Download Age of Exploration

Age of Exploration
Trade With Asia
• After the collapse of the Mongol Empire
the Silk Road became unstable and local
rulers began placing high taxes on goods.
• The Byzantine Empire was defeated by
the Ottoman Turks and the Ottoman Turks
closed the Black Sea to Italian traders.
• Europeans needed a new way to trade
with Asia.
A Water Route to Asia
• With a strong will and desire to trade with
Asia. Europeans decided to seek out a
water route to Asia.
• The 1400s provided new technology to
help in obtaining this water route.
• Astrolabe- was introduced by the Arabs
and helped sailors find latitude.
• Compass- was introduced by the Chinese
and helped sailors find magnetic north.
The Portuguese and the Caravel
• It was the Portuguese who developed a
new and smaller ship with triangular sails
called the caravel.
• The Caravel made use of a new rudder
which made steering easier and was a
faster moving ship.
Strong European Nations
• By the end of the 15th century (1400-1499)
four European nations had gained the
monetary power to support exploration.
• Portugal, Spain, France and England.
• These countries also spent money on
cartography or the science of making
maps.
Exploration
• Portugal was the first country to set sail.
• Portugal began to map out the west coast
of Africa.
• In 1488 Bartolomeu Dias reached the
southern tip of Africa.
• In 1497 Vasco da Gama rounded the tip
of Africa and made it to the coast of India.
• A water route was now established.
Spanish Exploration
• Spain (sailed west because Portugal controlled sea
route to the east)
• First to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to the
New World
• Began the Columbian Exchange: an exchange of
plants, animals and diseases between the Eastern
Hemisphere (Old World) and the Western
Hemisphere (New World) after the Spanish set up
colonies in the New World
• Spain built settler colonies in South America, due
to gold
• Spain built plantation colonies in Florida and the
Caribbean Islands
French Exploration
• France (sailed west in search of the
Northwest Passage-an all-water route to
Asia by sailing above Canada. This route
did/does not exist.)
• Important trading post
colonies: Canada, North America
English Exploration.
• Great Britain (explored all areas of the
world to set up colonies)
• England built settler colonies: Plymouth
(think Mayflower and the Pilgrims), China,
Australia
• England built plantation colonies in
Georgia, South Carolina, Caribbean
Islands, Africa, and India
Spanish Claims in the Americas
• 3. Why was Spain able to gain more land in the
Americas?
• When Spain saw the financial success Portugal had
gained through exploration and trade with Asia,
Spain wanted to do the same.
• Because Portugal already controlled trade routes to
Asia sailing east, Spain decided to search for trade
routes to Asia sailing west (across the Atlantic
Ocean). When Spain sent Christopher Columbus
west, he discovered the New World (North and
South America).
Spanish Claims in the Americas
• The Spanish then sent more explorers to the
Americas. Once gold was discovered, other
countries wanted to explore as well.
• Spain used gunpowder and advanced weapons
to conquer the Americas. (Think of conquistadors)
• Additionally, Spain and Portugal got into many
disputes over territory. Because both countries
were mainly Catholic, they asked the Pope (head of
the Catholic Church) to help them. He divided the
world between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of
Tordesillas.
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spanish Claims in the Americas
• Competition between Europeans for
Colonies and Natural Resources
• Portugal and Spain were the first two
countries to aggressively explore
• Spain found gold in South American
colonies; increased its power and wealth
• Portugal did not find gold in Asia and
wanted to claim land in South America