age of exploration. exploration of the new world 15 th century- new world and far east – 1400 –...
TRANSCRIPT
Exploration of the New World
• 15th century- New World and Far East– 1400– 1325: no regular traffic
b/w northern and southern Europe
Why did Europeans begin exploring at this time?
• Population- Black Death- never recovered
• Role of national governments– Italy and Germany cut out
• Scarce items– Couldn’t produce themselves
• Renaissance– No desire to look ‘beyond’
during Middle Ages- Renaissance led to curiosity
– World as sphere 1409 (Ptolemy)
– New inventions
The Beginnings of Exploration
• Portuguese– Led in exploration along Africa– Prince Henry the Navigator– Gold Coast (Africa)– Bartholomew Diaz– Slave trade– Treaty of Torsedillas in 1494- divided world– Vasco De Garna- reached India– Trading posts in India– Spread Christianity
• Jesuits in Japan in 1549
The Beginnings of Exploration• Spanish
– Columbus- landed at San Salvador• Population of Hispanola:
1,000,000 in 1493 to 100,000 by 1510
• Black slaves
– Ferdinand Magellan• Found the Pacific• Arrived in Philippines
– Conquistadors• Cortes- Aztec empire
(Mexico)• Pizarro- Incan empire (Peru)
– Influx of wealth created inflation in the rest of Europe
Social Results of Exploration and Expansion
• Technology– Ship building– Galleons before; Caravel
developed by Portugeuse
• Gold and silver coming in– Bullion led to price
increases
• Price of food rose• Some things no longer
‘luxuries’• Industry thrived
Social Results of Exploration and Expansion
• Slavery– Portugal dominated– Chief market was South
America– Almost always got slaves
from other African tribes• Africans already practiced
slavery– Why?– Conditions
– Pace at which they were taken increased
– Controversy at once• Inhumane vs. economic
necessity
Social Results of Exploration and Expansion
• The Columbian Exchange– Alfred W. Crosby– Transfer of biological materials
• Most important: food– Potato, fish, tomato, corn
• Sugar trade- Brazil• Beverages
– Coffee, chocolate and tea– Approved by Protestants
• Cooking techniques– Barbecue
• Disease– Measles, small pox, mumps, pneumonia– 90% w/in first decade– Total drop: 25-30 million to less than 5 million in 150 years after Columbus
Commercial Revolution
• World-wide capitalism• Mercantilism– Government regulated– Non-unified countries couldn’t compete– Amount of wealth was fixed
Commercial Revolution
• Spain and Portugal• Early lead in exploration• Population of Portugal was too small• Spain– Hurt agricultural base– Religious persecution– Money from overseas = inflation
Commercial Revolution
• Netherlands– Dutch East India
company– West India company
• Private authorized by state
– Better ships and lower freight rates
– Religious toleration– Too small in numbers
Commercial Revolution
• England– Prevailed in long run– Inferior in population to France– Geographic isolation– Laws benefitted trade and banking• Navigation Acts
– Had to put into English ports
– Relative religious toleration– Distance from mother country to colonies shorter
Commercial Revolution
• Other economic developments– Banking and accounting• Bank of Sweden; Bank of England• Joint stock companies
Commercial Revolution
• The Domestic System– ‘Cottage industry
system’ a.k.a. putting out system• Suitable for cloth, buttons
and knives• First in England
– Advantages:• Increased employment• Not regulated by guilds• Specialization