1. World History: The Earth and its Peoples
Chapter 15
The Maritime Revolution,
to 1550

2. Objectives
Be able to compare the routes, motives, and sailing technologies of the people who undertook global maritime expansion before 1450 to the routes, motives, and sailing technologies of the Portuguese and Spanish explorers of
Be able to explain the environmental, technological, economic and political factors that inspired Portugal and Spain to undertake voyages of exploration.
Understand and be able to explain the reasons for the various different reactions of African and Asian peoples to the Portuguese trading empire.
Be able to describe and account for the Spanish ability to conquer a territorial empire in the Americas.

3. Global Maritime Expansion
Pre-1450
fraught with peril
distances
uncharted waters
receptions
isolation
Why at this time?
Faster and cheaper
exciting prospect
technology

4. The Pacific Ocean Malay Peninsula East Indies Polynesia
early 400 CE
planned expansion
Kon Tiki (1947)
westward population
Hokulea (1976)
Hawaii to Tahiti
triangular sail
currents, stars, land

5. The Indian Ocean Malayo-Indonesians monsoon predictability
Madagascar
Africans
monsoon predictability
dhows
Rise of Islam
demand for valuables
commerce over politics
Islamic networks
commonalities
ethic, language, law

6. The Indian Ocean Ming China Yongle’s Imperial Fleet Reasons
Zheng He
7 voyages ( )
Reasons
curiosity
enhancing commerce
silk, metals as gifts
tribute
African / Asian Results
pepper
Swahili silk market
African delegations
Focus on internal matters

7. Atlantic Ocean Vikings Mali Empire Amerindians best mariners
Iceland (770)
Greenland (982)
Mali Empire
Mansa Muhammad (1300)
Two expeditions
Amerindians
Arawak (1000)
West Indies
Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico
N. American mainland

8. European Expansion, 1400-1550 Why now? 1) urban life and trade
2) struggle with Islamic powers
3) intellectual curiosity
4) merchant / ruler alliances
Italian city-states
Muslim trade alliance
Venice and Genoa
Mediterranean ships
ill-suited
Iberian States
anti-Muslim
risk for return

9. Portuguese Voyages Islamic Weakness Henry the Navigator
Ceuta, Morocco (1415)
Muslim wealth
caravans
gold and slaves
Henry the Navigator
led attack on Cueta
crusades and commerce
dedication to exploration
Sagres institute
magnetic compass / astrolabe
caravel
fast, strong, maneuverable
W. Africa coastline
ocean wind patterns

10. Portuguese Voyages Raising Funds Portuguese Crown Order of Christ
military religious order
Order of Knights Templar -1314
slavery
W. Africa / Canary Islands
gold trade
Portuguese Crown
Private enterprise
5-year monopoly
sugar, gold, slaves
Bartolome Dias - (1488)
southern tip of Africa
Vasco da Gama - ( )
India
Pedro Alvares Cabral - (1500)

11. Spanish Voyages Preoccupations Christopher Columbus amalgamation
Reconquista
conversion / expulsion
Christopher Columbus
Genoese mariner
Portugal to Spain
rejection
Isabella and Ferdinand
“Grand Khan” letter
voyages
shorter route to Indian Ocean
southern route
“Indians”
New World

12. Spanish Voyages

13. Spanish Voyages America Treaty of Tordesillas - 1494
Amerigo Vespucci
Spain and Portugal
Treaty of Tordesillas
East - Portugal
Brazil
West - Spain
Vasco de Balboa
Isthmus of Panama
Ferdinand Magellan
Portugal and Spain
1st to encircle to globe
Result
colonial empire & trade network

14. Encounters with Europe, 1450-1550
Perception
potential allies
rivals or enemies
Western Africa
potential trading partners (gold)
cheaper imports
Portuguese ‘trading’ forts
“few, foul, and vile”
gold for imports / firearms
Benin Kingdom
Catholicism
missionaries
male slaves
Kongo Kingdom
increase in slave trade monopoly

15. Encounters with Europe, 1450-1550
Eastern Africa
Muslim rulers
cool reception
1505 bombardment
“Christ and commerce”
Malindi
trading position
Ethiopia
Christian alliance
“crucifixes”
patriarchy issue
European presence
minor in 1550

16. Indian Ocean States Portuguese Arrival - 1498 King Manuel
poor 1st impression
King Manuel
Portugal’s sea
naval control
superior ships / weapons
Goa
Malacca
Hormuz
trading alliances
Macao
Japan / China trade
profit
monopolies
port custom duties

17. Indian Ocean States Portuguese Opposition Ming / Mughal reaction
Ottoman Turks
Ming / Mughal reaction
landed interests
Port reactions
timid cooperation
evasion / resistance
Portuguese Domination
pepper trade
broke Italian monopoly
spices / luxury goods to Europe
considerable profit
little effect on mainlands

18. The Americas Spanish Arawak conquistadors territory over trade
isolation
Columbus
Arawak
Hispaniola and Bahamas
stories of gold
1493 voyage
settlers
servitude
conquistadors
Christianity and commerce
Reconquista

19. The Americas Hernan Cortes - 1519-1521 Aztec Empire Inca Empire
slaves and trade
Aztec Empire
enemies
tributary state
human sacrifice
disease
Moctezuma II CE
1520 capture
Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro
180 men
Atahualpa’s “conversion”

20. Spanish Conquest

21. The Americas Spanish Success 1) isolation 2) military technology
disease
naivete
2) military technology
steel
horses
cannon
alliances
style of fighting
3) Reconquista
forced labor and conversion
land incorporation