Age of Exploration
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Transcript of Age of Exploration
Prince Henry the Navigator 1394-1460
Born in Portugal Founded school of
navigation and mapmaking, shipbuilding
Caravel faster, lighter ship
Organized expeditions to explore Africa
Believed Asia could be reached by sailing around Africa
Actually never sailed!
Christopher Columbus
1451-1506 Born in Italy Sailed for Spain Believed shortest route
to Asia(India) could be reached by sailing west across the Atlantic
Landed in the Bahamas, believing he had arrived in India
Discovered a continent unknown to Europeans -
“New World”
John Cabot 1450-1499
Born in Italy Sailed for England Sailed west and found
modern day Canada “Newfoundland” explored
the Canadian coastline and named many of its islands and capes
Searched for a Northwest passage across North America to Asia (a seaway to Asia)
Britain's claim to Canada
Vasco de Gama
1460-1524 Born in Portugal Sailed for Portugal Set up trading ports along
the coast of Africa, increased trade
Was the first to discover a sea route to Asia by reaching India
His success made the spices and riches of Asia available to Europe
Ferdinand Magellan
1480-1521 Born in Portugal Sailed for Portugal, then
Spain Looking for a shortcut to
Asia His crew was the first to
circumnavigate the world-he died on the voyage.
Proved the earth was round
Named the Pacific Ocean
Bartolomieu Dias
1457-1500 Portuguese navigator
explored Africa’s coast Led the first European
expedition to sail around Africa's Cape of Good Hope
Opened up lucrative trading routes from Europe to Asia
Sailed near South America on the way to Africa
Among the first Europeans to see Brazil
The Age of Exploration marked the beginning of
Portuguese imperial power and wealth. At the start of the fifteenth century Portugal had an economy dependent on maritime trade with Northern Europe. Although Portugal lacked the wealth of its contemporaries, it would lead the European community in the exploration of sea routes to the African continent, the Atlantic Islands, and to Asia and South America over the course of the sixteenth century. (1400-1500’s)
Portugal was responsible for starting the slave trade in Africa
Portuguese Empire
Several factors contributed to Portugal becoming the pre-eminent European pioneer in maritime exploration.
The first was its geographical position along the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula, which allowed for the natural development of a seafaring tradition.
The second was the evolution of a complex maritime economy in which the port cities of Lisbon and Oporto became the commercial centers of the country. The merchant community used these port cities as their base of operations from which they financed the majority of the various exploration and trading ventures.
The third was a stable monarchy that encouraged trading and exploration.
Portugal had outposts in Africa, India, South Pacific Islands and Japan