Download Page C (Section II): Portugal Leads the Way

Ch. 15: Section II: Portugal Leads the Way
(Pages 344-349)
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This section is about:
How Prince Henry the
Navigator sent out explorers,
including Vasco da Gama, to
seek a trade route to the East
around the African continent.
The trading empires
established by the
Portuguese, English, Dutch,
Spanish, and French in the
East.
Giant Statue Commemorating Exploration in Lisbon, Portugal
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There are two big
exploration names in the
“Main Ideas” on page
344.
We should look at the
map on page 348: let’s
see which countries
we’re looking at in this
section?
Have you ever been part
of a group who wanted
to do something special?
And… maybe you even
became the leader or
helped out in a special
way?
That’s some of what
this section is about.
Exploration Under Henry the Navigator
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The Portuguese were the
first Europeans to look for
a sea route to Asia.
Over a 40 year period
(1419-1459), Prince
Henry sent out many
expeditions.
He also supported
research in navigation
and boat design.
So… people call him
Henry the Navigator.
A Sailing
Study Center
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Prince Henry set up a “school” for
the best sailors, geographers,
shipbuilders, mapmakers,
astronomers and makers of tools.
These were the people who
designed the caravels (last
section).
Henry had many reasons for all this:
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He was curious about the world.
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Navigation and shipbuilding
fascinated him.
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He wanted to find direct routes for
trade.
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He wanted to use his knowledge
to oppose the power of the
Muslims.
Down the African Coast
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Henry sent out many
expeditions (reaching the Azores
was first).
He kept sending people to
explore further and further
along the coast of Africa,
naming capes, bays and rivers
as he went.
But, they found trading with the
Africans was disappointing (only
fish, seal oil and sealskins).
He wanted more and knew
there was more.
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There were much more
valuable commodities
further south and in the
Middle East (gold dust,
ivory, pepper, and slaves).
Eventually he got far
enough to get some of
these – and set up the
first overseas European
trading post.
By the time Henry died in
1460, they had gotten all
the way to the Congo
River.
Towards the Indian Ocean
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After Henry he Navigator
died, exploration slowed
down some.
Without Henry’s support,
sailors weren’t as good,
and many were worried
about unsafe exploration.
But some forts were built
for protection, including
one by King John II in
Guinea.
Bartolomeu Dias Rounds Africa
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King John sent out more
expeditions to see if they could
get the rest of the way around
Africa.
In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias (and 3
ships) sailed – and soon
encountered horrible weather.
They weren’t even sure of
where they were going, so his
men convinced him to turn
around.
As they were heading back to
Portugal, they realized they had
passed the southern tip of Africa.
At first Dias called it “The Cape
of Storms” but the Portuguese
king decided to call it “The Cape
of Good Hope.”
It did prove there was a chance
to go all the way around Africa.
Vasco da Gama Sails to India
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The Portuguese were still trying to
get to Asia by sailing around Africa.
10 years later (1497), Vasco da
Gama set sail (4 ships/170 sailors)
with the goal of reaching Calcutta,
India.
He had the newest maps, tools, and
tables of the time.
He passed the rough seas of The
Cape of Good Hope – and kept
going, staying close to land until they
hit Mozambique.
He finally made it (months later).
In 1499, 2 of his ships came back to
Portugal, filled with pepper,
cinnamon, and spices.
His proof that Europe could get to
India by sea had a great impact on
politics and business of the time.
Trading Empires
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The Portuguese mainly
explored because it was
their way to get rich.
In western Africa they
quickly took control of the
gold trade.
They also built trading
posts with forts.
But not in East Africa and
India.
In the Indian Ocean area,
trade was controlled by
the Arabs.
The Portuguese
Take Control
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When they went back to the
Indian Ocean (after Vasco da
Gama’s expedition), they
brought force (a fleet of ships
to stand guard, and bases for
their ships).
The Arabs didn’t like that and
decided to attack, but the
Portuguese had better ships
and beat the Arabs.
Only 15 years after da Gama’s
trip, the Portuguese controlled
all the Indian Ocean.
They next started trade and
posts all the way to eastern
China and Japan.
Power Shifts in the East
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Portugal’s trading empire
began to break up about
1580.
Henry the Navigator and
King John were gone for
over 100 years.
Spain was beginning to
become wealthy and
powerful.
They even split up some
lands they both wanted in
the Americas – in the
Treaty of Tordesillas
…
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Other European countries also
wanted to trade in those
areas.
In the 1600’s, trade was
controlled by companies (not
countries) like the East India
Company and the Dutch East
India Company.
These companies were
controlled by shareholders,
who provided the company
with money.
Over the next 60 years, the
Dutch took control of many
Portuguese trading territories.
By 1641, the Dutch controlled
the spice trade.
At the same time, the English
and the French were starting
to gain more power.
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