Today’s Standard SS6H6 The student will analyze the impact of European exploration and colonization on various world regions. a. Identify the causes of European exploration and colonization; include religion, natural resources, a market for goods, and the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Intro to our….. Essential Question What factors, including the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator, influenced European nations to begin overseas exploration?

R26 The Age of Exploration

Trade Between Europe & Asia During the Middle Ages, the people of Europe knew little about the rest of the world. One man did much to change his people’s views of far away places in the east. An Italian merchant named Marco Polo would expose Europeans to the lives of people a half a world away for the first time.

Trade Between Europe & Asia Marco Polo traveled all the way to China. He spent many years living with Kublai Khan, a leader in China. Upon his return to Europe, he told stories of “mountains higher than birds can fly” (Himalaya’s) & of “black stones that would burn” (coal).

Trade Between Europe & Asia The stories of Marco Polo inspired other Europeans to explore these unknown places. Many of these explorers established trade with these faraway places in Asia & Africa. Europeans enjoyed desirable products such as: New Spices, Fine Silk, Fine Cottons, Precious Stones, Tea, Ivory, & Many Other Goods

The Asian Spice Trade Before refrigeration, meat and fish spoiled quickly. To help preserve these foods and make them taste better, Europeans employed the use of spices. This made the Asian spice trade very important to Europe. Many European merchants became quite wealthy.

The Silk Road For many years, the silk road was the main trade route between Asia & Europe.

The Crusades Between the 11th & 13th centuries, the Christians of Europe fought against the Muslims of the Middle East for control of the Holy Land (modern Israel & surrounding areas). The Christians of Europe ultimately lost the Crusades & with it, easy access to the silk road.

After the Crusades… The only Europeans that were allowed easy access to the silk road traders were Italian merchants from Venice & Genoa. They inflated the prices & soon European kings & queens wanted to find their own routes by sea to avoid getting ripped off by the Italian traders. .

Leaders in Exploration Possibly because of its geographic location, Portugal became a leader in exploration. The Portuguese had a head start on navigating the Atlantic Ocean and western coast of Africa.

Leaders in Exploration Prince Henry of Portugal, or Prince Henry the Navigator as he was called, was determined to find a safer, cheaper trade route to Asia. Henry was convinced that there was an all-water route to the “Indies” (India) from Europe. He thought that his explorers could go around Africa to get there.

Leaders in Exploration To help achieve his goal, Prince Henry established a school for sailors in 1418. The best cartographers, sailors, & astronomers in Europe were assembled at this school. The sailors learned how to use the stars to find their way at sea.

Leaders in Exploration Though Henry did not go on these expeditions, he sent many sailors down the west coast of Africa. They came back with many new things, like ivory & gold. By the time Henry died in 1460, his sailors had made it as far as Sierra Leone.

Leaders in Exploration After Henry’s death, Portuguese explorers continued to push farther down the West African coast. In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa. The Portuguese called it the “Cape of Good Hope.”

Leaders in Exploration Less than a decade later, Vasco da Gama led an expedition all the way to India. Vasco da Gama traveled 317 days before reaching the coast of India. He was the one who achieved the goal of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Leaders in Exploration Portugal was not the only country in the exploration business. Spain & England also sought a trade route of their own. Some explorers thought that the easiest way to get to the east was to sail west. They had no idea that the America’s existed.

Spanish Exploration In 1492, an Italian named Christopher Columbus & 90 crew members left Spain on 3 ships. The Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria. This voyage to find a westerly route to Asia was funded by Spain.

Spanish Exploration At first, the crew began to lose faith. They had underestimated the size of the Atlantic Ocean. After about 3 months at sea, they spotted land. He thought he had found Asia. He actually landed in the Caribbean & claimed it for Spain.

Spanish Exploration In 1519, Spain again funded an attempt at finding a westerly route to Asia. This time it was Ferdinand Magellan that left Spain in search of a route. He left with over 200 sailors and 5 ships. Magellan’s journey was rough.

Spanish Exploration Magellan had to deal with many problems such as lack of food & fresh water. He also had to deal with a small mutiny. Magellan died in the Philippines during a battle among native groups.

Spanish Exploration After three years, only one ship with 18 men returned to Spain. They were the first people to circumnavigate, or sail completely around the world.

English Exploration Giovanni Caboto known in English as John Cabot, was an Italian navigator and explorer commonly credited as one of the first early modern Europeans to land on the North American mainland, aboard the Matthew in 1497. He was sent by Henry VII to find a northwest passage to Asia. He landed at Newfoundland in modern Canada.

English Exploration In 1610, an English sailor named Henry Hudson was also hired by the British East India company to find a northwest passage to Asia. He accidentally ended up in what is now called the Hudson Bay. He began to map and explore its eastern shores.

English Exploration His ship was stuck in the ice for sometime. When the ice cleared, Hudson wanted to continue the journey, but his crew rebelled. They kicked him, his son, & some other’s off the ship & headed home. They were never found again.

The Outcomes of Exploration The Kings & Queens of Europe sent out many explorers to find new routes to Asia. They ended up getting much more than spices. They ended up with many new territories and people to rule.

European Colonialism by 1763

A Clash of Cultures Many of these Kings and Queens of Europe established colonies along the coasts of North America, South America, & Africa. Many of these territories were already home to many indigenous, or native populations. They had ruled themselves for many years, and had their own traditions.

All of the King’s and Queens of Europe were Christians. Religious Conversion All of the King’s and Queens of Europe were Christians. Many of these rulers sent missionaries to try to convert the natives from their traditional religions to Christianity. The leaders of Europe thought this might also stem the rising tide of Islam in the world.

A Clash of Cultures After the arrival of the Europeans, the lives of these people would be changed forever. Some didn’t fight off the Europeans, others did. The practice of one country controlling the government and economy of another country or territory is called imperialism, or “Empire Building.” Colonialism is basically the same thing.

The Spread of Diseases Many of the Europeans carried diseases from their native soil with them to the New World. Diseases like small pox, malaria, and measles killed many indigenous people who came in contact with Europeans.

The slave trade began to grow tremendously. Slavery As time went on some Europeans began to use indigenous populations as slaves. Many Europeans began to buy slaves in western Africa to use at home and in their colonies. The slave trade began to grow tremendously.

Bartholomeu Dias

Vasco da Gama

Ferdinand Magellan

Christopher Columbus

John Cabot

Henry Hudson

Return to our….. Essential Question What factors, including the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator, influenced European nations to begin overseas exploration?