Download Bartholomeu Dias

Prince Henry the Navigator
1394-1460
Portugal
Sponsored voyages of exploration along west
African coast; supported study of navigation
Motivation: To spread Christianity; to establish
trade in Africa to bring wealth to Portugal
Outcome: beginning of Atlantic slave trade
Anecdote: Never went on a voyage himself;
during his life, there was a great fear of
crossing the equator (boiling water, sea
monsters?)
Vasco Da Gama
1460-1524
Portugal
First to sail from Europe to India
Motivation: To find a sea route to Asia; wealth from
trade
Tortured and killed Africans, Arabs, and Indians who
did not cooperate with Portuguese; long-term result-European domination of Africa, India
da Gama's crew suffered from scurvy; 2/3 did not
survive the journey to India; da Gama fought against
Arab traders already established in the Indian Ocean
Christopher Columbus
1451-1506
He was Italian, sailed for Spain
First European to discover the New World (America); he
landed on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and
Dominican Republic)
Motivation: 1. To sail west to Asia and around the world 2.
To find gold (2nd voyage)
Initially seemed friendly, but later enslaved Native
Americans to search for gold for him. Long-term results:
the decline of all native American populations
Columbus never believed he had discovered new land, but
instead died believing he had reached Asia.
Ferdinand Magellan
1480-1521
He was Portuguese, sailed for Spain
Led first voyage to circumnavigate (sail all the way around)
the world. He did not survive to the end of the voyage.
Motivation: To find a western route to the Moluccas (Indies);
to gain wealth by trade
Kidnapped two from east coast of S. America; tried to convert
natives in the Philippines islands to convert to Christianity;
some refused
Magellan was killed in battle between indigenous groups in
the Philippine Islands; only one of the original 5 ships in his
fleet completed the journey; only 18 of 200 men survived
Hernan Cortez (Cortes)
1485-1547
Spain
Explored Mexico and Central America, conquered the
Aztecs
To explore; to conquer the Aztecs; to find gold
Conquered and wiped out the Aztecs
Cortez was well educated; related to Pizarro; missed first
opportunity to travel to New World when he broke his leg
running across rooftops to meet a woman; took Native
American as mistress and interpreter; conquered Aztecs
by finding Allies among people the Aztecs had conquered
Francisco Pizarro
1475-1541
Spain
Explored Peru, South America, Conquered the Incas
Pizarro sought adventure and wealth
Held Inca emperor, Atahualpa for ransom, then
murdered him; destroyed Inca empire
Illiterate; Served with Balboa when he became the
first European to discover the Pacific Ocean;
collected gold and silver items from all over Inca
empire and melted them down; killed in battle with
other Spanish who wanted to control Cuzco
Jacques Cartier
1491-1557
France
Explored St. Lawrence River to Montreal
Motivation: Looking for a Northwest Passage
Kidnapped individuals to serve as interpreters.
Several died. Some friendly relationships
with Native Americans, but some suspicion
and fear on both sides as well.
He named every place he found after Catholic
saints to show his devotion to the Church.
Sir Francis Drake
1540-1596
Britain
Led the second voyage to circumnavigate (sail all the way
around) the world. Helped defeat the Spanish Armada;
Claimed west coast of N. America for Britain
Motivation: To defeat the Spanish
Allowed British and later Americans to claim land from the
Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast
Devout Protestant, hated the Spanish passionately.
Attacked Spanish ships and stole their treasure, making
him a pirate; honored by Queen Elizabeth
Astrolabe
The astrolabe
was an
instrument used
to determine a
ship’s latitude at
sea and its
position in
relation to land.
Scurvy
► Scurvy
was a
disease that
plagued sailors.
Its cause was a
lack of vitamin C.
It could be fatal,
but was easily
treated by eating
fresh fruits.
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is
a northern sea route
around N. America to
Asia. Many European
explorers sought to
discover it, but no one
was successful until Roald
Amundsen did it in 190306. Climate change has
made the passage more
navigable in recent years.
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was the introduction
of plants, animals, products, and diseases in
both the America and the “Old World” as a
result of Columbus’ discovery of America.