Motives for European Exploration

The Three G’s

Gold: Economy• Europeans need a direct route to Africa and Asia

to make more $$$– Muslims controlled land routes to Asia & interior of

Africa– cut out middleman = $$

• Resources– Spices from Asia prevented meats from spoiling– Gold & ivory from Africa would bring wealth & power

to Europeans– Land to cultivate & slaves to work land

God: Religion

Pre 1517 - The focus of Europe was fighting the MuslimsAfter 1517 - Their focus is on spreading Christianity to new lands… you can’t let the heretics get to them first!

By Columbus’ time (1492) the last of the Muslim Strongholds in Spain had been defeated, this led to a Shift in European focus…

Every time Europeans wanted to trade with China or India they had to pass through Ottoman trading posts; this meant that they had to give money to the Muslims.

If money = power, who was getting powerful in this deal?

New Testament commands Christians to spread the Gospel

Glory: For the glory of the king!

If you didn’t get the wealth someone else would! They would win and you would lose!

The way to make the country more powerful was to increase it’s wealth. You do this by getting as much as you can.

The more wealth a country had = more power in war!

Victory over your enemies was everything!

What allowed the Europeans to cross oceans?

2. With the use of the compass and astrolabe, the Portuguese are able to navigate well.

1. By the 1400s Portugal is building good ships, and making accurate sea charts.

4. Combining old designs together the Portuguese were able to make a small, fast, and maneuverable ship design…

Viking ships had squaresails to capture the wind…

Early Chinese ships had triangle sails, allowing them to cut through wind currents…

3. Improved weapons gave Europeans an advantage: cannons & guns

Carrack

The Portuguese combinedthe 2 sail designs to comeup with their own design.

This design was laterModified by the Spanish…The Galleon…

European Players During the

Age of Discovery1400-1600

Major PlayersPortugal

* Located on the west coat of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal had a long seafaring tradition.* Economy based on trade located in the port cities, which become the base of operations for various expeditions.* Begin exploration of the coast of Africa as early as 1415.* Searching for resources & land suitable for crowing cash crops.

Impact: * Controlled Eastern sea routes to Asia* Colonize Brazil for land; need workers* By the mid 1500s, start taking Africans as slaves to colonies (Start of Atlantic Slave Trade)

Major PlayersSpain

* Located next to Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula* Wanted to expand their knowledge of the world, find spices & other riches, build a larger empire, and spread Christianity* Needed gold to fund wars with Turkish Empire (Ottomans)* Wanted to control sea routes to Asia and take over from Portugal

Impact* Columbus actually discovers land between Europe & Asia; the “New World”* This discovery completely changes Europeans’ view of the world* Spain establishes colonies in the West Indies to grow crops

Major Players

France* French exploration doesn’t begin until 1515* French set out looking for northwest passage to India In addition to wanting to expand their empire, find gold and spices, the French also wanted animal furs

Impact* French exploration focused on the interior regions of North America establishing a thriving commercial trade of furs and fish, rather than planting permanent settlements (colonies)

Major Players

England* England located north of Portugal and Spain.* English don’t start exploring until the end of the 15th century (1480s).* English also wanted to same things as the Portuguese and Spanish: gold, spices, land to build and Empire.* English navy was weaker than the Spanish, so they relied on attacking Spanish ships to steal resources.* English take a northern route across the Atlantic

Impact* Discovery of land in North America that would be used for future colonies

http://Exploration rap song/