1. Motivating Factors of European Exploration of the Americas
Level 2

2. Vocabulary Exploration: investigation of unknown regions
Cartography: the construction of maps
Latitude: distance north or south of the equator
Longitude: distance east or west of the prime meridian
Compass: instrument that finds directions by use of magnetic fields
Astrolabe: an astronomical instrument that takes the altitude of the sun or stars for navigation
Mercantilism: commercialism that supported a favorable balance of trade
Favorable Balance of Trade: export more goods than import
Nation-State: a sovereign state with a homogeneous group of people that share a feeling of common nationality
Missionaries: a person sent by a church to spread their religious ideas, values and beliefs
Dictionary.com as reference

3. Essential Question
What were the four motivating factors for European exploration?

4. Technological improvements in navigation
Cartography
Found “Guide to Geography” written by Ptolemy and translated it from Greek to Latin
No longer thought the world was flat and knew it was globe shaped
Latitude and longitude were introduced to maps
Ship Building:
Development of Spanish Caravels: small, fast, and easy to maneuver with shallow bottoms allowed ships in shallow water, used lateen (triangular) sails that could be positioned to take advantage of the wind no matter which way it blew.
Navigational tools:
Compass
Astrolabe
Weapons:
Cannons fired without leaving ship
Horses, guns, armor

5. Consolidation of political power within certain countries in Europe
People began to consolidate their small villages into larger cities
Peasants in the countryside began leasing land and being more prosperous through the use of technological inventions for farming.
Merchant middle class emerged which helped begin mercantilism
Nation-states emerged:
Portugal
Spain
England
France
Nation-states invested in exploration and their militaries through the intake of taxes.

6. Desire to break into the Eastern trade markets
Increased demand for goods like spices, silk and tea from Asia
Spices helped preserve food
Added taste to their bland diet
Problems:
Muslim traders carried goods to the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea from Asia and Africa.
Italian merchants then brought the goods to Europe.
Muslim rulers sometimes closed the trade routes from Asia to Europe.
Prices increased every time the goods changed hands.
Solution: find a trade route to Asia that bypassed the Muslims and Italians
Columbus tried by going across the Atlantic
Da Gama found a route to the East by going around Africa

7. Missionary zeal
Both Protestant and Catholic missionaries wanted to convert people outside their own land.

8. Review Questions
What were the four motivating factors for European exploration?
List three technological advancements and the importance of each.
What were the major nation-states that lead exploration?
What was Missionary zeal?