Age of Exploration Why did the Europeans attempt to explore the world? the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it Age of Exploration Why did the Europeans attempt to explore the world? How did European exploration affect the world? Did exploration have an impact on absolute monarchies?

I. Europeans Explore the East Europeans seek new trade routes 1. Muslim gunpowder empires and Italians dominate trade of goods from E. Asia a. Other Euro. countries (England, Spain, Portugal, France) seek to make their own $ B. “God, Glory, Gold” 1. Sacred duty to spread Christianity, fight Muslims, convert non- believers 2. Bring fame for themselves & their countries 3. Become rich!

C. New technology is key 1. The Caravel: a new ship. a C. New technology is key 1. The Caravel: a new ship! a. more sturdy and had triangular sails 2. Astrolabe: used to better calculate longitude and latitude

II. Portugal Leads the way The Portuguese Explore Africa 1. Strong gov’t support, esp. by Prince Henry a. navigation school established  allows for people involved in exploration to perfect their skills 2. Portuguese access ivory, spices, gold, and eventually enslaved Africans B. The Portuguese Explore Asia 1. 1488: Captain Bartolomeu Dias reaches India (barely) 2. 1497: Vasco de Gama reaches SW India a. accesses spices, silks, precious gems (worth 60x the cost of the voyage!)

III. Spain gets in the game! 1492: (Italian) Christopher Columbus reaches the Caribbean 1. Increased tensions between Spain & Portugal B. 1494: Treaty of Tordesillas 1. agreement intended to keep peace 2. the “new world” was divided between Spain & Portugal

IV. Trading in Africa, Asia A. The Netherlands (Dutch East India Co.) Portugal 1. 1600: own the largest fleet of ships in the world (20,000) 2. Able to expand in SE Asia (Indonesia) & S. Africa B. British (English East India Co.) 1. Able to expand into India