Chapter 2: Exploration and Expansion 1400-1700
Section 1: Voyages of Discovery Foundations of Exploration Renaissance – spirit of discovery and innovation inspired voyages (Age of Exploration) Motives: no middlemen Wealth Spices, silk, perfume, and jade Fame and Glory Spread Faith Introduce new populations to Christian teachings Curiosity Writers by Medieval travel like Marco Polo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The people are Idolaters; and since they were conquered by the Great Kaan they use paper‑money. [Both men and women are fair and comely, and for the most part clothe themselves in silk, so vast is the supply of that material, both from the whole district of Kinsay, and from the imports by traders from other provinces.] And you must know that they eat every kind of flesh, even that of dogs and other unclean beasts, which nothing would induce a Christian to eat.
Advances in technology compass (shows North direction) astrolabe (calculate locations based on position of sun and stars) shipbuilding lower in water, larger cargo holds caravel light, fast sailing ship steered from rear (rudder) triangular sails (lateen sails) equipped w/ weapons – cannons Larger cargo hold makes it stable at sea http://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_demos_the_13th_century_astrolabe?language=en Start at 3:18
Explorers from Portugal Portugal and Spain shared Iberian Peninsula started Euro. Exploration Iberian peninsula map Portugal 1st country Begun by Prince Henry – Henry the Navigator patron, supporter established court for explorers islands in Atlantic and West African Coast gold and slaves (Eventually took slaves from West Africa, but did not originally explore the coast seeking them) main goal – water route –around Africa to India for spices Bartolomeu Dias – Cape of Good Hope Vasco da Gama – reached India established trading centers/networks
The Spanish 1492 financed Columbus Amerigo Vespucci concluded not Asia Thought he could sail west to China predicted earth’s size wrong did not know about Americas arrived in San Salvador, thought India, called them Indians returned with parrots, jewels, gold, plants, natives (Christianity) four voyages Amerigo Vespucci concluded not Asia Vasco Nunez de Balboa – Isthmus of Panama – 1st to see Pacific Ferdinand Magellan – 1st to circumnavigate 5 ships, 250 18 returned
Explorers from the Rest of Europe English, French, Dutch follow English – New England – U.S. 1497 John Cabot – two voyages – claimed New England for the English, but did not return from second voyage. Sir Francis Drake – southern tip of S.A., California, around the top but bad weather sent him west (2nd to circumnavigate) Henry Hudson (English born) – hoped to find NE passage French – New France - Canada Jacques Cartier – St. Lawrence River Dutch Henry Hudson – Hudson River (New York today), Hudson Bay