Causes of the Age of Exploration

Causes of the Age of Exploration

• Crusades = interest in distant lands

• travelers = fantastic stories• Renaissance = means of

exploring

Desired itemsDesired items• luxury goods from India,

China, and the Spice Islands

gems, silk, porcelain, spices

Trade route problemsTrade route problems

• rugged, difficult terrain• fees for passage• Italian monopoly• Ottoman Turk raids

Exploration ReasonsExploration Reasons

avoid the Turksaway from Italian merchantswithout extra tolls and taxes

• Search for new trade routes

rumors of gold in Africahope of other gold deposits

Exploration ReasonsExploration Reasons• Search for new trade routes• Quest for gold

Exploration ReasonsExploration Reasons• Search for new trade routes• Quest for gold• Desire for adventure and glory

encouraged by Renaissance idealstook great risks for human praise

Exploration ReasonsExploration Reasons• Search for new trade routes• Quest for gold• Desire for adventure and glory• Religious concerns

Muslim threatsearch for wealthy allygain new converts

• National Competition

rival Italian monopoly increase national power and wealthencourage trade and colonization

Exploration ReasonsExploration Reasons

MapsMaps

• accurate for the Mediterranean and European coasts

• updated after successful trips• spread by printing press

InstrumentsInstruments

• compass = aided navigation and mapmaking

• latitudinal instruments = determine location at sea

astrolabe, quadrant, cross-staff

ShipsShips

caravel

• seagoing vessels = sail open seas and carry large cargoes

Iberian successIberian success• shipping = principal industry• Italian dominance in

Mediterranean• superior navigational and

mapmaking skills• motivated by a crusading

spirit

Portugal’s explorationPortugal’s exploration• Prince Henry, the Navigator

never led an expeditionestablished a school of navigation

instruments, maps, caravel

• Bartholomeu Dias

rounded the tip of Africanamed the Cape of Good Hope

Portugal’s explorationPortugal’s exploration

• Vasco da Gama

water route from Portugal to India

opened India to European trade

Portugal’s explorationPortugal’s exploration

Spain’s explorationSpain’s exploration• Christopher Columbus

sought western route to Japan and China

discovered the Caribbeanmade three more voyages

Naming of AmericaNaming of America• Amerigo Vespucci = reached

and explored South America

• Martin Waldseemöller = coined the name America

Line of DemarcationLine of Demarcation• officially = Treaty of

Tordesillas• divided the Atlantic Ocean

north to south• Treaty of Saragossa

extended line around the globe

Line’s ImportanceLine’s Importance• Portugal colonized Africa and

East Indies• Spain claimed almost all of

New World• forced Spain to seek western

route to Asia

Spain’s explorationSpain’s exploration• Ferdinand Magellan

first to circumnavigate the world

did not live to complete his goal

ResultsResults• one body of water covered

the earth• verified the world was round• confirmed Columbus’

discoveries not close to Asia

North American IndiansNorth American Indians

• Northeastern = formed a confederation

• Southeastern = “mound builders”• Plains = followed buffalo herds• Southwestern = “cliff dwellers”• West Coast = small, scattered

tribes

MayaMaya• noted for artistic and

intellectual achievements• comparable to ancient

civilizations

AztecAztec• centered on Tenochtitlán• vicious fighters, but poor

rulers

IncaInca• great empire in Peru• built highly sophisticated

cities

conquistadorsconquistadors

Spanish conquerors

Conquistador CommissionsConquistador Commissions

• search for riches• evangelize the Indians• establish Spanish authority

Vasco Núñez de BalboaVasco Núñez de Balboa• in search of adventure• established a colony at

Panama• first European to see the

Pacific Ocean

Hernando CortésHernando Cortés• “greatest of the

conquistadors”• believed to be a returning

deity• defeated the Aztecs

Francisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro• cruelest conquistador• in search of gold• defeated the Incas

• document informing the Indians of Spain’s possession

RequerimentoRequerimento

Requerimento statementRequerimento statementGod gave the Pope authority on the earth.

Pope gave Spain authority over the New World.

Indians could become Catholics and Spanish subjects.

Bartolomé de las CasasBartolomé de las Casas• Roman Catholic friar• worked to end abuse of the

natives

helped institute the “New Laws”

denounced forced conversions

Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto• served with Pizarro• explored southeastern

United States• discovered the Mississippi

River

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado

Francisco Vásquez de Coronado

• searched for the “Seven Cities of Cibola”

• explored southwestern United States

French explorersFrench explorersJacques Cartier

• three voyages seeking a Northwest Passage

• explored eastern coast of Canada

Samuel de Champlain

• “Father of New France”

• colonized Saint Lawrence River area

French explorersFrench explorers

Jacques Marquette & Louis Joliet

• Jesuit missionaries• explored Mississippi

River

French explorersFrench explorers

Sieur de La Salle

• traveled to the mouth of the Mississippi River

• claimed entire river valley for France

French explorersFrench explorers

Dutch explorersDutch explorersHenry Hudson

• hired English explorer• searched for a shorter

route to the Orient

English explorersEnglish explorersJohn Cabot

• hired Italian explorer• led first English exploration

to the New World

John Smith

• leader of first permanent English settlement

• built a village as exploration base

English explorersEnglish explorers

Portugal and the EastPortugal and the EastIndia

• trading posts under Pedro Cabral

• naval power gave the advantage

• Affonso de Albuquerque = viceroy of Asia

• built a vast commercial empire

Portugal and the EastPortugal and the EastAsia

Portuguese ShortcomingsPortuguese

Shortcomings• too vast for the small nation• lost many men at sea• cruelty of the traders

Holland and the EastHolland and the East

• wanted direct trade route• expelled the Portuguese

in several places• Cape Town = South

Africa supply base

the Pacific

England and the EastEngland and the East

East Indies• traded alongside the Dutch

India• seized control of the

Persian Gulf• established the English

East India Company

Eastern ResponseEastern Response• resented foreign interference• China

several battles between Chinese and Portuguese

allowed city of Macao to be “rented”

more friendly relations with Portuguese

limited trade with Dutch

• Japan

Eastern ResponseEastern Response

mercantilism

mercantilism

nations acquiring

wealth

capitalism

capitalism

individuals acquiring wealth

Commercial RevolutionCommercial Revolutionmercantilism

• dominate economic system

• theory that newly-found wealth should benefit the mother country

MercantilismMercantilism• nation’s wealth and

strength = measured by possession of gold and silver

• goal = gain as much precious metal as possible

• colonies = for self-sufficient mother country and favorable balance of trade

MercantilismMercantilism

Mercantilist view of colonies

Mercantilist view of colonies

• provide raw materials and ports for goods

• trade only with mother country

• colony suffered; mother country benefited

Mercantilism weaknessesMercantilism weaknesses

• created national monopolies that deterred competition

• detrimental to nation’s agriculture and industry

• hoarded wealth for the government

capitalism

• way of earning money by investment

• goal was to advance wealth

Commercial RevolutionCommercial Revolution

companies

companies

individuals sharing

expenses, gains, and losses

Joint-stock companiesJoint-stock companies• individuals invest money • capital used to finance an

endeavor• if a profit = then each

investor gains• investor = personally liable;

shares losses and gains

• English-East India Company = traded in India

• Dutch East India Company = traded in the East Indies

• French Company of New France = traded in Canada

Joint-stock companiesJoint-stock companies

prospectus

prospectus

details of a proposed business venture

underwriters

underwriters

signers who agree to accept costs, gains,

and losses of a business venture