Our European Roots

Section 1.4

Main Idea

• Renaissance ideas changed Europeans’ medieval outlook and inspired them to explore.

Middle Ages

• Period between 500 and 1500 CE• Period after the fall of the Roman Empire• Europe was plagued by Vikings, Mongols, and

Muslim invaders.• Lack of government lead to powerful local

nobles whom offered protection under the feudal system.

Crusades

• The Catholic Church began a quest to retake the Holy Lands (Israel) from the Muslims.

• They asked Catholic kings to send knights to fight.

• The fighting lasts for 300 years, and in the end the Muslims win.

• Importance!: 1st time Europeans traveled to Asia; brought back items and ideas that became coveted.

The Crusades

Magna Carta• Kings and Nobles began to face challenges

from others in society who wanted guarantees of rights.

• In 1215, King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta.

• This document marks the beginning of citizens’ rights and created Parliament, the 1st European representative government.

• Originally only applied to wealthy.

Renaissance

• Overtime, the dangers of the Middle Ages resided, and Europeans began to “reawaken” to the practices of science and literature.

• The Renaissance (1400-1500s) brought new ideas and ways of looking at the world.

• Inventors and philosophers began to question the way they had been told that world operated, including religion.

Leonardo da Vinci

Protestant Reformation

• The Catholic Church had gained power and influence during the Middle Ages. Many began to noticed that this power had lead to abuse.

• In 1517, a Catholic Monk names Martin Luther protested these abuses and started the Reformation, or reform of Christianity.

• His followers became known as Protestants, and the faith began to spread through northern Europe, including England.

Map of Protestant Nations (circa 1600s)

Age of Exploration

• The Crusades sparked interests in the wonders of Asia, and many Europeans began to seek ways to travel to the East.

• In 1271 Marco Polo began a 17 year journey that would take him to China, Vietnam, and India.

• When he returned to Europe he wrote a book that further sparked interest.

• Europeans wanted to go to Asia, but they would need to find a faster method.

An Ocean Route to Asia?

• Inventors began trying to improve ships for the needed long journeys.

• The caravel was created:– Triangular sails for steering.– Large cargo hold for supplies (food, water)

• Technology allowed for latitude and longitude to be calculated, aiding navigation.

• The compass was perfected, making travel possible on cloudy days.

Caravel

Around Africa to Asia• The Portuguese succeeded in sailing around

Africa into the Indian Ocean in 1488.• In 1498 they succeeded in sailing all the way

to India.• At the time, they believed that they were

actually the 2nd expedition to find Asia by sea.• Reports from Spain claimed the a man named

Columbus had sailed west across the Atlantic and reached the coast of Asia, but………

Were the Portuguese Really 2nd?