Age of ExplorationAge of Exploration

© 2011Clairmont Press

AN AGE for AN AGE for explorationexploration

• The Scientific The Scientific RevolutionRevolution

• NationalismNationalism

• MercantilismMercantilism

The Scientific Revolution was a time The Scientific Revolution was a time when European scholars and scientists when European scholars and scientists sought to better understand nature. sought to better understand nature. The idea that humans could harness The idea that humans could harness nature and use it to their advantage nature and use it to their advantage challenged men to invent and change challenged men to invent and change the world around them. Men searched the world around them. Men searched farther and traveled greater distances. farther and traveled greater distances. The Age of Exploration was the true The Age of Exploration was the true test of European mettle; they would test of European mettle; they would take on quests of danger, adventure, take on quests of danger, adventure, and wealth beyond imagination. and wealth beyond imagination.

At the same time as the Age of At the same time as the Age of Exploration, nations were scrambling Exploration, nations were scrambling for power. The youngest of these, for power. The youngest of these, Spain, would become the largest Spain, would become the largest empire in the world because of empire in the world because of exploration and colonization. These exploration and colonization. These nations sought to improve their wealth nations sought to improve their wealth and invented a theory called and invented a theory called mercantilismmercantilism; the theory is that ; the theory is that nations should increase their wealth by nations should increase their wealth by establishing trade monopolies and establishing trade monopolies and accumulating gold and silver. accumulating gold and silver.

The Scientific Revolution was a time The Scientific Revolution was a time when European scholars and scientists when European scholars and scientists sought to better understand nature. sought to better understand nature. The idea that humans could harness The idea that humans could harness nature and use it to their advantage nature and use it to their advantage challenged men to invent and change challenged men to invent and change the world around them. Men searched the world around them. Men searched farther and traveled greater distances. farther and traveled greater distances. The Age of Exploration was the true The Age of Exploration was the true test of European mettle; they would test of European mettle; they would take on quests of danger, adventure, take on quests of danger, adventure, and wealth beyond imagination. and wealth beyond imagination.

At the same time as the Age of At the same time as the Age of Exploration, nations were scrambling Exploration, nations were scrambling for power. The youngest of these, for power. The youngest of these, Spain, would become the largest Spain, would become the largest empire in the world because of empire in the world because of exploration and colonization. These exploration and colonization. These nations sought to improve their wealth nations sought to improve their wealth and invented a theory called and invented a theory called mercantilismmercantilism; the theory is that ; the theory is that nations should increase their wealth by nations should increase their wealth by establishing trade monopolies and establishing trade monopolies and accumulating gold and silver. accumulating gold and silver.

The School of The School of NavigationNavigation

A Portuguese member of the royal family A Portuguese member of the royal family named Prince Henry pushed for Portugal named Prince Henry pushed for Portugal to become the greatest European to become the greatest European exploring country. exploring country.

He started a School of Navigation and He started a School of Navigation and commissioned many explorations of commissioned many explorations of Africa in search of a trade route to Asia.Africa in search of a trade route to Asia.

At the school, the caravel, a faster ship At the school, the caravel, a faster ship that could carry more goods was that could carry more goods was developed. The astrolabe and quadrant, developed. The astrolabe and quadrant, tools for navigation, were taught to tools for navigation, were taught to explorers. Finally, the improvements in explorers. Finally, the improvements in mapmaking made exploration more mapmaking made exploration more efficient and safer. efficient and safer.

Portugal soon led the way. Men from Portugal soon led the way. Men from across Europe sought to learn at the across Europe sought to learn at the School of Navigation in Portugal. Henry School of Navigation in Portugal. Henry became known as Prince Henry the became known as Prince Henry the Navigator. Navigator.

Early Exploration Early Exploration • As early as 1415 A.D., the Portuguese were As early as 1415 A.D., the Portuguese were

exploring the western coasts of Africa. exploring the western coasts of Africa.

• The Portuguese explored the Congo River area The Portuguese explored the Congo River area and set up posts along the western coasts.and set up posts along the western coasts.

