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The Age of Exploration Forces Behind European Exploration • God (Religious Motivations) • Missionaries: spread word of Christ • Many other religions seen as “savage” • Increase power of Catholic Church • Glory (Personal Motivations) • Spirit of adventure, natural curiosity • Individual claim to fame (fortune?) • Power of Kings and Queens, empire • Gold (Economic Motivations) • European interests in Asia • Spices, silk, tea, porcelain = $$$ • Rise of Ottomans restricted Silk Road • Could eliminate “middle man” by sea • Hope of discovering precious metals • Economic theory of Mercantilism • Emerging notion of Euro. supremacy • Effects of Renaissance on Exploration? The Age of Exploration The First Exploring Nations: Spain • Christopher Columbus • Italian, convinced Queen Isabella of Spain to finance experimental journey • Many at the time knew world was round, but not sure how large • thought he’d found short-cut to India by sailing west from Europe • 1492: Columbus discovers what he thought were islands off China coast • Called islands “West Indies” • Actually in Caribbean Sea (America) Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) • Agreement between Portugal & Spain • Claimed unknown lands for Church • Line of Demarcation splits globe • Portugal: rights to “Old World” • Spain: rights to most of “New World” A Spanish Empire in the New World • Conquistadors (conquerors) were sent to explore Spain’s vast new territory • Hernan Cortes (1519) • Overthrew powerful Aztec Empire in modern-day Mexico, in only 3 yrs • Francisco Pizarro (1531-1532) • Took control of Incan civilization in South America over 30 years • Why? God, Glory, mostly GOLD. • The Spanish encomienda system • Queen declared “Indians” her subjects • Could legally be used as laborers • Spanish were supposed to protect Native Americans; widely abused • Forced labor in mines, on plantations • Little resistance to European diseases • Smallpox, measles, typhus • Massive losses in populations • Missionary efforts to destroy culture The Age of Exploration The Columbian Exchange • Term given to the extensive exchange of plants & animals between the Old World and the New World. • Previously isolated for more than a thousand years. • Huge impact on both sides of Atlantic The Economic Theory of Mercantilism • Mercantilism • Economic principle focused around the wealth of the nation-state • Gov’t control of foreign trade is top priority to ensure prosperity & security • Measured by supply of gold & silver • Gained thru favorable balance of trade (Export more than you import) • Policies of European Rulers • Discourage import of foreign goods • high taxes on imports (tariffs) • Encourage export of manufactures • Protect favorable trading monopolies • Accept pay in gold, never pay in gold • Establish & Protect Colonies • Source of raw materials, gold, & silver • Protected market to sell manufactures • Effects of Mercantilism • European abuses in Americas, Africa • National rivalries based on trade, war Ancient African Civilizations • Role of Geography • Climate dictates where, how people live • Variety of resources throughout Africa • Empires Through Trade • North African Nile civilizations grew powerful through trade alliances • Kush (Nubia) (1000BC - 150AD) • Axum (150BC – 1550BC) • West African Empires Rise and Fall • Located on Niger River valley • All centered on trading, taxes • Iron, gold, ivory, SALT? • Stateless societies in Southern Africa • Local rulers, mixed economies • Rise of Zimbabwe through gold trade • Ancient custom of slavery in Africa The African Slave Trade • “Discovery” of Americas, sugarcane created huge demand for African slave • Early domination by Portuguese explorers • Sugar plantations in Caribbean, Brazil are incredibly deadly • Native workforce destroyed by disease • Tradition of trade and slavery in Africa different from slavery in New World • Triangular Trade Routes • AFRICA: import rum, manufactured goods, export slaves, gold, ivory • AMERICA: import slaves, export raw materials, rum, gunpowder • EUROPE: Import raw materials, export manufactured goods • Effects of Slave Trade on Africa • Tore families, communities apart • Constant internal warfare in Africa • Practice of “self-enslavement” (why?) • Dramatic costs on African population European Influence in the East • India • Expanding foreign presence (British) • Spice Islands (Moluccas) • Dutch traders and military eventually corner spice trade, local government • Ex.: monopolize regional clove trade • Est. military outpost to protect trade • Mainland States of SE Asia • Resisted Euro. influence for most part • Stronger political identity, unity • China • Portuguese traders bring missionaries • Noted for their new technologies • Successful in spreading Christianity • Highly restricted trade under Qing • Refusal of expansion of British trade • Japan • Unified Japan initially pro Dutch trade • Move toward isolationism after Jesuit missionaries destroy ancient shrines • Many Japanese converts persecuted
