Age of Exploration and Discovery in the Renaissance New Empires in the East and West

On the Brink of a New World Those who had gone before…MAYBE Magical Kingdom of Prester John (12th century tale that a Christian kingdom existed in the East) Travelogues of Marco Polo (13TH century - Asia) The Travels of John Mandeville (14th century – Supposed adventures in the East) Motives: God, Glory, Gold Economic motives Access to the East – spices, silk, coffee The New World of the West – gold, silver, coffee, sugar, tobacco National and personal pride/fame Religious Zeal Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans,

Means Centralization of political authority Maps Ships and Sailing new maps – more advanced cartography Ships and Sailing Naval technology – compass, astrolabe, back-staff, lateen (triangular) sail coupled with square sail Increased size and structure of ships Knowledge of wind patterns

Ptolemy’s World Map ca. 150 A.D.

Ortelius - 1579

Mercator – 1596

A Seventeenth-Century World Map

Sundial & Compass

Mariner’s Astrolabe

Back-Staff Cross-Staff

The Development of a Portuguese Maritime Empire In Search of Spices Travel the coast of Africa searching for all-water route 1511 – Albuquerque wants to control Malacca = destroy Arab trade & provide a way station on route to Moluccas (Spice Islands) Reasons for Success Excellent naval technology More advanced weaponry (gun ships) Unable to maintain long-term empire abroad Lacked the power as a European nation Lacked the population necessary to expand abroad Lacked the desire to colonize Asia

So why was Spain able to Succeed?

Map 14.1: Discoveries and Possessions in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) – decreed by Spanish pope Alexander VI, that all trade to the west go to Spain and to the east to Portugal.

Slaughter of the Natives

The Spanish Empire in the New World Administration of the Spanish Empire Encomienda – natives = subjects of Castile (taxed and put to work) to be protected, paid and spiritually supervised – instead they were exploited and abused Anton Montecino and Bartholome las Casas decry abuse Encomienda abolished in 1542!! Viceroys &– chief civil and military officer to the king (in Mexico City and Lima) audiencias – advisory group that also functioned as supreme judicial body The Church – Spanish monarchs allowed to appoint bishops & clergy, build churches, collect fees, supervise religious orders in New World; Spanish Inquisition in Peru (1570) and Mexico (1571)

Consequences: intended or otherwise In your opinion, in what way(s) did exploration of 15th and 16th centuries impact the conquerors and the conquered the most

Price Revolution (aka Inflation) Price revolution (a very slow “revolution”) rise in prices = fall in value of currency Causes for the Price Revolution “Bullionism” influx of gold & silver bullion, provided primarily by Spain Increase in population also increases demand for land and food = higher prices Who suffers from higher prices? Peasant and laborer wages rose the least = drop in standard of living Some governments – excessive borrowing from bankers = new and higher taxes Who benefits? Landowners and Entrepreneurs profit from higher rents, higher prices, bigger markets, and cheap labor costs Increased Social Tension Continuing cracks in breakdown of feudal society; clergy vs. laity, nobility vs. peasantry, urban elite vs. guilds/artisans