Age of Exploration
Europeans Explore the East
Today’s Goal Today’s Goal You will be able You will be able to…to…
• State the religious, economical, and State the religious, economical, and technological reasons for the Age of technological reasons for the Age of ExplorationExploration
• The West transformed in Renaissance & The West transformed in Renaissance & Reformation…Reformation…
• Now the West EXPANDSNow the West EXPANDS
Background • Vikings had explored northern seas ca. 1000 ADVikings had explored northern seas ca. 1000 AD• 1275 – Marco Polo visited Kublai Kahn in China1275 – Marco Polo visited Kublai Kahn in China
“God, Glory, Gold”• Spread Christianity• Fame! • Find new sources of wealth– New trade routes
“To serve God and His Majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness and to grow rich as all
men desire to do.” ~Bartolomeu Dias
New Technology• Cartography – map-making• Caravel – sturdier ship• Triangular sails – better against wind• Navigational techniques– Astrolabe (Muslims)– Magnetic compass (Chinese)
Portugal Leads the Way• Strong gov’t support of exploration• Prince Henry the Navigator supported
exploration– Founded navigational school
• Est. trading posts on coast of Africa• Began attempt to find
sea route to Asia
Early Portuguese Exploration• 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias – sailed to Cape of
Good Hope (tip of S. Africa)• 1497 – Vasco da Gama – reached port of
Calicut, India– Direct sea route to Asia
Da Gama
Portugal’s Trading Empire• Broke Muslim-Italian dominance on trade – More Europeans could afford goods
• Took control of spice trade from Muslim merchants
• Controlled of the Straits of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca
Spain Follows Portugal’s Lead• 1492 – Christopher Columbus – reached island
in Caribbean – Increased…tensions between Spain & Portugal
• Pope Alexander IV created Line of Demarcation– Lands to the west of the line = Spain’s– Lands to the east of the line = Portugal’s
• 1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas – moved line farther west
Spain’s Trading Empire• 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan arrived in
Philippines–Claimed & settled the islands
Other European Exploration• England, Netherlands, France– Created “East India companies” to mint $, make
treaties, raise armies
• Dutch Republic (Netherlands) – independence from Spain in 1581– Leading sea power – largest fleet of ships– Dutch East India Company
Other European Exploration• Dutch made trade headquarters @ Batavia on
island of Java– Ruled Indonesia & controlled Indian Ocean trade– Controlled Cape of Good Hope– Amsterdam became
leading commercial center
Other European Exploration• England – English East India Company– Outposts in India – traded Indian cloth
• France – French East India Company– Struggled for outpost in India (not profitable)
• European influence in inland S.E. Asia was limited
What does this illustrate about why the West excelled?
• Competition!!!– Among countries & individuals for wealth & power– Led to need for better technology• Led to advances in science, medicine, warfare,
etc.– Encountered new ideas, goods from areas of the
world
Did everyone benefit from exploration?