Download age of explorations

AGE OF EXPLORATIONS
People originally believed in sea monsters
People also believed that the Earth was flat.
Ptolemy



By the 1400s most Europeans knew that the world
was round.
However there were no maps that expanded
beyond the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1406, the Europeans discovered a book,
Geography, that contained hand drawn maps of the
World by a Greek educated Egyptian scholar
named Ptolemy.
Hand-drawn world map from the
2nd century
Motives for traveling




Turks captured
Constantinople in 1453.
New routes to Asia had
to be found.
New Technology allowed
easier sea voyages
(astrolabe and compass)
Kings and Queens made
money by taxing trade.
An astrolabe for
determining latitude
Motives



Portuguese discovered
sugarcane on Africa’s
coast line.
Sugarcane was used for
making sugar, molasses
and rum.
Beginning of slaves
being used on sugarcane
plantations.
Other Motives




A sense of adventure
Overpopulation & search for new lands
Spread of Christianity (to convert Natives)
Wealth (gold, silver, precious stones)
1400s Portuguese explorations




Four Strong KingdomsEngland, France, Spain, and
Portugal
England and France were
fighting the Hundred Years
War……
Spain was fighting the
Muslims….
Portugal got the early jump in
the area of exploration.
Henry the Navigator


Henry the NavigatorPrince of Portugal.
He set up a research
center for shipbuilders,
sailors, and
cartographers to help
him explore the world.
Bartholomew Dias

A Portuguese explorer
he was the first to reach
the southern tip of
Africa, he named it the
Cape of Good Hope.
Vasco da Gama


Portuguese explorer,
Vasco da Gama found
the eastern sea route to
India
He sailed around the
Southern tip of Africa
Vasco de Gama’s Route
Vasco de Balboa

Vasco de Balboa was
the first European to see
the Pacific Ocean
Vasco de Balboa
Ferdinand Magellan




1st circumnavigation of the
globe.
He sailed around the
Americas.
When he arrived at the vast
calm sea, he named it the
Pacific Ocean (peaceful).
Magellan was killed by the
local people of the
Philippines, however his crew
completed the voyage.
Ferdinand Magellan
Magellan’s Route
Christopher Columbus- Italian Explorer
Christopher Columbus- Italian
Explorer
 His plan was to reach the
West Indies by going across
the Atlantic Ocean.
 In 1492, Ferdinand and
Isabella of Spain sponsored
his expensive voyage.
 Columbus landed in San
Salvador an island near
Cuba. However, he believed
he was in Asia.
Columbus & Queen of Spain
Columbus lands in America
Spanish Explorers





After the voyage of Columbus- Spain wanted to build
a vast empire in the Americas.
They enslaved Native Americas and forced them to
grow sugarcane.
Spanish nobles set out to the Americas with the hope
of becoming rich, they were known as conquistadors.
Two examples are:
Hernan Cortes- conquered the Aztecs
Francisco Pizarro- conquered the Incas
Results



Slavery
Colonialism
Mercantilism