European Explorers Spicy Stuff!

I. Trade Between Europe & Asia For centuries, merchants from Europe and Asia had been traveling across the Mediterranean Sea trading goods. Goods from Asia had to travel hundreds of miles across land before they reached the Mediterranean Sea. It was a long trip for everyone. For centuries, merchants from Europe and Asia had been traveling across the Mediterranean Sea trading goods. Goods from Asia had to travel hundreds of miles across land before they reached the Mediterranean Sea. It was a long trip for everyone.

The Spice Trade Some of the most popular items exported from Asia to Europe were spices such as cinnamon, pepper, and salt. Some of the most popular items exported from Asia to Europe were spices such as cinnamon, pepper, and salt. Italian merchants from Genoa and Venice would sail to ports in the eastern Mediterranean where they would buy spices and other cargo such as silk and then bring these goods back to Europe where they would sell them at very high prices. Give two possible reasons why spices were such a hot item on the European market.

Possibility of Great Wealth Because the goods from Asia had to be transported such a long way across both land and water, they were very expensive. European merchants wanted to find a way to trade directly with countries like India. And so began the search for a new route to Asia... a water-only route. Because the goods from Asia had to be transported such a long way across both land and water, they were very expensive. European merchants wanted to find a way to trade directly with countries like India. And so began the search for a new route to Asia... a water-only route.

II. Leaders in Exploration Because of its location at the edge of the continent of Europe and on the coast, the country of Portugal had a long history of navigating the waters of the Atlantic Ocean - especially the African coast. Some of the world’s most famous explorers would come from this little country next to Spain. Portugal

Exploring the African Coast Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal believed that he could find a shorter way to Asia by sailing around Africa. With that goal in mind, Prince Henry started a navigational school where he brought together the best minds in sailing – mapmakers, ship captains and astronomers. He sent Portuguese explorers sailing down the western coast of Africa, and although they brought back valuable goods such as gold dust and ivory and even learned much about navigation, they still did not sail around Africa in Prince Henry’s lifetime.

The Race Around Africa Knowing that there would be great wealth for whoever found a water route to Asia, Portuguese sailors continued to push down the coast of Africa. Bartolomeu Dias became the first to actually reach the southern tip of Africa. Ten years later, Vasco da Gama sailed around the tip and became the first to reach Asia by a sea route. And the winner is... Vasco da Gama! First to sail around Africa to Asia! Go Vasco! I win!

Vasco da Gama’s Trip Are we there yet?? Da Gama traveled 13,500 miles in 317 days. The Bad News: They still had to turn around and go all that way back home! Talk about seasick! The Good News: They became the first Europeans to reach India by a sea route. Now the Portuguese could begin trading directly with Asia and they ruled the waterways. Da Gama died in India on December 24, 1524 and was buried there. Later, his remains were reburied in a chapel in Vidigueira, Portugal. Today a 17 mile bridge just outside Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is named in honor of Da Gama.

III. Europe Enters a New Age Other countries in Europe wanted in on the trade action in Asia, so they began sending out sailors to find their own sea routes. Spain and England (UK) quickly entered the race to find wealth from India and other Asian countries. Move over you ugly Spaniard! England will rule the seas! Move over you ugly Spaniard! England will rule the seas! Out of my way, Englishman! Spain will rule! Besides, you have weird pants.

Christopher Columbus Successfully failed to find Asia! In 1492, this Italian explorer convinced the Queen of Spain that he could find an even shorter route to Asia by sailing west instead of east. He failed to find Asia, but he did bump into some islands in the Caribbean Sea and from there was discovered a little ole continent known today as North America. Way to goof, Columbus! Anyone remember what his first job was?

Ferdinand Magellan Around the world in 1095 days! Magellan left Spain in 1519 with 5 ships and over 200 men sailing west. Killed in battle by natives on an island in the Pacific, Magellan never made it back to Spain. But three years later, after enduring storms, battles, disease and near starvation, one of his ships with only 18 crewman onboard made it back to Spain thus becoming the first explorers to circumnavigate the world. Fact: Things got so bad on the voyage back home, that Magellan’s crew were forced to eat rats and sawdust rather than starve. Ugh! Reproduction of one of Magellan’s ships.

Who’s Been Listening? 1. Goods traded from Asia to Europe had to be shipped across both __________ & __________. across both __________ & __________. 2. What item was most sought after by the Europeans? 3. Why were goods from Asia so expensive? 4. What did European merchants want to find? 5. What country took the lead in world exploration? 6. Who started a school of navigation to encourage exploration? exploration? 7. Who was the first explorer to reach Asia by sea only? 8. What Italian explorer convinced the Queen of Spain that he could reach the East by sailing West? that he could reach the East by sailing West? 9. What is Ferdinand Magellan’s claim to fame?

IV. Reasons For Exploration The countries and monarchs of Europe began exploring for many reasons: To find a water route to Asia To search for wealth & riches. To spread the Christian faith. To build their empires.

V. Outcomes of Exploration Most explorers never did find wealth and great riches, but they took full advantage of what they did find – establishing colonies and conquering many of the indigenous people. Indigenous means native. Indigenous people are the ones who are originally from a place. Ex: Cherokees & Creeks are some of the indigenous people of Georgia. The Aztecs are some of the indigenous people of Mexico, and the Incas were indigenous of South America.

1. Clash of Cultures Often the lands conquered by the European were already home to large self-ruling groups of indigenous people. Their had their own customs and traditions that they were not always willing to give up. With the arrival of the Europeans, many of these groups’ lives would be changed forever and their cultures lost What Enduring Understandings would this clash of culture represent?

2. Religious Conversion Some European monarchs had strong religious beliefs and so believed it was their Christian duty to spread their faith. So they sent missionaries to help convert the conquered people to Christianity. The European rulers hoped that the spread of Christianity would overcome other religions such as Islam.

3. Spread of Disease One unexpected consequence of European exploration was the spread of disease. When the Europeans arrived in the New World, they brought disease germs from the Old World with them. Diseases such as measles, smallpox, and malaria killed tens of thousands of native people who had never been exposed to them before the European explorers came.

4. Slavery European exploration also led to the expansion of slavery. For hundreds of years to come, conquered people of South America and Africans would be forced to work as slaves in the New World.

Why it matters now... European trade and exploration changed the lives of many people on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, citizens of the Americas continue to feel the effects of European exploration and colonization.

Review Questions Detached piece of paper – partner work. Spelling Counts! Textbook pp Click your paper when you are finished. 1. For centuries, merchants from Europe traveled across the Mediterranean Sea to trade for goods from ___________________? 2. What was one of the most popular trade items Europeans wanted? 3. Why were goods from Asia so expensive? 4. What did European merchants & explorers want to find? 5. What country took the lead in world exploration? 6. Who started a school to encourage explorers? 7. What was the first explorer to find an all water route to Asia? 8. What Italian explorer convinced the queen of Spain that he could read the East by sailing West? 9. What is Ferdinand Magellan’s claim to fame? 10. List 4 reasons European countries and monarch’s began exploring?