Acceleration of Global ContactAcceleration of Global Contact

The Age of Exploration

1405-1700s

The Age of Exploration

1405-1700s

Indian Ocean BackgroundIndian Ocean Background

• Southeast Asia: – Sparsely populated compared to Europe,

India, China– Rice cultivation and reproductive role gave

women power and economic access. • Husbands family paid “bride wealth” which wife

controlled throughout marriage.• Married couples lived in wife’s village• Divorce resulted in equal division of property and

children.

• Southeast Asia: – Sparsely populated compared to Europe,

India, China– Rice cultivation and reproductive role gave

women power and economic access. • Husbands family paid “bride wealth” which wife

controlled throughout marriage.• Married couples lived in wife’s village• Divorce resulted in equal division of property and

children.

Early Exploration Early Exploration

• Zheng He (1370s-1453)--China

– Seven trade voyages into and around the Indian Ocean (Africa, SE Asia, Korea, India…)

• Zheng He (1370s-1453)--China

– Seven trade voyages into and around the Indian Ocean (Africa, SE Asia, Korea, India…)

Early Exploration Early Exploration

• Eric the Red and Leif Ericson--Viking

– Greenland, Iceland, Ireland.

– First Europeans to reach North America

• Eric the Red and Leif Ericson--Viking

– Greenland, Iceland, Ireland.

– First Europeans to reach North America

European ExplorationEuropean Exploration

• Factors in European Exploration– Centralized Governments

• Rise of the Monarchs--Ferdinand and Isabella

– Technology• Cannon, Shipbuilding, Magnetic Compass, Map

Making

• Factors in European Exploration– Centralized Governments

• Rise of the Monarchs--Ferdinand and Isabella

– Technology• Cannon, Shipbuilding, Magnetic Compass, Map

Making

European MotivationsEuropean Motivations

• Religious Conversion– Desire to Christianize page

world at large

• Rise of the Aristocracy– European nobles are

hording wealth and land in Europe

– Foreign opportunity for success, wealth, and status

• Religious Conversion– Desire to Christianize page

world at large

• Rise of the Aristocracy– European nobles are

hording wealth and land in Europe

– Foreign opportunity for success, wealth, and status

• Government Sponsorship

• Spice Trade– New routs needed as

traditional land routs ended.

• Profit, Profit, Profit– “I have come to win gold,

not plow the fields like a peasant.” H. Cortes.

• Government Sponsorship

• Spice Trade– New routs needed as

traditional land routs ended.

• Profit, Profit, Profit– “I have come to win gold,

not plow the fields like a peasant.” H. Cortes.

Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus

• The Problem of Christopher Columbus– What kind of man was

he?– What were his goals– What did he make of

his Discovery?

• The Problem of Christopher Columbus– What kind of man was

he?– What were his goals– What did he make of

his Discovery?

Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange

• Food, Crops, and Animals– Wheat, vines, cattle, horses,

pigs, sheep goats, and chickens to Americas.

– Maize, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peppers, peanuts, papayas, avocadoes to Europe, Africa, Asia.

• Eurasian population growth from 425 million in 1500AD to 610 million in 1700.

• Food, Crops, and Animals– Wheat, vines, cattle, horses,

pigs, sheep goats, and chickens to Americas.

– Maize, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peppers, peanuts, papayas, avocadoes to Europe, Africa, Asia.

• Eurasian population growth from 425 million in 1500AD to 610 million in 1700.

• Biological exchange– Diseases: Small pox,

measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, enfluenza killed as many as 90% of central Mexico

– By 1530: small pox spread from Mexico to Great Lakes region

• Biological exchange– Diseases: Small pox,

measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, enfluenza killed as many as 90% of central Mexico

– By 1530: small pox spread from Mexico to Great Lakes region

Conquest of Aztec MexicoConquest of Aztec Mexico

• Hernado Cortez landed in Veracruz 1519

• Captured Montezumma II, Aztec Emperor; took control of much of Aztec Mexico

• Hernado Cortez landed in Veracruz 1519

• Captured Montezumma II, Aztec Emperor; took control of much of Aztec Mexico

How did 600 Spanish Conquer the Aztec empire? How did 600 Spanish Conquer the Aztec empire? • Timing

– Spanish arrived in Harvest Season

– Spanish appeared to be part of religious mythology

• Spanish recruitment– enemies of the Aztec

empire

• Timing– Spanish arrived in

Harvest Season– Spanish appeared to

be part of religious mythology

• Spanish recruitment– enemies of the Aztec

empire

• Montezuma welcomed Cortes

• Warfare, Technology, and Disease – Aztec ceremonial warfare– Cannons, muskets, steel

swords, crossbows. – Small pox: Mexico pop.

Decline from 17 million to 1.3 million (90%) after 1519.

• Montezuma welcomed Cortes

• Warfare, Technology, and Disease – Aztec ceremonial warfare– Cannons, muskets, steel

swords, crossbows. – Small pox: Mexico pop.

Decline from 17 million to 1.3 million (90%) after 1519.