The Age of Exploration

 What were the political, economic, and religious causes of European exploration?

 Spices – Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves and many more(flavor/preserve)  Arab merchants & traders controlled the spice trade  Black Death interrupted trade  Europeans wanted direct access (more profit)  Growing population in Europe  Spread Christianity

 Prince Henry of Portugal  Utilized scientists, cartographers & other experts  Redesigned ships, maps and trained crews for long & successful voyages

 1488 Bartholomeu Diaz rounds tip of Afrcia (Cape of Good Hope)  Opened a sea route to Asia  1497 Vasco Degama reaches India

 Actually from Genoa Italy  Wanted to reach the East Indies  Spain sponsored him hoping for wealth & prestige  Aug 3 rd, 1492 /Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria sail  Oct. 12 they spot land (Caribbean) not Asia

 1493 a Line of Demarcation is created dividing the non European World into 2 zones  Treaty of Tordesillas  West of the line= Spanish possession  East of the line= Portuguese possession

 Was it just for Spain & Portugal to divide the non European world between themselves?  Class Discussion Here…

 Amerigo Vespucci describes his journey to Brazil and helps give rise to the name “Western Hemisphere”  1513 Vasco Balboa reaches Pacific ocean by hacking across Panama  1519 Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigates the globe

 What was the significance of Magellan's trip?  Answer: The world was round and much larger than previously thought. But sailing around the world was possible.