WHY EXPLORE? China India Attracted to East for silks and spices - Silk road (over land route) China India EUROPE Middle East CHINA

ALSO…

WHY EXPLORE? Difficult to trade with Islamic empires 1453 Byzantine Empire (Christian) fell to Ottoman Empire (Muslim) Still do not like each other from the Crusades

Gold Glory God

WHY EXPLORE? GOD Christianity calls for Christians to spread the teachings of Jesus to others. Many Europeans used this as an excuse to kill others who refused to convert.

Improvements in Navigation HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE? Improvements in Navigation Better maps better ships INVENTIONS: Astrolabe / Compass knowledge of wind patterns

The Americas? Europeans referred to the new land as the West Indies. Later on they became known as North and South America.

Columbus’ Calculation Mistake Columbus learned of Alfraganus's (Muslim astronomer) estimate that one degree of latitude spanned 56⅔ miles, but did not realize that this was expressed in the Arabic mile (about 1,830 m) rather than the shorter Roman mile he was familiar with (1,480 m). He therefore estimated the circumference of the Earth to be about 19,000 miles, whereas the correct value is 25,000 miles. Based on these calculation Columbus could reach the East Indies (India, China, Spice Islands) faster by traveling West.

Another Columbus Mistake Columbus thought he landed in India. He thought this in part because of the darker skin of the native people there.

WHY EXPLORE? Desire for wealth/trade/GOLD

WHY EXPLORE? GLORY Desire for fame, and glory for being the person to find the new route to the far east, or perhaps for conquering people in the name of your country and God.

WHY EXPLORE? GOD Christianity calls for Christians to spread the teachings of Jesus to others. Many Europeans used this as an excuse to kill others who refused to convert.

Columbus’ World Map

Columbus’s World Map

Columbus’ Voyages (1492)

Post Columbus Map

Post Columbus Map