Early Explorations Europeans risked dangerous ocean voyages to discover sea routes to other parts of the world.

God, Glory and Gold 1) Merchants wanted profitable trade with Asia 2) The church wished to halt the expansion of Islam and spread Christian teachings 3)Learning and Exploration were fostered from Renaissance

Trade (“Gold”) Europeans in the 1300s depended on spices from Asia Pepper Ginger Cinnamon Nutmeg The spice trade was controlled by Arab and Venetian merchants

Spice Trade Arabs sold Asian gods to Italian merchants who then sold these goods to the rest of Europe. Europeans wished to have direct trade with Asia and looked for quicker routes eastward

Converting non-Christians (“God”) Crusades had inspired European Christians to spread the word of God. “[bringing] light to those who were in darkness…” Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias

Technology of Exploration Compass, of Chinese origin, enable sailors to determine geographic direction Astrolabe- used the stars to calculate latitude and longitude Maps- Early on maps were wildly inaccurate Cartographers, map makers, filled their parchments with lands found only in rumor or legend Ptolemy introduced the grid system of map references based on longitude and latitude Improved Sails Triangle shaped lateen sails made it possible for ships to sail into the wind (adopted from the Arabs) European ships could not sail against the wind Multiple Masts Smaller sails, hoisted above one another made ships faster Caravels