Download Homework/Graded Paper Name: Social Studies Seven/PD: _____

Homework/Graded Paper
Name: ____________________________
Due Date: Thursday October 13, 2011
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
HW – Finding a Trade Route to Asia
Finding a Trade Route to Asia
Background
European interest in overseas trade and exploration first developed during the Crusades. For
hundreds of years, Europeans traded for rare and exotic (unusual) goods from Asia through the Middle
East. The early trade was dominated (controlled) by the navies of the Italian City States (places like
Genoa, Venice, and Florence. By the middle to late 1400’s, however, several circumstances combined to
bring about a major change to European trading patterns. As the Fifteenth Century (1400’s) drew to a close
and the Sixteenth Century began (1500’s), the more powerful nations of Western Europe decided to trade
directly with Asia and were determined to find direct trade routes that would allow them to make great
profits.
Passage
During the Fifteenth Century (1400’s), trade with the Middle East became more difficult and even
impossible at times. In 1453, the Byzantine Empire (the last part of the old Roman Empire in the East)
collapsed and was destroyed by a new Muslim Empire – the Ottoman Empire. In many cases, old trade
routes were closed and the flow of Asian goods to Europe was interrupted.
Invasions by Mongol Armies also interrupted overland travel between the Middle East and Asia.
Further complicating the situation, outbreaks of the Black Plague disrupted trade throughout Europe and
the Middle East and several of the Italian City States were at war with one another. After centuries of
trading for silks, spices, and exotic foods, many European nations found that they faced a shortage in gold
and silver coin.
While all of these factors interfered with trade, another set of circumstances was changing the
nature of Europe itself. Several European nations such as Portugal, Spain, France, and England had
become large and united nations under the control of powerful rulers. They now had the resources and the
ability to explore on their own and wished to bypass the Italian City States as well as the Middle East. All
understood that the nation that was able to open direct trade with Asia would become fabulously wealthy
and powerful. Each also hoped to create colonies to expand their power and influence both in Europe and
overseas.
Portugal was the first nation to send out organized sailing expeditions to find a route to Asia.
Portugal’s sailors concentrated on finding away around Africa to Asia and were successful by the early
1500’s. As a result, Portugal controlled the eastern trade routes to Asia and started to form colonies in
Africa, India, and South Asia. Spain, wishing to avoid a confrontation with the powerful Portuguese,
decided to sail directly west to Asia. Spanish exploration led to the creation of colonies and eventually an
empire in the Americas (from Mexico to the bottom of South America).
France and England began to explore later than Spain and Portugal. They also wished to avoid wars
with more powerful nations and concentrated on finding what came to be called a “Northwest Passage” to
Asia. Although they were never successful, their journeys led to the creation of colonies in North America
(present day United States and Canada). By the 1600’s and 1700’s, Western European nations were busily
creating the empires that would influence World History for centuries.
The early exploration routes of the Portuguese that led to direct trade with Asia and enormous trade profits
Columbus’ voyages that led to the creation of a Spanish Empire in Mexico, Central America, and South
America
Cartier’s voyage that led to French settlement of Canada
Henry Hudson’s voyages that led to Dutch and
English Colonies in what is now the United
States
Finding a Trade Route to Asia
Name: ________________________________
1.
Period _____
What did the nations of Western Europe decide by the end of the 1400’s and beginning of the
1500’s?
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2.
What interrupted trade with the Middle East and Asia in the 1400’s? Explain and give two
examples.
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3.
What happened to “change the nature of Europe itself?” Explain and give two examples.
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4.
How did the Spanish and Portuguese eventually create colonies and empires in Africa, Asia,
and in the Americas (what exploring methods were used)?
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5.
Why did the English and French search for a Northwest Passage and what did their
explorations create?
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