Changes in Europe That Led to Exploration

The Middle Ages Also known as the Medieval period or Dark Ages (500 A.D A.D.). Also known as the Medieval period or Dark Ages (500 A.D A.D.). When Roman rule disappeared, Europe broke up into hundreds of small kingdoms headed by monarchs who were very weak. When Roman rule disappeared, Europe broke up into hundreds of small kingdoms headed by monarchs who were very weak. It was generally a dangerous period. They lacked a central government, along with the constant threat of war and famine, made the weak dependent upon the powerful for protection. It was generally a dangerous period. They lacked a central government, along with the constant threat of war and famine, made the weak dependent upon the powerful for protection.

Feudal System A feudal society developed as a result. It gave those less powerful the assurance that they could depend upon their more powerful neighbors for assistance in their time of need. A feudal society developed as a result. It gave those less powerful the assurance that they could depend upon their more powerful neighbors for assistance in their time of need. The most important feature of the feudal system was the granting of a fief. The most important feature of the feudal system was the granting of a fief. A fief, or fee, was the granting of an estate, or manor, by a lord to his vassal in exchange for homage and service. A fief, or fee, was the granting of an estate, or manor, by a lord to his vassal in exchange for homage and service. The vassal, in turn, gave the use of the land to the peasants or serfs, landless peasants, who lived on and worked the land for him. The vassal, in turn, gave the use of the land to the peasants or serfs, landless peasants, who lived on and worked the land for him. People seldom left their manors and there was little opportunity for people to communicate or exchange new ideas. People seldom left their manors and there was little opportunity for people to communicate or exchange new ideas.

Decline of the Feudal System Many workers who had been tied to the manors were not happy with their lives and desired more freedom. Many workers who had been tied to the manors were not happy with their lives and desired more freedom. Movement to towns- With the growth of towns a new social class, the townspeople, gained power. This caused the importance of feudalism and the strength of nobles to diminish. Movement to towns- With the growth of towns a new social class, the townspeople, gained power. This caused the importance of feudalism and the strength of nobles to diminish. Often led to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. Often led to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. Increasing trade brought people more in contact with one another. Increasing trade brought people more in contact with one another.

Black Plague ( ) A deadly disease spread throughout Europe killing more more than one-fourth of its population. The disease was carried by fleas on rats. This disaster broke down what remained of the feudal system..

The Crusades to the Holy Land Another characteristic of the Middle Ages was the importance of the Church. The Catholic Church was the church for almost everyone. Then the Protestant Reformation in 1520 caused new Christians faiths to emerge. Another characteristic of the Middle Ages was the importance of the Church. The Catholic Church was the church for almost everyone. Then the Protestant Reformation in 1520 caused new Christians faiths to emerge. Palestine was the Holy Land for both Christians and Muslims Palestine was the Holy Land for both Christians and Muslims 1071 a group of Turkish Muslims took over Jerusalem and closed it to all Christians a group of Turkish Muslims took over Jerusalem and closed it to all Christians. During the First Crusade, Christians captured the city of Jerusalem. 100 years later the Muslims eventually recaptured it. During the First Crusade, Christians captured the city of Jerusalem. 100 years later the Muslims eventually recaptured it.

The Crusades to the Holy Land Why were the Crusades important to the rise of exploration? Why were the Crusades important to the rise of exploration?

The Crusades to the Holy Land Returned with spices, silk, porcelain, ivory, jewels, soap, and perfumes. Returned with spices, silk, porcelain, ivory, jewels, soap, and perfumes. Learned of new medicines. Learned of new medicines. Crusaders got new ideas and products from Muslim markets who traded with India, China, Japan, and other Asian countries. Crusaders got new ideas and products from Muslim markets who traded with India, China, Japan, and other Asian countries. As Europeans learned of these Eastern products, they wanted to buy them. As Europeans learned of these Eastern products, they wanted to buy them.

Marco Polo In 1271 he traveled to China on a three-and-a- half year, 7,000 mile journey to present day China. In 1271 he traveled to China on a three-and-a- half year, 7,000 mile journey to present day China. Reported there were more than 7,000 islands in the Sea of China that he called the “Indies.” Reported there were more than 7,000 islands in the Sea of China that he called the “Indies.” Came back and wrote a book about his travels and reported of incredible riches and “rubies the size of a man’s arm.” Came back and wrote a book about his travels and reported of incredible riches and “rubies the size of a man’s arm.” Europeans became curious of the world beyond city walls. Europeans became curious of the world beyond city walls.

