The Age of Exploration

The 1400’s

What were the causes of European exploration

and colonization in the 15th Century?

The 3 G’s…

Why did Euro peans g o exploring?

1. GOLD: New tra d e routes o pene d up o ppo r tunities

fo r wealth.

2. GOD: Missionar ie s wanted to spre a d Christianity.

3. GLORY: Explorers we re c onsidere d famo us

hero e s ; c ountries c om pe t ed fo r c o lonies.

The Crusades

• The Crusades we re military ex p e ditions sent

b y the Catholic Church to c apture the

Holy Land from the Muslim Turks.

• The y we re no t succ essful, but did hav e

a fe w positiv e results:

1. Euro p e a ns lea rne d to d ra w b e t t e r

maps and build be t t e r ships.

2. Expo se d Euro peans to spic es & g o o d s

fro m the E ast.

The 1400’s

People grew tired of

paying high prices for

Asian goods

People realized they

needed to find a new

route to Asia

They wanted Gold, Silk,

and Spices

Prince Henry the Navigator – Son of Portugal’s king

– Opened a school for mapmakers, shipbuilders, and navigators

• Navigator: expert sailor

– his skilled shipbuilders built a ship called a caravel (a ship that was larger, stronger, faster, and easier to steer that other ships during that time)

– Portuguese sailors were also expert navigators • Used a compass

• Measured their latitude and longitude with an astrolabe (a device used by sailors to measure latitude)

Portugal Takes

the Lead Prince Henry wanted his sailors to sail around Africa to Asia

– While traveling they would build trading ties with Africans

– Would also convert them to Christianity

Vasco de Gama

In 1497, Vasco de Gama sailed

around the southernmost tip of

Africa (the Cape of Good Hope)

Sailed into the Indian Ocean to

India

Brought back spices and

precious stones

Christopher Columbus

Italian born Christopher Columbus

believed he could reach India by

sailing across the Atlantic Ocean

– This made sense to Queen Isabella

and King Ferdinand of Spain who

supported Columbus’ voyage.

What would Columbus run into on

his voyage??

Columbus’ Voyage

Did not realize he would “run into” the

Americas

Spain found gold and other resources

– Conquered the ancient civilizations such

as the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas

Impact of Columbus

Other European countries were eager to send

their explorers to these “new” lands

– England

– France

– The Netherlands

Europeans began founding colonies which ended

up bringing Europe wealth and power

Ferdinand Magellan

Was a Portuguese officer in the

Navy

– Voyage was not supported by

Portuguese king so he got Spain to

support him

Set sail in 1519 with 5 ships

Sailed through the passage

called the Strait of Magellan

(who was this named for???)

The 1st to Circumnavigate

Magellan and crew sailed in the Pacific to the Philippines

– Magellan was killed in 1521 in battle with a Philippine ruler.

3 years after they initially set sail, one ship returned to Spain with 18 men.

These men were the first people to circumnavigate the world.

– Circumnavigate: to sail around the world.

James Cook

Australia was colonized by Great Britain in 1770.

James Cook explored the area of New South Wales and created a penal colony

A penal colony is a place for prisoners and debtors to go (kinda like a jail only it’s a country!)

Review of the 3 G’s

God: Some Europeans believed it was their

duty to spread the Christian faith

throughout the world

Gold: competed for natural resources such

as gold, silk, and spices

Glory: the more colonies a country had, the

more wealth it had