Beginnings of the Global Age

Europe, Africa & Asia

1415-1796

Unit Objective:• To understand how

EARLY TRADE NETWORKS helped the world move toward GLOBALIZATION.

What do we already know?

• Why did European explorers want to travel to Asia?

• Why did Europeans find potentially dangerous sea routes preferable to over-land routes?

Which statement do you most agree with?A. Spreading religion is a

valid reason for conquering other people

B. Obtaining wealth is a valid reason for conquering

C. Spreading democracy is a valid reason

D. There are no valid reasons

Motivations for Exploring the Seas

• By the 1400’s, Europe’s population had grown after the Black Death (plague)

• Spices preserved and flavored food, made medicine and perfume

• The Spice Islands were in present-day Indonesia

• Spices could not be grown elsewhere. (Europe’s Climate was not good for growing the spice plants.)

• See map pg. 85

Sailors had to get over their fear of the Earth being flat. And their fear of sea monsters like Krakens and Leviathans.

Giant Squid• A giant squid has never

lived for more than a few days in captivity.

• Most are found dead.

Sailor’s Impact• Many scientists believe

sailing vessels changed shark habits.

• Many sharks started following ships waiting to feast on the fish drawn to the ship’s waste.

• The “Middle Passage” in the Atlantic Slave Route also has drawn a larger number of sharks to the area.

It followed me home! Can I keep him?

Controlling trade between Europe and Asia• Arab merchants brought goods

from Asia to Mediterranean ports

• Italian Merchants sold goods from Asia within Europe

• Europeans paid higher prices because of the middle-man!

• Europeans wanted to control the spice trade via sea routes to Asia

• The sea routes are also faster.

Portugal Sails East• Prince Henry paid for

explorers and was able to expand Portugal into N. Africa

• Prince Henry wanted to:1. Convert Africans to Christianity2. Find sources of riches within Africa3. Find an easier route to Asia by going around Africa

See map pg. 85

Prince Henry the NavigatorGave Portugal the reputation of

a sea faring nation.

• Mapped western coast of Africa, redesigned ships, and trained crews.

• Bartholomeu Dias rounded the tip of Africa in 1488. The tip became known as the Cape of Good Hope because it opened the sea route to Asia.

• Vasco da Gama 1497 - sailed around Cape of Good Hope to India.

• Da Gama left Portuguese merchants in India to buy goods, and took control of key ports around the Indian Ocean, creating a trading empire for Portugal.

Columbus Seeks the East Indies• While from Portugal, only Spain would

sponsor his trip to sail West in order to reach E. Asia.

• Spain’s King and Queen sought riches.• In 1492, he sailed w/the Nina, Pinta and

Santa Maria looking for a direct sea route to India.

• Greatly underestimated the Earth’s size.

• Landed on Caribbean islands.• Thought he was in East

Indies, so called the natives “Indians.”

• Credited with finding a route to two unknown continents.

Columbus’s Four Voyages

Voyage #1 Voyage #2

Voyage #3 Voyage #4

Columbus on the Natives• "They... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears

and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned.... They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane.... They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want."

Line of Demarcation• King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella claimed the lands of the new

world.• The Pope divided the non-European world into two spheres: Spain

had trading and exploration rights in lands west of the line; Portugal, east of the line.

• Formalized in the Treaty of Tordesillas.• See map Pg. 85• Question: How did the Treaty of Tordesillas affect competition

among European nations? Why?

America• Amerigo Vespucci, a sea captain,

wrote about Brazil and called it “America.”

• “The Americas” came to be used for both continents.

The Search for a Direct Route• The English, Dutch and French

explored N. America looking for a direct route to Asia (a northwest passage)

• Spanish explorer Balboa crossed Panama with help from the natives and reached the Pacific Ocean.

• Ferdinand Magellan (Spain) searched S. America for a direct route to Asia. He found the way around tip of S. America & named it the Strait of Magellan

Magellan• Magellan’s crew wanted to

turn back, but he pressed on. He greatly underestimated the size of the Pacific.

• Landed in the Philippines 4 months later where he was killed.

• The survivors returned to Spain 3 yrs later, the first to circumnavigate (sail around) the world.

Are you Gellin?

Chuck Norris