European ExplorationEuropean ExplorationThe CausesThe Causes

Essential QuestionEssential Question

►What were the What were the causes of causes of European European exploration exploration and and colonization in colonization in the 15the 15thth Century?Century?

3 G’s3 G’s

►GoldGold►GodGod►GloryGlory

GoldGold

► In the 1400s, European countries were In the 1400s, European countries were competing with each other for competing with each other for Natural Natural ResourcesResources They competed for natural resources such They competed for natural resources such

as gold, silk, and spicesas gold, silk, and spices►Spices were especially valuableSpices were especially valuable►Many of these things could be found in India.Many of these things could be found in India.►Traders had to travel great distances over Traders had to travel great distances over

land to get these natural resources.land to get these natural resources.

Gold and Natural ResourcesGold and Natural Resources

► Transporting goods Transporting goods across these great across these great distances was costly.distances was costly. Everyone along the Everyone along the

way had to be paid way had to be paid and wanted to earn a and wanted to earn a profitprofit

By the time the spices By the time the spices and goods reached and goods reached Europe, they had to Europe, they had to be sold at extremely be sold at extremely high prices.high prices.

Gold and Natural ResourcesGold and Natural Resources

► European Merchants European Merchants new that if they new that if they would trade directly would trade directly with people in Asia, with people in Asia, they could make they could make enormous profits.enormous profits.

► In the 1400s, In the 1400s, Europeans began Europeans began searching for a sea searching for a sea route to Asia.route to Asia.

GodGod

►Some Europeans Some Europeans believed it was their believed it was their duty to spread the duty to spread the ChristianChristian faith faith throughout the world.throughout the world. They felt that they could They felt that they could

convert the Native people convert the Native people they met in their journeys they met in their journeys into Christians.into Christians.

GloryGlory

► As Europeans began exploring As Europeans began exploring the Coast of Africa, they began the Coast of Africa, they began settling settling ColoniesColonies.. Colonizing new areas added Colonizing new areas added

to a country’s territory (more to a country’s territory (more natural resources, more natural resources, more wealth)wealth)

Colonizing also opened Colonizing also opened new new marketsmarkets►European countries could European countries could

sell things to the people in sell things to the people in these areas and make these areas and make even more moneyeven more money

GloryGlory► The more colonies a The more colonies a

country had, the more country had, the more wealth it hadwealth it had

► More colonies meant More colonies meant more prestige or more prestige or GloryGlory Countries began Countries began

competing with one competing with one another for coloniesanother for colonies

► When one Country When one Country takes over another it takes over another it is called is called ImperialismImperialism

Which Country Which Country started the started the

Exploration?Exploration?

Prince Henry the NavigatorPrince Henry the Navigator

►PortugalPortugal► Prince Henry the Prince Henry the

NavigatorNavigator of Portugal of Portugal began the age of began the age of European explorationEuropean exploration Prince Henry began Prince Henry began

Portugal’s exploration Portugal’s exploration of Africa in the mid of Africa in the mid 1400s.1400s.

He hired sailors who He hired sailors who explored the coast of explored the coast of Africa and opened the Africa and opened the way for future way for future journeysjourneys

Prince Henry the NavigatorPrince Henry the Navigator

►Henry also opened Henry also opened a school of a school of Navigation in Navigation in PortugalPortugal He wanted He wanted

shipbuilders, shipbuilders, mapmakers, sea mapmakers, sea captains, and captains, and inventors to learn inventors to learn and work together.and work together.

► For the next 200 For the next 200 years, Europe’s years, Europe’s largest countries largest countries began exploring began exploring Africa, Asia, and Africa, Asia, and North America.North America.

► They set up They set up Colonies, new Colonies, new markets, and markets, and spread Christianity.spread Christianity.