Download Reasons for the Age of Exploration PowerPoint

THE AGE OF EXPLORATION
• A period from 1400 to 1600 in which Europeans traveled the rest of
the world in search of goods, raw materials, land, and trade partners, as
well for the purpose of spreading Christianity.
• Also known as the Age of
Discovery
THE FACTORS THAT LED TO EUROPEAN
EXPLORATION
• The following are the reasons that Europe began
to explore the rest of the world…
1.) The demand for natural resources
such as…
• Gold
• Spices
• Other natural resources that Europe
did not have
THE FACTORS THAT LED TO EUROPEAN
EXPLORATION
2.) The competition between European countries
• Mercantilism
• Also known as the mercantile system
• The practice of increasing wealth through
trade
• Nation increases its wealth by selling more
goods than it is buying
• Responsibility of government to increase
trade
THE FACTORS THAT LED TO EUROPEAN
EXPLORATION
3.) Innovations in maritime technology
• Portugal was the leader in developing and
applying new sailing innovations
• Prince Henry the Navigator
• Established a school of navigation
• Directed Portugal’s journeys and
establishment of colonies
THE FACTORS THAT LED TO EUROPEAN
EXPLORATION
4.) The desire to spread Christianity
• Missionaries where sent with explorers to convert the indigenous
people (original inhabitants)
• Colonists brought their faith and culture
with them
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• Portugal
• Vasco de Gama (1497-1499)
• Established trading posts along the
African and Indian coasts
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• Spain
• Christopher Columbus
(1492-1500)
• Claimed territories in
Central America for
Spain
• First landed on the
island of San Salvador
in the Caribbean Sea
• Made four journeys
total
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• Spain
• Hernando Cortez (1511-1520)
• Claimed territories in Central
America for Spain as well
• Conquered the Aztec Empire
with the aid of…
• Disease
• Native enemies
• Superior Weapons
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• Spain
• Ferdinand Magellan (1519-1521;
1522)
• Claimed the Philippines in
Southeast Asia for Spain
• His voyage was the first to
circumnavigate (to circle) the
world – he died along the way
(1521)
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• Spain
• Francisco Pizarro (1524-1532)
• Claimed territories in South
America (Peru) for Spain
• Conquered the Incan Empire
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• France
• Jacques Cartier (1535-1542)
• Claimed Canada for France
MAJOR EUROPEAN EXPLORERS AND THE
TERRITORIES THAT THEY CLAIMED
• England
• Sir Francis Drake (1577-1580)
• Famous sea captain and first Englishman to
circumnavigate (to circle) the world
OTHER IMPORTANT FIGURES OF THE AGE
OF EXPLORATION
• Portugal
• Prince Henry the Navigator
• England
• Queen Elizabeth I
• Encouraged overseas exploration
and the establishment of colonies,
which made an already standing
conflict with Spain even worse.
OTHER IMPORTANT FIGURES OF THE AGE
OF EXPLORATION
• England (cont’d)
• Queen Elizabeth I
• The Spanish Armada (1588)
• A Spanish naval invasion force sent against
England by Philip II of Spain in 1588 to
overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and halt
English expansion and influence.
• Some ships were destroyed on the way to
England by a storm.
• What was left of the Spanish fleet was
destroyed by the English fleet of the coast of
the British Isles.
THE TREATY OF TORDESILLAS (1494)
• Divided the unexplored world
between Spain and Portugal by
the Line of Demarcation
• Spain received the western half
and Portugal the eastern half
Spain
Portugal
EXIT TICKET:
Out of all of the reasons for exploration discussed
today in class, which one do you think was the most
important and why?
Out of all of the important people discussed today in
class, who do you think had the greatest impact on the
Age of Exploration and why?