Download Age of Exploration

In 1492…
 Look at the I. Local Map-Making!
 Follow the directions on how to make
a local map.
 Take 5 minutes to draw this map then
we will discuss it!
 Look at the II. Global Map-Making!
 Follow the directions on how to make a
local map.
 Take 5 minutes to draw this map then we
will discuss it!
1. The Age of Exploration (1450-1550) has often
been described as a…
1. The Age of Exploration (1450-1550) has often
been described as a…
 Time when Europeans sailed the oceans
searching for new routes to restart the Spice
Trade.
▪ Exploration resulted in the…
1. The Age of Exploration (1450-1550) has often
been described as a…
 Time when Europeans sailed the oceans
searching for new routes to restart the Spice
Trade.
▪ Exploration resulted in the…
▪ Discovery of the New World (N. & S. America).
▪ Trade between the New & the Old World (Europe, Asia, &
Africa).
▪ Expansion of European influence.


The big question is why? Why did European not set
sail earlier? Why did they know so little about the
world around them? What motivated them to sail
when they did?
Let’s compare these two maps to see what
Europeans knew of world geography at the time.
Known World 2012 AD
What continents & nations do we know about?
Known World 1450 AD
What continents & nations are we
missing?
2. Europeans at that point in time knew of about ¼
of the world.
2. Europeans at that point in time knew of about ¼
of the world.
 Europeans’ world view focused only on the
Mediterranean.
 Most Europeans could not afford exploration.
 European merchants only traveled to known places &
for profit.
▪ As long as the Spice Trade was open, merchants did not need to
discover any new routes to Asia.
What two (2) routes are there for the Spice Trade?
3. In 1453, the
Ottoman Empire
blocked the known
routes for the
Spice Trade
preventing trade
w/ Asia.
 If Europe was to
continue its
luxurious ways, new
routes to Asia had
to be found.
4. The Cause & Effect of the Spice Trade becoming
blocked (cause) was the beginning of exploration of
the oceans to find new routes to Asia. (effect)
 What nations would lead this push for exploration?
Why?
4. The Cause & Effect of the Spice Trade becoming
blocked (cause) was the beginning of exploration of
the oceans to find new routes to Asia. (effect)
 What nations would lead this push for exploration?
Why? Portugal & Spain, geographically closer to the
Atlantic.
5. Using the map to right,
what three (3) routes
were left to the
Europeans?
5. Using the map to right,
what three (3) routes
were left to the
Europeans?
 Sail around Africa.
 Sail around Russia.
 Sail west across the
Atlantic.
 Problems with these
routes?
Everyone knew where Asia was: in the east. But no one
knew what was between Point A & Point B. This is why
exploration & map-making was so difficult. Look at your
map to Tokyo!

We know where Europeans will go, but other
questions have yet to be answered: what
motivated Europeans to explore & what
technology allowed European to go explore?
 This question is best answered through answering the
next question.

Let’s suppose NASA found a portal out in space.
Scientists know that it would transport any object
to a different planet billions upon billions upon
billions of miles away. NASA wants to know what
is on the other end so it asked you to go through
this gateway into the heavens. Would you go
through it? Explain your answer.
1. Much like most of you that decided to go through
the portal, Europeans were motivated for the same
reasons. Those that went made discoveries only
their dreams could outmatch while those that
stayed put were left behind in the dust. The four
(4) main motivating factors that began the Age of
Exploration were…

Gold.
 Gold would come from
restarting the Spice Trade &
finding new sources of wealth.
 Many explorers persuaded the
Kings of Spain & Portugal to
finance their trips in return for
claims to new land.
▪ Exploration was expensive & there was
no guarantee you would recuperate
your losses.
▪ But the potential gain was 10x the cost.
Gold, Spices, Silk, Perfumes…it’s all
good.

God.
 Many clergymen saw this as
an opportunity to spread the
Christian faith.
▪ It also meant more money from
offerings & tithes.
 Many explorers took priests
on their trips to act as
advisors, recorders, & luck.
▪ Explorers wanted God’s blessing so
they sailed for Christianity.
Naturally all the native peoples they would find
were just waiting to be converted to a new
religion & give up their thousand year old
culture…right?

Glory.
 Many explorers wanted fame
& glory more than anything;
to be immortalized in
history.
▪ With glory comes respect, power,
& influence.
 Being the first there was a
personal accomplishment, a
sign of greatness; Humanism
at its finest.
Who is this man, why is he significant, &
how do we honor him?

Curiosity.
 Many explorers simply wanted
to know what else was out
there.
▪ Some men wanted to escape the
world they were in or wanted
something new.
 Humans are curious by nature,
but the Renaissance had
changed human perspective on
life by awakening a spirit of
discovery in Europe; life was a
mystery to be solved.
We have all been there for one reason or another:
Christmas gifts, being told not to, or the just plain
boredom.
1. Europeans would have
never gotten anywhere
had it not been for the
new technologies of the
15th Century. A new focus
on education had
emerged during the
Renaissance that created
a plethora of new
technologies of
exploration. These new
technologies were…
Often times explorers stayed close to the
coastline to explore as opposed to sailing
west. Why?

Compass.
 Why would they need it
for exploration?

Compass.
 Why would they need it
for exploration? To tell
direction at sea.

Astrolabe.
 Why would they need it for
exploration?

Astrolabe.
 Why would they need it for
exploration? To tell
latitude at sea.
▪ With latitude & direction you
could sail anywhere w/o
staying close to land.

Caravel.
 Why would they need it
for exploration?

Caravel.
 Why would they need it
for exploration? Needed
a ship that could handle
rough waters & long
distances.
▪ It was bigger, stronger,
faster, & could carry more
weight (crew, supplies,
gold) than any ship in
Europe.

Sails.
 Why would they need it
for exploration?

Sails.
 Why would they need it
for exploration?
Harness the wind to
propel the ship.
▪ How did they propel
ships before?
▪ Why was wind
advantageous?
▪ Any problems w/ wind
power?

Rudder.
 Why would they need it for
exploration?

Rudder.
 Why would they need it for
exploration? Steer the ship
more effectively.
▪ How did captains steer ships
before?

Cannons.
 Why would they need it
for exploration?

Cannons.
 Why would they need it
for exploration? For
attack & defense.
▪ Exploration brought
certain dangers that
might have to be
confronted.