After the Crusades, Europeans want Asian goods. Causes of Exploration After the Crusades, Europeans want Asian goods. E-F-F-E-C-T Other nations seek a water route to Asia. E-F-F-E-C-T Italy dominates trade because it developed a network during the Crusades.

Early European Explorers As Europeans searched for sea routes to Asia, Christopher Columbus reached the Americas.

A Water Route to Asia Caravel—Portuguese ship that improves sailing Navigator- person who plans the course of a ship Caravel—Portuguese ship that improves sailing Portugal: explorer Bartolomeu Dias reaches south tip of Africa (1488) explorer Vasco da Gama finds all-water route to Asia (1498) can now trade with Asia without Italian-Muslim interference • Portugal grows rich from spice trade • European rivals want part of this trade, search for water routes to Asia

Columbus’ Plan Italian sailor Christopher Columbus claims sailing west is faster to Asia Columbus overestimates size of Asia; underestimates size of globe Portugal turns down Columbus’s request to finance voyage

Help from Spain’s Rulers Spain’s rulers, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella: want lucrative Asian trade and to spread Christianity doubt Columbus’s calculations are low on money because of Muslim wars are hesitant to pay the high expense for Columbus’s services • After Muslim wars, Spain agrees to support Columbus Columbus assembles his ships: Niña, Pinta, Santa María

Setting Sail Columbus sets sail with 90 crew members on August 3, 1492 He keeps two logs: one for sailors, other tells truth about voyage After 10 weeks, crew wants to turn back; agree to sail 3 more days Two days later, on October 12, 1492, they see land

Reaching the Americas Columbus believes he has landed in Indies, islands in Southeast Asia Islanders, the Taino people, greet him; he calls them Indians He calls island San Salvador, takes possession of it for Spain For 3 months, tours other Caribbean islands; finds some gold, pearls Convinced he found Asia, he returns to Spain and informs Spanish rulers Leaves 39 men on Hispaniola; they steal from Taino, who kill them

An Expanding Horizon Columbus makes 3 more voyages to Americas, never brings back treasures • Disappoints Ferdinand, Isabella; mistreatment of islanders angers queen Rulers refuse to finance another voyage; Columbus dies a bitter man In time, Europeans realize Columbus found continents unknown to them Atlantic Ocean now seen as bridge connecting Europeans to America