Early Exploration Mr. Gutierrez

Seeking New Trade Routes ► The maps that Columbus and other European Explorers used did not include America.  Only showed Europe, Asia, and Africa.  Thought the Atlantic and Pacific combined to become what they called the Ocean Sea. ► They had no clue the Ocean was as large as it is let alone that another huge landmass was missing.

Seeking New Trade Routes ► Portugal would take the lead in exploring the boundaries of the known world.  No Mediterranean Port made it hard to trade with Asia.  It also sought to find a more direct way to access West African Gold

Early Portuguese Voyages ► Prince Henry of Portugal laid the groundwork for a new era of exploration.  Known as Henry the Navigator.  Brought astronomers, geographers, and mathematicians to share their knowledge with Portuguese sailors and shipbuilders. ► Portuguese ships sailed along the west African coast and set up trade posts.  Traded for gold, giving it the nickname the “Gold Coast”.

Early Portuguese Voyages ► King John II of Portugal wanted to Portuguese ships to sail around Africa.  Hoped to create a direct trade route with Asia. Henry the Navigator King John II

Bartholomeu Dias ► Sent to explore the southern part of Africa  Ran into a terrible storm and named the area “Cape of Storms”  King John II renamed the southern tip, the “Cape of Good Hope” hoping it would lead to a new route to India.

Vasco de Gama ► 10 years after Dias (1497) made it passed the cape, Vasco de Gama begins going to India.  Left with 4 ships.  Made stops at eastern African cities. ► With the help of an Arab pilot, he makes it across the Indian Ocean and into India. A year later (1498)

Pedro Alvares Cabral ► Followed de Gama’s route.  Swung so far to the west that he found Brazil and claimed it Portugal giving it a claim in the new world. ► Meanwhile, annual voyages were made to India making Lisbon (Capital of Portugal) the marketplace of Europe.

Christopher Columbus ► Born in Genoa, Italy in ► Inspired by Polo’s Travels. ► Sailed as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as the Gold Coast. ► Based the size of the Earth Ptolemy’s work.  Ptolemy (Ancient Greek astronomer) had underestimated the size of the Earth. ► Believed he could get to Asia by sailing west.

The Viking Voyages ► Several centuries before Columbus, northern Europeans named Vikings had sailed west and reached North America.  Norse Sagas (Traditional Stories) say Leif Erikson explored a land west of Greenland known as Vinland around the year  Other sagas say they failed to set up in Vinland. ► Their voyages were not well known.  This is why we say it wasn’t “discovered” until Columbus.

Spain Backs Columbus ► During the 1400’s, Spanish monarchs were more concerned with driving the Muslims out.  With the fall of the last Muslim kingdom in southern Spain 1492 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella focused on other goals.

Spain Backs Columbus ► After many failed attempts in courts throughout Europe he finally found sponsorship in Spain. ► Two Reasons:  Promised Isabella (a devout Christian) to bring Christianity to any new lands discovered.  If a route to Asia was found, it would make Spain very wealthy.

Columbus’ First Voyage ► August 3, 1492 Columbus sets out with three ships and a total of 90 sailors.  The Niña, La Pinta, and the Santa María (Largest Ship) ► Stop at the Canary Islands for repairs and to restock, then sailed westward into the unknown.  After a month at sea the sailors began to worry, even threatening to throw Columbus overboard!  Convinced the crew that they had not traveled far (LIED!!) to the sailors about the distance traveled by altering his ship’s logs.

“Tierra! Tierra!” ► On October 12, 1492, at 2:00 A.M. a look out shouted “Tierra! Tierra!”  Spotted a small island in what we now know is the Bahamas.  Columbus came ashore, claimed it for Spain, and named it San Salvador.  Had no clue he reached the Americas.

“Tierra! Tierra!” ► Convinced he found the island off the coast of Asia he explored it for the next few months.  Because of this we sometimes refer to the Caribbean Islands as the West Indies.  He called the locals Indians.  The “Indians” would touch the Europeans to see if they too were made out of flesh and bone.”  Received with great honor in Spain and received the title Admiral of the Ocean Sea.

Columbus’ Later Voyages ► Three more voyages in 1493, 1498, and  Explored Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and Dominican Republic), Cuba, and Jamaica.  Sailed along the coast of Central and South America claiming all these new lands for Spain and established settlements. ► Later exploration revealed it was not Asia.  New area unknown to Europeans, Asians, and Africans.  These voyages lead to the establishment Spanish Empire.

Dividing the World ► Spain and Portugal wanted to protect their claims and asked for Pop Alexander VI for help.  The Pope drew an imaginary line from the North Pole to the South Pole.  Spain would control all the lands to the west and Portugal, the east.  Portugal argued the line favored Spain. ► Treaty of Tordesillas – 1494 agreement to move the line farther west.  Split the entire undiscovered world between Spain and Portugal.

Amerigo Vespucci ► Vespucci mapped out the coast of South America in  Concluded that it was not part of Asia.  By the early 1500’s, European Geographers began to call it America, in honor of Vespucci.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa ► Governor of a Spanish town in present-day Panama.  Heard stories of Great waters beyond the mountains.  Formed an exploring party in 1513 and hiked through the jungle.  After many days, he reached the calm waters and claimed it for Spain along with the adjoining land.  He was the first to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas.

Ferdinand Magellan ► Hired in 1519 to lead an expedition of 5 ships.  On November 1520, he traveled through the straits that still have his name to this day (Straits of Magellan)  Named the Pacific Ocean (Pacifico, or Peaceful)  Thought he would reach Asia in a few weeks, but it took 4 MONTHS!!  The crew ran out of food and ate sawdust, rats, and leather to stay alive.  Magellan was killed in a skirmish in the Philippines but the crew continued.

Ferdinand Magellan  Took three years to complete  Only one of the ships and 18 out of 200 crew members made it.  These were the first men to circumnavigate the world.