Europe Encounters the World The Age of Exploration Europe Encounters the World

Why did Europeans Explore? A variety of factors all came together to make the time period (1450-1700) the “age of exploration” Many European countries, including England, France, Portugal, and Spain, explored and would ultimately create colonies around the world.

What is the easiest way to remember it all? The Three G’s: Gold Glory God Although a little simplistic, this mnemonic is a great way to remember the main motivations of the European explorers.

Early trade routes by Christian Europeans to Asia traversed on land occupied by Muslims.

As a result of the Crusades (Holy Wars), the Muslims cutoff trade routes between Europe and Asia in 1453.

What factors were pushing Europeans to explore? Europeans, especially Spain and Portugal, wanted to find a water route to Asia and Africa. They were upset with the Italian merchants in Venice and Genoa who were controlling most of the trade with Asia and Africa.

The First G: Gold Mercantilism is an economic policy where colonies exist to increase the wealth of the mother country. Explorers wanted actual gold, but they also wanted anything that could make them money. Foreign spices were desired also because Europe had no refrigeration. Europeans wanted pepper and nutmeg to season their foods. These spices were in the Spice Islands. (Indonesia)

Where are the Spice Islands?

Where are the Spice Islands in Relationship to Europe?

Pass the Pepper, Please! By the early 1500’s, Europeans came to the Spice Islands in search of cloves and nutmeg. They were highly valued as food preservatives. Wealthy ladies used to keep spices in lockets around their necks so they could freshen their breaths easily. Gentlemen added nutmeg to food and drink. Spices were also used for medicinal purposes, especially in the relief of colic, gout, and rheumatism. Such great demand meant that the prices of nutmeg and cloves soared. Expeditions were launched to find the source of these spices and bring them directly back to Europe.

The Second G: Glory Just like the first G, glory was a relatively new idea in Europe. The printing press now allowed people to get fame for their findings. Kings wanted glory for their kingdoms – the bigger, the more glory. The Triumph of Fame, a Flemish tapestry from 1502.

The Third G: God Europeans had always seen spreading Christianity as their duty. Colonizing foreign lands allowed them to convert native peoples to Christianity. Spreading Christianity while killing and taking land from natives??? Does it make any sense to you?

How did these ocean explorations begin? The first to encourage new ship explorations was Prince Henry of Portugal, known as “Prince Henry the Navigator” Started a school for seafaring and exploring Combined Islam ship technology with new European innovations By the time of his death in 1460, Portuguese had sailed as far south as the Gold Coast of West Africa

What were the new technologies that enabled explorations? The caravel was a new, faster, more maneuverable ship Older ships had square sails but caravels had triangular sails (easier to change direction) Bilge pump system enabled ship to float higher (less likely to run aground, easier to explore coasts and rivers) Compass, astrolabe, maps and other technologies from Islamic culture all helped make explorations possible

Work Session Directions: Create a poster, flyer, or brochure that would encourage someone to come to Prince Henry’s school of navigation. Remember what would motivate someone of this time period

The European desires for wealth did not stop with the closing of the land trading routes. They simply took another route……..by water!

The 3 G’s Gold Glory God