled a great trading center in Africa where they sold gold and ivory from African lands, and spices and silks

from India. Muslims controlled the routes to Asia. The Portuguese wanted these things but didn’t want to pay the

high prices. He wanted to reach these areas by sea but HOW?

He organized expeditions. Although some brought him gold and ivory, he wanted one of his ships to go

all the way to India

Died in 1460 but Vasco da Gama did sail to India

They battled diseases, storms, and attacks, but they succeeded at opening the door to Portuguese trade with Asia

Christopher Columbus- a captain from Italy sailed with Portuguese. He was convinced, after studying

maps, that the shortest route to Asia was going straight across the Atlantic

Columbus knew he had to get money in order to make his voyage. He heard the King and

Queen of Spain would help him

The King and Queen were eager to begin trade with Asia. So he

headed straight across the Atlantic

He reached the Caribbean Islands. He named it San Salvador. He believed he

was in India because he saw Indian people

He returned to Spain with captives, gold and plants

They were impressed so they gave him more money for another journey. They wanted him to form a colony.

He failed to ever reach Asia but built a settlement in Hispanola. He never really knew that he had

found a continent new to Europeans

Vasco Nunez de Balboa had sailed to Panama crossed it and realized there was another ocean to cross. It wasn’t until Magellan that someone had completed the first known trip around the world

1522

Hernando Cortes who conquered Mexico and found riches and took them.

Cortes and Francisco Coronado led expeditions to find more gold. They didn’t find any, but Spain began to claim

land in Southern N. America making them the most powerful country.

Chapter 5 Lesson 3

French, Dutch, and English Voyages

Problems

Despite bad food aboard ships, poor diet, and frequent storms, exploration grew rapidly in the 1500’s.

Lack of Vitamin C caused scurvy

Bernal Diaz

Basically said exploration was to serve God and to gain wealth

Spanish and Portuguese tried to keep quiet about their travels, but

the French, Dutch and English knew they were getting rich.

Spain owned south and central America, so others were interested in exploring North.

1524-French sent out their first voyage

Giovanni da Verrazano was sent to search or the Northwest Passage to get to China.

Landed near what is now N. Carolina

Jacques Cartier- continued to look for a passage to China

Ended up finding an Iroquois Village in Canada.

Indians taught these explorers how to make cornbread and how to make tea from tree bark to cure scurvy

Dutch VoyagesThey began to explore more than 100 years after Columbus’s voyages.

1595- sent ships to take over Portuguese trade centers in Asia.

1602- Started the East India Company to manage their growing trade.

Expeditions to Australia and South Pacific were paid for

Henry HudsonSent to North America to find a passageway to Asia to give the Dutch greater control over trade

in 1609 he led this expedition

Hudson explored the river that was later named after him- The Hudson River in New York

He met Indians who were interested in Fur Trading, so the Dutch set this up but didn’t make much money.

The Hudson River Today

English VoyagesLike the Dutch, the English was late to exploration

In 1497, King Henry VII hired John Cabot to explore land and establish trade

He ended up in Newfoundland in Canada and had only found salmon and cod but no gold or spices.

1500’s English ProblemsBattling other nations at home

Spain was now an enemy

Sent Sir Francis Drake to raid Spanish ships

Went around S. America to the coast of California and back to England

He was the first Englishman to travel around the world

He only wanted wealth and glory

Impact on American Indians

Some explorers became rich off the indian’s gold and silver.

They also got fur and fish from Indians

Europeans’ food changed

These foods were now being shipped to Europe

Contact with Europeans brought deadly diseases. They swept through Indian communities killing thousands

By 1650 small-pox killed three-fourths of the Indian population

Fights among Europeans and Indians

Exchanges were often friendly. They learned a lot from one another.

On the other hand, Europeans forced Indians off their land and into slavery, changed their religious beliefs, and killed them