• Eventually, Bartholomew Dias, in 1488, reached Eventually, Bartholomew Dias, in 1488, reached the southern tip of Africa. He named it the Cape the southern tip of Africa. He named it the Cape of Good Hope. He would never reach his true goal of Good Hope. He would never reach his true goal of finding a route to Asia. He died at sea in 1500 of finding a route to Asia. He died at sea in 1500 A.D.A.D.

• Christopher Columbus, an Italian, set sail for Asia Christopher Columbus, an Italian, set sail for Asia across the Atlantic and discovered the West across the Atlantic and discovered the West Indies. Though he never set foot on the Indies. Though he never set foot on the continents in the Americas, his exploration led to continents in the Americas, his exploration led to their discovery.their discovery.

• The Portuguese finally found the trade route to The Portuguese finally found the trade route to Asia around Africa and realized Henry the Asia around Africa and realized Henry the Navigator’s dream when Vasco de Gama sailed to Navigator’s dream when Vasco de Gama sailed to present day Somalia. Later a local captain present day Somalia. Later a local captain showed him the way across the Indian Ocean to showed him the way across the Indian Ocean to India. Portugal gained immediate access to the India. Portugal gained immediate access to the Spice Islands, China, and even Japan by 1513Spice Islands, China, and even Japan by 1513..

Great ExplorationsGreat Explorations• Amerigo Vespucci – discovered the Amerigo Vespucci – discovered the

continent of South America and continent of South America and proclaimed it America; named for the proclaimed it America; named for the Latin version of his name Americus. Latin version of his name Americus. (explored early 1500s)(explored early 1500s)

• Vasco de Núñez de Balboa – crossed the Vasco de Núñez de Balboa – crossed the Isthmus of Panama and reached the Isthmus of Panama and reached the Pacific Ocean. (1513)Pacific Ocean. (1513)

• Ferdinand Magellan – attempted to Ferdinand Magellan – attempted to circumnavigate the world. His crew circumnavigate the world. His crew succeeded; unfortunately, he died on succeeded; unfortunately, he died on the voyage along with 182 of his 200 the voyage along with 182 of his 200 men. (1519-1522)men. (1519-1522)

• Henry Hudson – crossed the Atlantic and Henry Hudson – crossed the Atlantic and explored the area that is current day explored the area that is current day New York City and later explored Hudson New York City and later explored Hudson Bay in northern Canada where he was Bay in northern Canada where he was set adrift with his teenage son and six set adrift with his teenage son and six loyal crew members by his mutinous loyal crew members by his mutinous crew and never heard from again. crew and never heard from again. (1609)(1609)

Why explore?Why explore?

NobilityNobility

• Mercantilism – to gain Mercantilism – to gain wealth as a nationwealth as a nation

• Power – with wealth Power – with wealth comes more powercomes more power

• Prestige – competition Prestige – competition between absolute between absolute monarchs of different monarchs of different nationsnations

• Strength – the display of Strength – the display of strength was important strength was important to remain on the throneto remain on the throne

CommonerCommoner

• Feudal life was very Feudal life was very difficult on a commoner; difficult on a commoner; no real power or wealthno real power or wealth

• A chance to move up in A chance to move up in societysociety

• Finding a new place to Finding a new place to live and start a familylive and start a family

• A chance to play a part A chance to play a part in achieving something in achieving something greatgreat

Impact of Spanish and Impact of Spanish and Portuguese explorationPortuguese exploration

EuropeEurope• The nations of Spain and Portugal lead The nations of Spain and Portugal lead

exploration. exploration.

• The Treaty of Tordesillas and The Treaty of The Treaty of Tordesillas and The Treaty of Zaragoza divided claimed lands down Zaragoza divided claimed lands down meridians. Anything east of the meridian meridians. Anything east of the meridian would be Portuguese and anything west would be Portuguese and anything west would be Spanish. would be Spanish.

• Both countries were happy because Both countries were happy because Portugal claimed Brazil and could Portugal claimed Brazil and could maintain their African colonies and route maintain their African colonies and route to Asia.to Asia.

• Spain benefitted because it conquered Spain benefitted because it conquered the western portion of two continents and the western portion of two continents and many Caribbean Islands. many Caribbean Islands.

