The Age of Exploration
What is the Age of Exploration? Time period (1400-1700s) when Europeans set off on voyages of discovery
What were the explorers hoping to find on their voyages? Faster trade route to Asia Gold and spices Catholic converts (people who they could convert to Catholicism)
What new technology made the Age of Exploration possible? Cartography – the science of making maps and globes (more accurate) The Chinese invention of the compass and the Greek astrolabe made navigating the open seas easier Better, faster ships – caravels and galleons