Chapter 4: Age of Exploration

Medieval Europe-Europeans stayed in own sphere-Economy was based on Feudalism

Black Death, Renaissance, and Reformation completely changed Medieval Society

GROWTH OF WORLD TRADE-Europeans became fascinated with trade with Asia

-Exotic Products Such as Spices-Exotic People

-Marco Polo: The Travels-wonderful magical place with magical people

ALL OF WHICH INSPIRED AN INTEREST WITH THE FAR EAST

Problems with the overland connection to Asia:

Europe Italian States Muslim Middle East Asia -European products were not popular in the East-Muslims controlled overland trade routes

-Only Traded with Italian States, giving them a Monopoly-Monopoly- only one producer or controller in a market

-Therefore Asian Products are extremely Expensive and Hard to Get-Asia: Silk, Spices, Jewels, Porcelain

What does this have to do with exploration?-European nations began to search for an oversea trade route to India and China

NEW NAVAL TECHNOLOGY

-Makes this Exploration PossibleCaravel- lighter and faster ship, broader, cannons, cargo

Lateen Sail- triangular sail, better capture the wind, sail against the wind.

Astrolabe- allowed sailors to plot their latitude location by the position of the sun and stars.

Magnetic Compass- Chinese invention shows direction

Better knowledge of the Trade Winds -Winds operated in a clockwise Motion

-Can be used to go wherever

The First Country To Explore: Portugal

Prince Henry The Navigator

-Created School For Navigation

-Taught how to use new technologies

-Sponsored many Portuguese Expeditions

-Never Went on an Expedition himself

Result:-Portugal was 1st country to explore-Sailed along tip of Africa, finding lots of gold-Vasco de Gama, sailed around tip of Africa to India

-Brought Spices back and making large amounts of money-Portugal would dominate this route and become a world power as a result

RACE FOR RICHESSPANISH EXPLORERS

-Want their cut in the trade with Asia-Can’t follow Portugal’s route-Most Spanish explorers believed the world was round-Columbus led expedition to sail west to Asia (Believed only 4,000 miles away)

Journey of Columbus 1492-Many Hardships

-Food and resources exhausted-Near Mutiny by men-Smelly and unsanitary conditions

-Arrival: Bahama Islands-Columbus believed he reached Asia-Even referred to the people as Indians, believing he reached the Indies-Collected Plants, Animals, and People to bring back to Spain. NO GOLD

-Never knew he found new worldAmerigo Vespucci

- 1st to realize this was a new world- Printing Press spread his word so fast, many believed he discovered the Americas

Hence the name “Americas”Ferdinand Magellan

- Sponsored by Spain, go around Americas to Asia- He sailed around the tip of South America.- Named the Pacific Ocean (90+ days to cross)- Killed in battle with natives in Indonesia- Ship was first to circumnavigate the world

-World is way bigger than originally thought-Causes Spain to focus on their new American Claims

NEW LANDS TO EXPLORE-Settle claims with Portugal

- Treaty of Tordesillas- divided the new and unexplored worlds into two

East of the Line- Brazil and Africa goes to Portugal

West of the Line- Most of Latin America is claimed by Spain

The Spanish Empire: COLONIZATIONWhat is Colonization?

-a foreign power controls an area of land and creates a settlement

Conquest of the Aztec Empire- Beautiful civilization of millions- Advanced- Capital: Tenochtitlan, built on a lake

Conquered by Hernan Cortes and conquistadors-500 man expedition into Tenochtitlan (home to thousands)

How does a 500 man team conquer thousands?

1. Cortes allies with rival tribes subjugated by Aztecs

2. More advanced weaponry and metal armor

3. Natives possibly thought Cortes was a god

a. Literally welcomed him into city (debatable)

4. ***DISEASE***

Aztecs fought off first invasion but were so weak by disease Cortes sacked Technotitlan in 4 months.

The Destruction of the Aztec Civilization-Cortes destroyed the pyramids and temples and used those stones to build Spanish

buildings.-Pillaged the city for gold-Completely destroyed Tenochtitlan and in 30 years conquered all of present day Mexico.

Conquest of the Incas- Another Thriving and prosperous civilization- Disease also ravaged through the Incan empire- Civil War resulted between two sons- Francisco Pizarro arrives, Incans are extremely weak

o Aided by better technology, Pizarro conquers the Incans and sets up o Colony?- settlement of people living in a new territory linked by a mother

country by trade and control.Motives behind European Colonization

1. Gold2. Glory3. God

Now the race is on between European countries.England, France, and Dutch move fast to stake the claims

Netherlands-created new Netherlands as a trading outpost for furs.

France- colonized Canada and Louisiana-Samuel De Champlain founded Quebec which still speaks French today

England- founded settlements along the Eastern Seaboard of the USA today

*MOST OF THESE NATIONS WERE SEARCHING FOR A NORTHWEST PASSAGE*-A sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through North America

NORTHWEST PASSAGE