Ch. 15:Ch. 15: Section II: Portugal Leads the Section II: Portugal Leads the WayWay

(Pages 344-349)(Pages 344-349)

Ch. 15:Ch. 15: Section II: Portugal Leads the Section II: Portugal Leads the WayWay

(Pages 344-349)(Pages 344-349)

This section is about:This section is about: How Prince Henry the How Prince Henry the

Navigator sent out Navigator sent out explorers, including Vasco explorers, including Vasco da Gama, to seek a trade da Gama, to seek a trade route to the East around route to the East around the African continent.the African continent.

The trading empires The trading empires established by the established by the Portuguese, English, Portuguese, English, Dutch, Spanish, and Dutch, Spanish, and French in the East.French in the East.

Giant Statue Commemorating Exploration in Lisbon, Portugal

There are two big There are two big exploration names in exploration names in the “Main Ideas” on the “Main Ideas” on page 344.page 344.

We should look at the We should look at the map on page 348: map on page 348: let’s see which let’s see which countries we’re countries we’re looking at in this looking at in this section?section?

Have you ever been Have you ever been part of a group who part of a group who wanted to do wanted to do something special? something special? And… maybe you And… maybe you even became the even became the leader or helped out leader or helped out in a special way? in a special way?

That’s some of what That’s some of what this section’s about.this section’s about.

Exploration Under Henry the Exploration Under Henry the NavigatorNavigator

The Portuguese were The Portuguese were the first Europeans to the first Europeans to look for a sea route to look for a sea route to Asia.Asia.

Over a 40 year period Over a 40 year period (1419-1459), Prince (1419-1459), Prince Henry sent out many Henry sent out many expeditions.expeditions.

He also supported He also supported research in navigation research in navigation and boat design.and boat design.

So… people call him So… people call him Henry the NavigatorHenry the Navigator..

A Sailing A Sailing Study CenterStudy Center

Prince Henry set up a “school” Prince Henry set up a “school” for the best sailors, for the best sailors, geographers, shipbuilders, geographers, shipbuilders, mapmakers, astronomers and mapmakers, astronomers and makers of tools.makers of tools.

These were the people who These were the people who designed the caravels (last designed the caravels (last section).section).

Henry had many reasons for all Henry had many reasons for all this:this:

He was curious about the He was curious about the world.world.

Navigation and shipbuilding Navigation and shipbuilding fascinated him.fascinated him.

He wanted to find direct routes He wanted to find direct routes for trade.for trade.

He wanted to use his He wanted to use his knowledge to oppose the knowledge to oppose the power of the Muslims.power of the Muslims.

Down the African CoastDown the African Coast

Henry sent out many Henry sent out many expeditions (reaching the expeditions (reaching the Azores was first).Azores was first).

He kept sending people to He kept sending people to explore further and further explore further and further along the coast of Africa, along the coast of Africa, naming capes, bays and naming capes, bays and rivers as he went.rivers as he went.

But, they found trading with But, they found trading with the Africans was the Africans was disappointing (only fish, seal disappointing (only fish, seal oil and sealskins). oil and sealskins).

He wanted more and knew He wanted more and knew there was more.there was more.

………………

There were much more There were much more valuable commodities valuable commodities further south and in further south and in the Middle East (gold the Middle East (gold dust, ivory, pepper, dust, ivory, pepper, and slaves).and slaves).

Eventually he got far Eventually he got far enough to get some of enough to get some of these – and set up the these – and set up the first overseas first overseas European trading post.European trading post.

By the time Henry died By the time Henry died in 1460, they had in 1460, they had gotten all the way to gotten all the way to the Congo Riverthe Congo River

Towards the Indian OceanTowards the Indian Ocean

After Henry he After Henry he Navigator died, Navigator died, exploration slowed exploration slowed down some.down some.

Without Henry’s Without Henry’s support, sailors support, sailors weren’t as good, and weren’t as good, and many were worried many were worried about unsafe about unsafe exploration.exploration.

But some forts were But some forts were built for protection, built for protection, including one by King including one by King John II in Guinea.John II in Guinea.

Bartolomeu Dias Rounds AfricaBartolomeu Dias Rounds Africa King John sent out more King John sent out more

expeditions to see if they expeditions to see if they could get the rest of the way could get the rest of the way around Africa.around Africa.

