Chapter 13 – European Explorers

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Map of World 3 continents – Europe, Asia and Africa one sea – The Ocean Sea

Key Events Europeans risked dangerous ocean voyages to discover new sea routes.  Spain and Portugal control the “New World” Early European explorers sought gold in Africa, then began to trade slaves. 

Motives and Means Dynamic Energy in Europe leads to European Expansion  Why would they risk so much to explore?  The 3 G’s: God Gold Glory

The Portuguese Southern coast of Africa along the Atlantic = “The Gold Coast”

The Portuguese = look to round Africa to return from India with Spices In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the tip of Africa looking for a route to India.  Vasco da Gama rounded the tip of Africa and sailed on to the port of Calcutta in India in  He took on a cargo of spices and returned to make a profit of several thousand percent. 

Da Gama’s Ship

Spanish Voyage to Americas As the Portuguese sailed east to reach the source of the spice trade, the Spanish sailed west to find it.  Italian Christopher Columbus sails for Spain. 4 voyages – believes he reaches the Indies Opposing viewpoints – page 410

Video: Age of Exploration- Race for Riches

The Voyage

Voyages to the Americas (cont.) Both Spain and Portugal feared the other would claim some of its newly “discovered” territories.  In the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, they decided on a north-to-south line through the Atlantic Ocean and the easternmost part of South America.  Portugal claimed the unexplored territories east of the line, Spain to the west.

Spanish Win the Treaty: They get the best Of the deal

Voyages to the Americas (cont.) Amerigo Vespucci – Florence Explored for Portugal  Wrote letters of the New World.  Led to the use of his first name Amerigo for “Americas”

Amerigo Vespucci

Voyages to the Americas (cont.) Spanish Explorers - Conquistadors  Cortes, Pizarro - examples  Forced labor of Native Americans led to the cruel treatment

Video: Francisco Pizzaro

Ferdinand Magellan From Portugal, but explored for Spain Credited with first to go around the world Killed in the Philippines Found “Strait of Magellan”

Voyages to the Americas (cont.) Disease Ravages Americans  Smallpox, measles, typhus  Hispaniola – pop. 250,000 in 1492 pop. 500 in 1538 Mexico – pop. 25 Million in 1519 pop. 1 Million in 1630

Commerce & Trade Mercantilism – set of principles that dominated economic thought in the 17 th century.  Prosperity depends on supply of bullion – gold & silver  Balance of Trade – difference between what a nation imports and exports

Slave Trade The Middle Passage – name for the transport of slaves from Africa to America.  Africans originally brought to the new world to supply labor for sugar plantations

Video: The Triangular Trade: Slave Trade

Triangular Trade

The Great Age of Exploration United Streaming