1. The Age of Exploration Forces Behind European Exploration
God (Religious Motivations)
Missionaries: spread word of Christ
Many other religions seen as “savage”
Increase power of Catholic Church
Glory (Personal Motivations)
Spirit of adventure, natural curiosity
Individual claim to fame (fortune?)
Power of Kings and Queens, empire
Gold (Economic Motivations)
European interests in Asia
Spices, silk, tea, porcelain = $$$
Rise of Ottomans restricted Silk Road
Could eliminate “middle man” by sea
Hope of discovering precious metals
Economic theory of Mercantilism
Emerging notion of Euro. supremacy
Effects of Renaissance on Exploration?

2. The Age of Exploration The First Exploring Nations: Spain
Christopher Columbus
Italian, convinced Queen Isabella of Spain to finance experimental journey
Many at the time knew world was round, but not sure how large
thought he’d found short-cut to India by sailing west from Europe
1492: Columbus discovers what he thought were islands off China coast
Called islands “West Indies”
Actually in Caribbean Sea (America)
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
Agreement between Portugal & Spain
Claimed unknown lands for Church
Line of Demarcation splits globe
Portugal: rights to “Old World”
Spain: rights to most of “New World”

3. A Spanish Empire in the New World
Conquistadors (conquerors) were sent to explore Spain’s vast new territory
Hernan Cortes (1519)
Overthrew powerful Aztec Empire in modern-day Mexico, in only 3 yrs
Francisco Pizarro ( )
Took control of Incan civilization in South America over 30 years
Why? God, Glory, mostly GOLD.
The Spanish encomienda system
Queen declared “Indians” her subjects
Could legally be used as laborers
Spanish were supposed to protect Native Americans; widely abused
Forced labor in mines, on plantations
Little resistance to European diseases
Smallpox, measles, typhus
Massive losses in populations
Missionary efforts to destroy culture

4. The Age of Exploration The Columbian Exchange
Term given to the extensive exchange of plants & animals between the Old World and the New World.
Previously isolated for more than a thousand years.
Huge impact on both sides of Atlantic

5. The Economic Theory of Mercantilism
Economic principle focused around the wealth of the nation-state
Gov’t control of foreign trade is top priority to ensure prosperity & security
Measured by supply of gold & silver
Gained thru favorable balance of trade (Export more than you import)
Policies of European Rulers
Discourage import of foreign goods
high taxes on imports (tariffs)
Encourage export of manufactures
Protect favorable trading monopolies
Accept pay in gold, never pay in gold
Establish & Protect Colonies
Source of raw materials, gold, & silver
Protected market to sell manufactures
Effects of Mercantilism
European abuses in Americas, Africa
National rivalries based on trade, war

6. Ancient African Civilizations
Role of Geography
Climate dictates where, how people live
Variety of resources throughout Africa
Empires Through Trade
North African Nile civilizations grew powerful through trade alliances
Kush (Nubia) (1000BC - 150AD)
Axum (150BC – 1550BC)
West African Empires Rise and Fall
Located on Niger River valley
All centered on trading, taxes
Iron, gold, ivory, SALT?
Stateless societies in Southern Africa
Local rulers, mixed economies
Rise of Zimbabwe through gold trade
Ancient custom of slavery in Africa

7. The African Slave Trade
“Discovery” of Americas, sugarcane created huge demand for African slave
Early domination by Portuguese explorers
Sugar plantations in Caribbean, Brazil are incredibly deadly
Native workforce destroyed by disease
Tradition of trade and slavery in Africa different from slavery in New World
Triangular Trade Routes
AFRICA: import rum, manufactured goods, export slaves, gold, ivory
AMERICA: import slaves, export raw materials, rum, gunpowder
EUROPE: Import raw materials, export manufactured goods
Effects of Slave Trade on Africa
Tore families, communities apart
Constant internal warfare in Africa
Practice of “self-enslavement” (why?)
Dramatic costs on African population

8. European Influence in the East
India
Expanding foreign presence (British)
Spice Islands (Moluccas)
Dutch traders and military eventually corner spice trade, local government
Ex.: monopolize regional clove trade
Est. military outpost to protect trade
Mainland States of SE Asia
Resisted Euro. influence for most part
Stronger political identity, unity
China
Portuguese traders bring missionaries
Noted for their new technologies
Successful in spreading Christianity
Highly restricted trade under Qing
Refusal of expansion of British trade
Japan
Unified Japan initially pro Dutch trade
Move toward isolationism after Jesuit missionaries destroy ancient shrines
Many Japanese converts persecuted