European Expansion

Expansionism Europeans had both the desire and the means to set off on journeys of exploration They advanced from simply sailing around Europe to circumnavigating the world They were in competition to establish trade routes Countries were trying to increase their wealth and power by expanding their territory This led to them having an “expansionist” worldview Expansionism refers to the actions and attitudes of a state or country whose goal is to increase its power and territory

Exploration Begins - Discussion Turn to page 120 of your textbook and examine the map The map shows the four routes of the most important explorers What countries did they come from? How may the geography of their countries have aided in an expansionist/explorer worldview?

Going East Portugal was the first European country to start organized exploration Prince Henry sent voyages south along the west coast of Africa to find gold-producing areas Trading posts were set up further and further south Dozens of ships eventually were travelling between these posts bringing gold to Portugal Prince Henry established practices in Africa that proved to be very helpful for future explorers They hired members of the local population as interpreters Could get reliable information about the land They also helped establish relationships with indigenous people

The Slave Trade Portugal also became involved in the slave trade The nature of African slavery [before the arrival of the Europeans] varied from one area to another and changed over time, but most slaves were people captured in warfare. Others had been criminals or debtors, or were given away by their families as part of a dowry settlement . . . Over a generation or two, slaves could often earn or be granted their freedom, and free people and slaves sometimes inter-married Portugal also became involved in the slave trade They bought slaves to work on sugar plantations on islands in the Atlantic Ocean Slavery existed in Africa before the European Slave Trade, but it was very different See source at right During the next three centuries, Europeans captured and transported millions of Africans to the Americas as slaves Millions died on the voyages from the terrible conditions Millions also died from being over-worked

Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama Bartolomeu Dias led the first Portuguese expedition around the Cape of Good Hope Unfortunately, his crew mutinied against him and prevented the continued journey to India Columbus' crossing of the Atlantic in 1492 increased the pressure on Portugal They needed to reach the East before the Spanish Five years after Columbus' journey, an expedition led by Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa and across the Indian Ocean to land in Calicut Da Gama returned in triumph with precious cargo of spices having established a route to the East

The Battle of Diu After Da Gama's successful voyage, Portuguese fleets began making yearly voyages to the Indian Ocean Arab merchants did not like this – they saw them as intruders in their trading territory They often attacked the Portuguese ships This eventually led to a decisive battle between a large Arab fleet and a smaller Portuguese fleet off the Indian port of Diu Although much smaller, the Portuguese won the battle because of their use of cannons This caused them to establish control of this area – they set up trading forts across S. Asia They became the most powerful trading country in Europe

Going West Christopher Columbus was convinced there was a shorter way to Asia by crossing the Atlantic and heading west After a 33 day voyage, Columbus sighted land which he thought was Asia He hunted for many years trying to find the sources of gold and spices! The Spanish continued to look, however In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan sailed along the coast of South America and into the Pacific Ocean He eventually landed in the Philippines after a horrible four month voyage He got involved in a war and was killed, but his ship returned with spices and goods and was the first recorded ship to circumnavigate the world

Expansionism Begins Before Columbus left Spain on his voyage, he and Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand made an agreement This agreement was called “The Articles of Agreement between the Lords the Catholic Sovereigns and Cristobal Colon” Firstly, that your Highness, as actual Lords of the said Oceans, appoint from this date the said Cristobal Colon to be your Admiral in all these islands and mainlands which by his activity and industry shall be discovered or acquired . . . Likewise, that your highnesses appoint the said Don Cristobal Colon to be your Admiral/your Viceroy and Governor General in all said islands and mainlands . . . . . . that of all and every kind of merchandise, whether pearls, precious stones, spices and other objects and merchandise whatsoever . . . which may be bought, bartered, discovered, and obtained . . . that he may have and take for himself, the tenth part of the whole . . .