The Age of Exploration Why leave Europe?

Europeans vs. Americans 15th Century

European Technology

Reasons for Leaving Europe

Spices No refrigeration = meat spoils, unless preserved with spices These spices were also used to cover up the taste of rotten meat

Spice Trade These spices could not be found in Europe, so Europeans had to go out and find them elsewhere Finding a sea route for spice trade would make everything much cheaper and easier

Gold Finding gold would bring wealth and power to countries This gold could be easily taken from native populations

Larger Empires More land = More resources This also meant that countries could take advantage of the people living there

Spread Christianity Monarchs during this time believed it was their duty to spread Christianity throughout the world They sent missionaries in an attempt to convert everyone to Christianity

Spices, Gold, Land, and Christianity Of these reasons, what do you think was the most important?

Spices, Gold, Land, and Christianity Do you think that these reasons still exist today?

Western Europe on the Eve of Exploration Why were spices so important and expensive? What were the Crusades? What types of government existed in Europe? What was the Renaissance?