• Spain and Portugal become very wealthy; Spain and Portugal become very wealthy; Spain eventually becomes the greatest Spain eventually becomes the greatest European empire and had the greatest European empire and had the greatest navy in the world.navy in the world.

New WorldNew World• European technology and disease European technology and disease

wiped out many native populations wiped out many native populations and lands were quickly colonized.and lands were quickly colonized.

• Some native tribes resisted but were Some native tribes resisted but were quickly overwhelmed.quickly overwhelmed.

• Natives became slave workers for the Natives became slave workers for the Spanish and Portuguese.Spanish and Portuguese.

• Natives were forced to convert to Natives were forced to convert to Catholicism. Catholicism.

• The Spanish and Portuguese Catholic The Spanish and Portuguese Catholic missions were very strict and missions were very strict and sometimes tortured those who would sometimes tortured those who would not convert.not convert.

• The Columbian Exchange brought The Columbian Exchange brought new animals, foods, and goods to a new animals, foods, and goods to a new land. Some native tribes traded new land. Some native tribes traded and worked with the Spanish and and worked with the Spanish and Portuguese.Portuguese.

France & EnglandFrance & England

FranceFrance• France was already a very wealthy France was already a very wealthy

country and had good trade relations country and had good trade relations with the Venetians who controlled Far with the Venetians who controlled Far East trade. They only sought to explore East trade. They only sought to explore because of Spain’s growth in power.because of Spain’s growth in power.

• French exploration began in 1524 , but French exploration began in 1524 , but took off in 1536 when Jacques Cartier took off in 1536 when Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River. explored the St. Lawrence River.

• The French primarily sought to trade The French primarily sought to trade beaver fur and formed good relations beaver fur and formed good relations with local Indian tribes. with local Indian tribes.

• The French would eventually conquer The French would eventually conquer the lands of the Great Plains and the lands of the Great Plains and Mississippi River from Nova Scotia, to Mississippi River from Nova Scotia, to the Great Lakes, south to New Orleans. the Great Lakes, south to New Orleans.

• Many American cities like Detroit, Baton Many American cities like Detroit, Baton Rouge, St. Louis, and New Orleans were Rouge, St. Louis, and New Orleans were first French cities or forts.first French cities or forts.

EnglandEngland• England entered exploration in 1497 England entered exploration in 1497

under John Cabot. The Italian born Cabot under John Cabot. The Italian born Cabot explored the lands of Newfoundland. explored the lands of Newfoundland. England entered the quest for England entered the quest for exploration.exploration.

• The first successful settlement was The first successful settlement was Jamestown in Virginia. The English Jamestown in Virginia. The English settlements typically struggled early on settlements typically struggled early on because they only sought to search for because they only sought to search for gold.gold.

• England eventually settled the lands from England eventually settled the lands from Georgia to New York. It garnered great Georgia to New York. It garnered great wealth from tobacco, cotton, and rice.wealth from tobacco, cotton, and rice.

• England gained control of the lands today England gained control of the lands today known as Canada after the Seven Years’ known as Canada after the Seven Years’ War.War.

• England solidified its control over England solidified its control over Scotland and eventually grew to become Scotland and eventually grew to become the largest empire in the world.the largest empire in the world.

• ““The Sun never sets on the British The Sun never sets on the British Empire.” Empire.”

SummarySummary

• The Age of Exploration empowered European countries The Age of Exploration empowered European countries and spread European culture to the far reaches of the and spread European culture to the far reaches of the world.world.

• The triumphs and tragedies that comprised the Age of The triumphs and tragedies that comprised the Age of Exploration must be studied in the context of the time; Exploration must be studied in the context of the time; little was known about medicine, the Catholic Church was little was known about medicine, the Catholic Church was extremely powerful, and the monarchs’ of Europe ruled extremely powerful, and the monarchs’ of Europe ruled supreme. supreme.

• The great explorers are remembered, but it is important to The great explorers are remembered, but it is important to understand and respect that they were only part of a understand and respect that they were only part of a group of common men that took on great peril to achieve group of common men that took on great peril to achieve great feats.great feats.

• There is little room for argument of the fact that the Age of There is little room for argument of the fact that the Age of Exploration transformed the world and began the push to Exploration transformed the world and began the push to globalization.globalization.