1. Economics and Exploration

2. The Crusades Middle Ages - people lived on manors
Basic needs met, little desire to travel or trade
Crusades
Thousands join, travel to Holy Land
Europeans develop taste for foreign goods and a desire to trade

3. The Renaissance (rebirth)
1300s -1600s in Europe -End of Middle Ages and beginning of the Renaissance
Increased trade/travel sparks curiosity
Growth of arts and sciences

4. Power of the Press 1456 - Johannes Gutenberg = first printing press
Books more accessible
Preparing people’s minds for explorations to come

5. Tools of the Trade Magnetic Compass - needle always points North
Quadrant - angle of stars
Astrolabe - altitude of objects

6. The Navigators Prince Henry of Portugal (Henry the Navigator)
Portugal became center of navigation
Designed new ship: caravel (triangular sails, steering rudder)
Wanted his sailors to sail to China, Japan and India in search of gold and spices

7. Show me the money! All share a quest for wealth and power
Italy controls Mediterranean trade
Strong Kings emerge in France, Spain, England and Portugal, Netherlands
All share a quest for wealth and power
Trade brings wealth - compete for trade routes
Colonies bring wealth, territory, power, control
Race to Find a Water Route to the Indies

8. Spices continued Spice trade very profitable
Profits often 12 times the cost
Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, pepper, turmeric, sesame, cardamon

9. Spices Overland route to East
Dangerous physical obstacles - deserts, mountains
Bandits and thieves

10. Spices Had to pay Muslim merchants who acted as middlemen
Turks take Constantinople - put halt to trade with East
Europeans needed water route to get rich!!!!