Hello, my name is Christopher Columbus and I am here to tell you about a

major turning point in history!

The Age of Exploration was a time when brave men, like

myself, left the familiar shores of Europe in search of new lands, trade routes, and

riches!

Age of Exploration

Reasons for ExplorationReasons for ExplorationLook at the following pictures and see if you can determine the major reasons for Exploration in the 15th thru 17th centuries!

Reasons for ExplorationReasons for Exploration

1. “Gold” was a motivator! Many had a desire to find new sources of wealth.

2. “Glory” encouraged men to take risks! Many wanted fame and fortune for themselves and their nation.

3. “God” was used to justify their success. Due to Reformation, some wanted to spread Christianity.

“Come on! Did you think we did it to find a new vacation spot?”

Reasons for ExplorationReasons for Exploration

4. “Water Route to the East” was needed due to Muslim and Italian control of trade routes.

5. “Humanism” stressed the power of the individual to question and explore the world around them.

6. “Technology” such as the compass, sextant, astrolabe, and the caravel made sea travel easier.

“All this technology and the Queen only gives me three scrawny little ships!”

MotivationMotivation

Gold – Wealth and prestige for the crown

Glory – Glory for their nation, Individual Glory and

fame

God – Great Missionary Spirit to justify actions and gain new followers

Need for new forms of revenue Take over trade from Muslims and Italians who dominated Mediterranean

Iberian

Gold – Wealth for individual and trading company

Calvinists – wealth was a sign of God’s good grace.

Glory – Individual fame and fortune

God – Search for religious freedom (Puritans were persecuted)

Competition developed with Iberian nations

Northern European

1. Crusades led to increased trade between Europe and the Middle East.

2. The Ottoman Empire controlled the trade routes to the east. The Europeans were forced to seek alternative trade routes to Asia.

How did it all start?

How will the Europeans get

around the Ottomans?

Portugal - Bartholomeu Dias rounded the Cape of

Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa

- Vasco Da Gama established an all water route to India

- Seized port cities, or trading enclaves, like Goa, Malacca, Mombasa, and

Canton

- Brazil was founded by Pedro Cabral in 1500

- Had a monopoly on trade in the Indian Ocean until the Dutch arrived in the 1600s.

Location

In the early 1400s, the Portuguese led

the way

Iberian

The Portuguese Lake

The success of Portuguese explorations led Spain to begin its own voyages.  

“I just wanted to get to the Indies, but no… these

two big continents had to be in my way!”

- Columbus discovered the Americas for Spain. Sent conquistadors to Central and South America

- Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean

- Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe, Spain settled Philippines

- Cortes conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico

- Pizarro conquered the Inca empire along the Andes Mountains in Peru.

LocationIberian

The Spaniards attack the Aztecs

The Spaniards capture the Inca King

Spanish and Portuguese Spanish and Portuguese ExplorationsExplorations

Dutch and British

- Northern areas of the Americas – settlements and search for a “north-west passage.”

- Caribbean Islands – Sugar islands

- British controlled Port villages in India – Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta

- Dutch – Trade routes and colonies in S.E. Asia: Indonesia, Strait of Malacca, Japan, and China (Only European nation allowed to trade with Japan)

- British later replace Dutch (New York, South Africa, India, Malacca)

Location

1707 map of Japan that depicts

William Adams’ visit with

Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1600

Northern European

Henry Hudson failed to find a north-west or north-east passage in all four of his

voyages.

Dutch Trading EmpireDutch Trading Empire

Oversight InstitutionOversight Institution

The Crown – Monarch and Church received 20% of profits! Mercantilism.

Relied of King and Pope to make decisions. Resulted in slow, ineffective process of rule

Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494: Pope made decision to split New World possessions into spheres of interest between Spain and Portugal.

Iberian

Trading companies received charters from King

East and West India Companies develop – Privately funded ventures with goal of making a profit.

Mercantilism existed, but development of capitalism began.

Decisions can be made much faster by the settlers: Mayflower Compact

Northern European

European Empires: 1660European Empires: 1660

The Columbian Exchange“The age of Exploration was a major turning

point in history all because of me!”

Columbian Exchange - the exchange of people, plants,animals, ideas, and technology between Europe and the New World. 

From Old World to New World From New World to Old World

Wheat Sugar Bananas Rice Grapes Horses Pigs Cattle Sheep Chickens Measles

Typhus

Corn Potato Beans Peanuts Squash Pumpkin Tomatoes Avocados Chili Pepper Pineapple Cocoa Tobacco Quinine (a medicine for malaria)

Impact of ExplorationPositive Effects:

• New trade: led to weakening of the feudal system, rise in Middle Class, and population growth in Europe.• Animals: horses, cattle, chicken, sheep were brought to New World• Global Trade: Truly Global Trade! Emerged resulting in cultural diffusion Colonies developed and settled by Europeans searching for freedom and opportunity

The World in 1600The World in 1400

• Mercantilism: economic policy that created a favorable balance of trade for the parent country.  • Colonies: served as a source for raw materials, and as an exclusive market for the parent country. 

Negative Effects: • Massive Destruction: Millions of natives died due to disease brought by Europeans, or by colonization. 

The Triangle TradeThe Triangle Trade

Atlantic Slave Trade: Africans faced a diaspora, or forced movement of its people, as slavery became the dominant labor force in the Americas. 

How do these two images reflect

Northern European

Exploration?

Merchants and Bankers who want to make a profit for themselves and trading

company.

Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact: Search for religious freedom and settlers making

their own decision

Columbus showing off findings from New World to King

Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

Columbus arrives in America and plants flag for Spain. Glory

for Spain and for himself.

How do these two images reflect

Iberian Exploration?

What do you think is the reason for the differences between Iberian and Northern

European exploration?

Here’s a hint: Pope Pius V

Religious differences: Iberians were Roman

Catholic and Northerners were Protestant

Here’s a hint: Queen Isabella

Political differences: Iberians had Absolute Monarchs with Divine Right

and Northerners had Limited Parliamentary governments

Important People to KnowCan you name the Explorer who went on each voyage?