The Search for Spices
As Europe’s population grew the demand for trade increased Renaissance Pushes Europe Ahead- Causes Europeans to look outward
Spices were the most valued items Cinnamon Cloves Nutmeg Pepper
The Spice Islands The chief source of spices found in Southeast Asia
Traders Italian and Muslim traders controlled trade between Europe and Asia
Direct Route Europeans searched for a direct route to Asia
The spirit of the Renaissance Motivated by this spirit of adventure explorers set out
New Technologies Allows Europeans to expand their explorations
1. Cartographers Map-makers Created more accurate sea charts
2. Astrolabe Used to determine latitude at sea
3. Caravel Combined square and triangular sails
Portugal Led the way in exploration Why?
Henry the Navigator Portuguese Prince Sent ships to explore and map western Africa
Sea Monsters?
Cape of Good Hope The southernmost tip of Africa Discovered by Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Diaz
Vasco da Gama Portuguese sailor that rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached India
Scurvy A disease caused by the lack of vitamin C Caused many sailors to die along the long journeys
Christopher Columbus An Italian Catholic Like most educated Europeans, knew the world was a sphere but was unsure how large it was
Queen Isabella United Spain and defeated the Muslims granted Columbus three ships to find a shorter route to Asia Nina Pinta Santa Maria
October 12, 1492 Columbus lands in the Caribbean He has “discovered” a new continent
New Explorers Columbus is soon joined by Portuguese explorers
Spain vs. Portugal Spain and Portugal gobbled up much of the Caribbean The first to land on a new island, the first to claim it
Pope Alexander VI The Pope stepped in to stop the building frustration between Spain and Portugal
The Line of Demarcation Drew a line down the current map of the Caribbean Spain would control all land west of the line Portugal would control all land east of the line
Portugal accidentally discovers Brazil Portugal is overjoyed that the new land is on the East side of the line What they don’t know is how vast the land to the west is
Vasco Nunez de Balboa Spanish explorer that hacked through the forests of Panama Discovers the Pacific Ocean
Magellan Maps the Eastern side of South America Rounds the tip of South America named the strait of Magellan
He Keeps Going! Magellan crosses the Pacific and lands in the Philippines
Filipino war Magellan befriends a local leader and helps him fight a war with their neighboring tribe Magellan dies in the fighting
Magellan's crew Returns to Spain The first crew to circumnavigate the globe Circumnavigate – travel around the world
The other Europeans scramble The French, English, and Dutch send explorers to claim other lands in the Western Hemisphere… and eventually the rest of the world!