In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias (and In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias (and 3 ships) sailed – and soon 3 ships) sailed – and soon encountered horrible weather.encountered horrible weather.

They weren’t even sure of They weren’t even sure of where they were going, so his where they were going, so his men convinced him to turn men convinced him to turn around. around.

As they were heading back to As they were heading back to Portugal, they realized they Portugal, they realized they had passed the southern tip of had passed the southern tip of Africa.Africa.

At first Dias called it “The At first Dias called it “The Cape of Storms” but the Cape of Storms” but the Portuguese king decided to Portuguese king decided to call it “The Cape of Good call it “The Cape of Good Hope.”Hope.”

It did prove there was a It did prove there was a chance to go all the way chance to go all the way around Africaaround Africa

Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama Sails to Sails to IndiaIndia

The Portuguese were still The Portuguese were still determined to get to Asia by determined to get to Asia by sailing around Africa.sailing around Africa.

10 years later (1497), Vasco da 10 years later (1497), Vasco da Gama set sail (4 ships/170 Gama set sail (4 ships/170 sailors) with the goal of reaching sailors) with the goal of reaching Calcutta, India.Calcutta, India.

He had the newest maps, tools, He had the newest maps, tools, and tables of the time.and tables of the time.

He passed the rough seas of The He passed the rough seas of The Cape of Good Hope – and kept Cape of Good Hope – and kept going, staying close to land until going, staying close to land until they hit Mozambique.they hit Mozambique.

He finally made it (months later).He finally made it (months later). In 1499, 2 of his ships came In 1499, 2 of his ships came

back to Portugal, filled with back to Portugal, filled with pepper, cinnamon, and spices.pepper, cinnamon, and spices.

His proof that Europe could get His proof that Europe could get to India by sea had a great to India by sea had a great impact on politics and business impact on politics and business of the time.of the time.

Trading EmpiresTrading Empires

The Portuguese mainly The Portuguese mainly explored because it explored because it was their way to get was their way to get rich.rich.

In western Africa they In western Africa they quickly took control of quickly took control of the gold trade.the gold trade.

They also built trading They also built trading posts with forts.posts with forts.

But not in East Africa But not in East Africa and India.and India.

In the Indian Ocean In the Indian Ocean area, trade was area, trade was controlled by the Arabscontrolled by the Arabs

The Portuguese The Portuguese

Take ControlTake Control When they went back to When they went back to

the Indian Ocean (after the Indian Ocean (after Vasco da Gama’s Vasco da Gama’s expedition), they brought expedition), they brought force (a fleet of ships to force (a fleet of ships to stand guard, and bases for stand guard, and bases for their ships).their ships).

The Arabs didn’t like that The Arabs didn’t like that and decided to attack, but and decided to attack, but the Portuguese had better the Portuguese had better ships and beat the Arabs.ships and beat the Arabs.

Only 15 years after da Only 15 years after da Gama’s trip, the Gama’s trip, the Portuguese controlled all Portuguese controlled all the Indian Ocean.the Indian Ocean.

They next started trade They next started trade and posts all the way to and posts all the way to eastern China and Japaneastern China and Japan

Power Shifts in the EastPower Shifts in the East

Portugal’s trading Portugal’s trading empire began to break empire began to break up about 1580.up about 1580.

Henry the Navigator Henry the Navigator and King John were and King John were gone for over 100 gone for over 100 years.years.

Spain was beginning to Spain was beginning to become wealthy and become wealthy and powerful.powerful.

They even split up some They even split up some lands they both wanted lands they both wanted in the Americas – in the in the Americas – in the Treaty of TordesillasTreaty of Tordesillas

… …

Other European countries Other European countries also wanted to trade in also wanted to trade in those areas.those areas.

In the 1600’s, trade was In the 1600’s, trade was controlled by companies controlled by companies (not countries) like the East (not countries) like the East India Company and the India Company and the Dutch East India Company.Dutch East India Company.

These companies were These companies were controlled by shareholders, controlled by shareholders, who provided the company who provided the company with money.with money.

Over the next 60 years, the Over the next 60 years, the Dutch took control of many Dutch took control of many Portuguese trading Portuguese trading territories.territories.

By 1641, the Dutch By 1641, the Dutch controlled the spice trade.controlled the spice trade.

At the same time, the At the same time, the English and the French English and the French were starting to gain more were starting to gain more power.power.

……