Notes #1 Age of Exploration

The effect of the Crusades Europeans came in to contact with the Islamic World because of the Middle Ages Crusades. Crusaders would bring back the knowledge & materials acquired from contact with the Muslims: Spices Silks / Cotton Dyes Technology This is known as cultural diffusion – the spreading of a regions way of life to another region.

Italy Dominates Trade Italy has a monopoly on trade & becomes the richest area in Europe. Other European countries want to share in the wealth but …. Italy won’t allow any European ships on the Eastern Mediterranean Arab traders won’t trade with anyone but the Italians Other Europeans need to find a new route to Asia.

Italian Controlled Trade Routes

Brain Break Why do you think the Muslims would only trade with Italy?

Main Motive for Exploration: 1. Desire for wealth Europeans demand the luxury items of the East. Other European countries want to find their own route to Asia in order to share in the wealth.

Motives for Exploration 2. Religious: To spread Christianity 3. Adventure: fame, excitement, conquest of the unknown 4. Quest for knowledge: 5. Political prestige: Nationalism – love for one’s country Gain world power for one’s country

Europeans use new technology. Astrolabe: Instrument used to determine latitude Caravel: New type of sail Weaponry: Cannons Cartographers: Mapmakers who updated maps to reflect N &S America

Portugal leads the way Prince Henry the Navigator: Bartolomeo Dias: opens a school of navigation in 1419 Began by exploring the W. coast of Africa Bartolomeo Dias: In 1487, Dias reaches the Southern tip of Africa Vasco da Gama In 1498, da Gama Sails around the S. tip of Africa all the way to India.

Spanish Explorers: Christopher Columbus: Financed by Spain, he sails west to find the E. Indies Discovers the W. Indies & introduces the Americas to Europeans. Will start a global exchange of goods between the America’s & Europe, Africa, & Asia called the Columbian Exchange

Spanish Explorers Ferdinand Magellan Is considered the first explorer to circumnavigate the world

Europeans compete in the New World. Line of Demarcation: Pope divides the non-European world into 2 zones West goes to Spain East goes to Portugal Purpose: To keep peace between the two competitive countries

Competition in the New World Northwest Passage Explorers looking for a faster route to Asia look for a natural passage way through N. America. As hard as they tried, explorers could not find the northwest passage Because There Is None!!!!