Age of Exploration Europeans Explore the East

Today’s Goal  You will be able to… State the religious, economical, and technological reasons for the Age of Exploration State the religious, economical, and technological reasons for the Age of Exploration The West transformed in Renaissance & Reformation… The West transformed in Renaissance & Reformation… Now the West EXPANDS Now the West EXPANDS

Background Vikings had explored northern seas ca AD Vikings had explored northern seas ca AD 1275 – Marco Polo visited Kublai Kahn in China 1275 – Marco Polo visited Kublai Kahn in China

“God, Glory, Gold” Spread Christianity Fame! Find new sources of wealth – New trade routes “To serve God and His Majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness and to grow rich as all men desire to do.” ~Bartolomeu Dias

New Technology Cartography – map-making Caravel – sturdier ship Triangular sails – better against wind Navigational techniques – Astrolabe (Muslims) – Magnetic compass (Chinese)

Portugal Leads the Way Strong gov’t support of exploration Prince Henry the Navigator  supported exploration – Founded navigational school Est. trading posts on coast of Africa Began attempt to find sea route to Asia

Early Portuguese Exploration 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias – sailed to Cape of Good Hope (tip of S. Africa) 1497 – Vasco da Gama – reached port of Calicut, India – Direct sea route to Asia Da Gama

Portugal’s Trading Empire Broke Muslim-Italian dominance on trade – More Europeans could afford goods Took control of spice trade from Muslim merchants Controlled of the Straits of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca

Spain Follows Portugal’s Lead 1492 – Christopher Columbus – reached island in Caribbean – Increased…tensions between Spain & Portugal Pope Alexander IV created Line of Demarcation – Lands to the west of the line = Spain’s – Lands to the east of the line = Portugal’s 1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas – moved line farther west

Spain’s Trading Empire 1521 – Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Philippines – Claimed & settled the islands

Other European Exploration England, Netherlands, France – Created “East India companies” to mint $, make treaties, raise armies Dutch Republic (Netherlands) – independence from Spain in 1581 – Leading sea power – largest fleet of ships – Dutch East India Company

Other European Exploration Dutch made trade Batavia on island of Java – Ruled Indonesia & controlled Indian Ocean trade – Controlled Cape of Good Hope – Amsterdam became leading commercial center

Other European Exploration England – English East India Company – Outposts in India – traded Indian cloth France – French East India Company – Struggled for outpost in India (not profitable) European influence in inland S.E. Asia was limited

What does this illustrate about why the West excelled? Competition!!! – Among countries & individuals for wealth & power – Led to need for better technology Led to advances in science, medicine, warfare, etc. – Encountered new ideas, goods from areas of the world Did everyone benefit from exploration?