 Find new trade routes to get spices and other luxury goods  Spread Christianity  MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

 Caravel had triangular sails that helped the ships sail against the strong winds at sea  The astrolabe became an important tool in plotting latitude.  The compass also aided the captains by keeping them headed in the right direction

 Prince Henry starts a navigation school after returning from the Crusades  They sail down the western coast of Africa and begin trading with Africa for gold and Ivory  Eventually they trade for slaves  Bartolomeu Diaz accidently sails around the southern tip of Africa during a storm.

 1497 Vasco da Gama explores east coast of Africa and lands in India  The cargo they brought back was worth 60 times the cost of the trip  Portugal now had a sea route to Asia

 Columbus claims west indies for Spain and Portugal thinks he claimed Portuguese lands in India  Pope tries to ease tensions with the treaty of Tordesillas  Dutch create Dutch East India Company and control the East Indies

 England establishes English East India Company and posts in India  France tries to establish company and posts but fail because of Dutch attacks