Marco Polo’s Travel Route

Renaissance Mid 1300s until about Mid 1300s until about It was a period of renewed interest in learning and knowledge It was a period of renewed interest in learning and knowledge Writer-William Shakespeare Writer-William Shakespeare Studied the movement of the planets and set up experiments with new inventions. Studied the movement of the planets and set up experiments with new inventions.

Artists from the Renaissance Artist such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci created beautiful paintings and drawings.

Rise of nations: After the Middle Ages, European monarchs, kings and queens, gained more power to form such nations as England, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and others. Rise of nations: After the Middle Ages, European monarchs, kings and queens, gained more power to form such nations as England, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and others. Mercantilism- It was an economic system whose theory states that a country could be rich only if wealth continually flowed into its economy and treasury. Finding new wealth became important to the growth of countries. Mercantilism- It was an economic system whose theory states that a country could be rich only if wealth continually flowed into its economy and treasury. Finding new wealth became important to the growth of countries.

Technological Advances in Navigation Prince Henry of Portugal also called the Prince Henry the Navigator Prince Henry of Portugal also called the Prince Henry the Navigator He was a religious man and wanted to spread Christianity around the world. He was a religious man and wanted to spread Christianity around the world. He had two goals: 1. Find and ocean route around Africa to Asia 2. To locate sources of gold that came from Africa. He had two goals: 1. Find and ocean route around Africa to Asia 2. To locate sources of gold that came from Africa. Prince Henry realized sailors needed better ships and to know more about navigation- the science of piloting ships. Prince Henry realized sailors needed better ships and to know more about navigation- the science of piloting ships. He started a school of navigation to plan voyages of exploration. He started a school of navigation to plan voyages of exploration. Cartographers made more accurate maps from reports from explorers. Cartographers made more accurate maps from reports from explorers.

Cartographers made more accurate maps from explorers Ptolemy’s world map- 1st attempt to map the world 25 B.C. Ptolemy’s world map- 1st attempt to map the world 25 B.C.

Portuguese shipbuilders designed the Caravel. The caravel used triangular sails and could easily sail against the wind and work their way in and out along coastlines of Africa. Portuguese shipbuilders designed the Caravel. The caravel used triangular sails and could easily sail against the wind and work their way in and out along coastlines of Africa.

Magnetic Compass, A Chinese Invention that allowed sailors To determine direction Astrolabe, an instrument which Measured the position of the stars Better Navigational Instruments

African Kingdoms Portuguese explorers set out to explore the west coast of Africa and a way around the continent to the Indies. Ghana- Muslims traders had gold & salt & traded slaves. Portuguese explorers set out to explore the west coast of Africa and a way around the continent to the Indies. Ghana- Muslims traders had gold & salt & traded slaves. Mali- a powerful kingdom with gold mines. Greatest king was Mansa Musa. He built great mosques, Muslim houses of worship, in the capital of Timbuktu. Songhai- had gold trading centers and Askiya Muhammad built many schools and encouraged trade with Europe and Asia. Mali- a powerful kingdom with gold mines. Greatest king was Mansa Musa. He built great mosques, Muslim houses of worship, in the capital of Timbuktu. Songhai- had gold trading centers and Askiya Muhammad built many schools and encouraged trade with Europe and Asia.

Review Why did the Europeans begin trading with Asia and Africa? Why did the Europeans begin trading with Asia and Africa?

Reasons for Exploration New middle class New middle class The Crusades introduced goods and trade routes The Crusades introduced goods and trade routes Search for riches Search for riches Fame and honor for country Fame and honor for country Spread of Christianity Spread of Christianity Better trade routes Better trade routes

Sunken Ship from Age of Exploration

Sunken Ship Activity One member from each group will retrieve an artifact from a sunken ship hull. Based on the information sheets and pictures, each member from each group will write down a short summary sentence describing the artifact and draw a picture of the artifact on their Map of Sunken Ship’s Hull sheet.

Sunken Ship Activity Quickly repeat each procedure allowing a different member of the group to retrieve the artifact and place the artifact your group just investigated back where it is meant to go.

Example: Astrolabes The astrolabe was one of the most important instruments used by navigators in the fifteenth century. The word comes from the Greek astro (star) and labio (finder). Explorers used the astrolabe to plot the position of the sun, moon, and stars in relation to a given point. With an astrolabe, an explorer could determine the time of day and the latitude (distance from the equator) of his ship’s position.

Astrolabes Summary Astrolabes were used by explorers to determine the time of day and the latitude of his ship’s position.