European Exploration Reasons and Tools

European Exploration 1) Why was Portugal the first to set sail? 2) Why do you think there was a desire to explore? Was there a need? 3) What was Columbus looking for?

European Exploration: Motivations Motivations (for): 1) Europeans were also looking for new trade routes to India, China, and other places… Why? 2) Europeans were also looking to spread Christianity… The 3 G’s - God, Gold, and Glory

What were the goals of Spanish explorers? Gold: To acquire riches for themselves and the country they represent. (Some explorers, like Columbus, were not Spanish, but represented Spain. Glory: To bring power and prestige to Spain. God: To convert the native people to Christianity.

European Exploration : Motivations (1) God: Spread the good word! 1492 - Christopher Columbus sets out to find new Trade routes to India and China to cut out the middle-men (the Ottomans) The Ottomans were Muslims… bad to Christians… Every time Europeans wanted to trade with China or India they had to pass through Ottoman trading posts; this meant that they had to give money to the Muslims. If money = power, who was getting powerful in this deal?

European Exploration : Motivations (1) God: By Columbus’ time (1492) the last of the Muslim Strongholds in Spain had been defeated, this led to a Shift in European focus… Pre 1517 - The focus of Europe was fighting the Muslims After 1517 - Their focus is on spreading Christianity to new lands… you can’t let the heretics get to them first!

European Exploration : Motivations (1) Gold: They wanted money of their own! Originally they got their money by cutting out the Ottomans from trade. Later, Europeans start looking for resources from the Americas and Africa… not good for either continent! - Spain = South America for silver and gold. England = North America for natural resources Africa for manual labor - France = Also North America

European Exploration : Motivations (1) Glory: For the glory of the king! The way to make the country more powerful was to Increase it’s wealth. You do this by getting as much as You can. If you didn’t get the wealth someone else would! They Would win and you would lose! The more wealth a country had = more power in war! Victory over your enemies was everything!

European Exploration : Motivations (2) Viking ships had square sails to capture the wind… Early Chinese ships had triangle sails, allowing them to cut through wind currents…

European Exploration : Motivations (2) The Portuguese combined the 2 sail designs to come up with their own design. This design was later Modified by the Spanish… The Galleon…

European Explorations: Technology Ships Instruments Winds and currents Sternpost rudder Back staff

Technology: Ships European sailors began constructing ships strong enough to withstand adverse conditions The sternpost rudder increased maneuverability Ships began using two sails A square one to catch a wind blowing from behind and a triangular lateen one to catch winds from the side and behind With both sails European ships could tack (advance against the wind by sailing across it) Tacking

Ships: Carrack Mizzen mast with triangular lateen sail placed toward stern of vessel Small square-rigged mast placed to fore of main mast Massive ribbed skeleton 2-3 decks, enclosed structures at bow and stern Sternpost rudder Maximum capacity: 1,000 tons Example: Santa Maria

Ships: Caravel About 30 meters long Maximum capacity: 130 tons Axled rudder Early versions: 2-3 masts, lateen rigged sails, clinker style hull Later versions: 4 masts, square rigged sails, streamlined hull Examples: Nina and Pinta

Technology: Instruments Magnetic compasses used to determine direction Cross staffs and back staffs allowed mariners to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or pole star above the horizon The ability to determine direction and latitude allowed mariners to accumulate data for mapping and to navigate with accuracy and efficiency

Technology: Winds and Currents In the Atlantic and Pacific, strong winds blow regularly to create “wind wheels” To the north, prevailing winds cause “westerlies” Further south, they cause the “Northeast trades” In the Indian Ocean, there are also regular patterns In the summer, monsoon winds blow from the southeast In the winter, they blow from the northwest

Technology: Winds and Currents Understanding these patterns allowed mariners to take advantage of prevailing winds and currents to sail almost anywhere By the mid-15th Century, Portuguese mariners had developed a strategy called volta do mar (“return through the sea”)

Technology: Winds and Currents Returning home they sailed northwest into the open ocean until they found westerly winds and then turned east for the last leg It was a longer but faster, safer, and more reliable way to travel The Gulf Stream

Technology: Winds and Currents