Download An Age of Explorations 1400–1800

An Age of Explorations
1400–1800
Motivated by Christian
faith and a desire for
profit, Europeans
explore distant lands,
while Japanese and
Chinese rulers isolate
their societies from
Europeans.
Caravel—a small, light ship—with triangular sails.
Europeans Explore the East
For “God, Glory, and Gold”
See Factors Behind 15th-Century European Exploration
Europeans Seek New Trade Routes
• Main reason for exploration is to gain wealth
• Crusades had created demand for Asian goods
• Muslims and Italians control trade from East to West
• Other European nations want to bypass these powers
The Spread of Christianity
Desire to spread Christianity also motivates exploration
Technology Makes Exploration Possible
•
In 1400s, the caravel makes it possible to sail
against wind
•
Astrolabe makes navigation easier
•
Magnetic compass improves tracking of direction
Astrolabe, used to determine altitude of stars,
with planispheres, or adjustable overlays.
Georg Hartmann (1532).
Many navigation techniques had been
developed by the Arabs and Chinese
Portugal Leads the Way
The Portuguese Explore Africa
•
Prince Henry, the son of Portugal’s king,
supports exploration
•
In 1419, he founds navigation school on coast of
Portugal
•
By 1460, Portuguese have trading posts along
west coast of Africa
Henry the Navigator,
Portuguese prince noted for
patronage of voyages of
discovery. Panel detail (about
1465).
Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias wants to serve
God and king
First to sail around the
southern tip of Africa in 1488.
Explores southeastern coast of
Africa.
Did not make it further east.
Portuguese Sailors Reach Asia
•
In 1498, Vasco da Gama sails to India
•
In 1499, returns to Portugal with valuable cargo
I gave Portugal a direct
sea route to Asia!
Spain Also Makes Claims
A Rival Power
• In 1492, Christopher Columbus
sails for Spain
• Convinces Spanish to support
plan to reach Asia by sailing west
• Reaches the Americas instead
• Opens Americas to exploration
and colonization
More on him later . . .
Columbus returns, and meets
with Spanish rulers Ferdinand
and Isabella. Eugene Delacroix
(1839).
Zheng He's treasure ship compared in size with Christopher
Columbus's smaller Santa Maria.
Trading Empires in the Indian Ocean
Portugal’s Trading Empire
•
In 1509, Portugal defeats Muslims, takes over
Indian Ocean trade
•
Ends Muslim-Italian hold on Asian trade
Portuguese explorer sailing
for Spain
His expedition of 1519–1522
completed the first
circumnavigation of the Earth.
Magellan did not complete the
entire voyage. He was killed
in battle.
Ferdinand Magellan
Other Nations Challenge the Portuguese
English and Dutch begin moving into Asia in 17th
century
• Dutch and English weaken Portuguese control of
Asian trade
•
• Form Dutch East India Company for Asian trade
Spain Builds an American Empire
The voyages of Columbus prompt the Spanish to
establish colonies in the Americas.
Christopher Columbus, Spanish
explorer, as young man.
The Voyages of Columbus
First Encounters
•
Genoese sea captain Christopher Columbus
reaches Americas (1492)
•
Thinks he is in East Indies, calls natives “los
indios”—Indians
•
Actually lands on an island, probably in the
Bahamas
•
Unable to find gold, he claims many islands for
Spain
See Point/Counterpoint: Legacy of Columbus
See Interhemispherical Exchange of Plants & Animals;
One of the most significant events in the history of world
ecology, agriculture, and culture that permanently changed
Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Conquistadors
•In 1519, Hernando Cortés—Spanish adventurer—
lands in Mexico
•He and others become known as conquistadors—
Spanish conquerors
Cortés Conquers the Aztecs
•Cortés and 600 men reach Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlán
•By 1521, they conquer Aztec empire
•Conquest aided by superior weapons, Native American
allies
•European diseases wipe out large numbers of Aztecs
Hernando Cortés,
Spanish conquistador,
received by Montezuma,
Aztec emperor.
A few words on Economics . . .
• The
economic theory behind the Age of Exploration was
Mercantilism
• Mercantilism
• See
was a precursor to Capitalism
Mercantislism v. Free Market 1500-1776