Chapter 13 The Age of Exploration

Motives for Exploration Attraction to Asia Inspired the writings of Marco Polo and his voyage to Kublai Khan’s court Economic motives Expand trade- spices and precious metals of the far East Religion Making sure natives were “introduced into the holy Catholic faith” Sense of adventure and glory “God, Glory, Gold”

What Made Exploration Possible? European monarchies increased their power and resources Could focus beyond their borders New levels of technology Sailing New global age emerges

Portuguese Explorers Vasco da Gama Rounded the tip of Africa and and cut across the Indian Ocean to India May 1498, arrived off the port of Calicut and took on a cargo of spices After returning to Portugal, dd Gamma made a huge profit Alfonso de Albuquerque Portuguese fleets returned to the area to take control of the spice trade from the Muslims Albuquerque set up a port at Goa on the western coast of India Then headed to the Malay Peninsula (SE Asia) to further take control of spice trade Guns and seamanship made the Portuguese the first successful European explorers

Spanish Explorers Christopher Columbus Believed he could reach Asia by sailing West instead of East around Africa Oct 1492 he reached the Americas and explored the coastline of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola (Hati/ DR) Columbus believed he reached Asia but in his four voyages, he reached all major Caribbean islands and Honduras Ferdinand Magellan Set sail Sept 1519 down coast of S. America in search of a sea passage through the America Oct 1520 he passed through waterway (Strait of Magellan) into the Pacific Ocean Fleet reached Phillipines but Magellan was killed by natives Although only one of his ships returned to Spain, he is known as first person to circumnavigate the globe

Strait of Magellan

Treaty of Tordesillas Spain and Portugal both feared that other countries might try to lay claim to the lands they had discovered Treaty of Tordesillas: called for a line of demarcation extending from north to south through the Atlantic Ocean and the easternmost part of the S. American continent Unexplored territories east of the line would be controlled by Portugal and west of the line by Spain

Other Explorers John Cabot Venetian seaman who explored the New England coastline for England Amerigo Vespucci Florentine Letters describing the lands he saw led to the use of the name America (after Amerigo)

Encomienda Right of landowners to use Native Americans as laborers Holders of encomienda supposed to protect natives but instead… Forced labor, starvation and disease Mexico: 25 million down to 1 million Monks converted and baptized hundreds of thousands of natives Developed parishes, schools, hospitals Native American political and social structure torn apart and replaced by European systems

Mercantilism Set of principles that dominated economic thought in 17 th ce Led by Portugal and Spain, European nations began est trading posts and colonies in Americas and the East According to mercantilists the prosperity of a nation depended on a large supply of gold and silver Colonies considered important as both source of raw materials and as markets for finished goods

Destroyed Civilizations Conquistadors: Spanish conquerors whose firearms, organizational skills, and determination brought them incredible success Cortes had a relationship with the Aztecs Modern weapons of the Spanish gave them an advantage over the natives Many Aztecs fell sick and died from new diseases such as smallpox Spanish leveled pyramids and temples to build gov’t buildings and churches Within the 30 years after the fall of the Aztecs, Spanish expanded their control to all of Mexico Same situation happened with Francisco Pizarro and the Incas

Columbian Exchange Exchange of plants and animals between Europe and the Americas Transformed economic activities in both worlds Colonists est plantations and ranches to raise sugar, cotton, vanilla, livestock, and other products to export to Europe

Increase in the volume and area of European trade Produced a new age of commercial capitalism Development of the world economy through trade empires

Trade, Colonies, and Mercantilism Colony: settlement of people living in a new territory, linked with the parent country by trade and direct government control Balance of trade: the difference in value between what a nation imports and what it exports over time When the balance is favorable, the goods exported are of a greater value than those imported To encourage exports, gov’t granted subsidies (payments) to new industries and improved transportation systems Placed high taxes on foreign goods to keep them out of their contry

Favorable Balance of Trade

Colonies Colonies were considered important both as… Source of raw materials Markets for finished goods