1. Explorers Reach the Americas
Chapter 3
Explorers Reach the Americas

2. Portugal and the
Age of Exploration

3. Prince Henry of Portugal
Three goals for Portugal
1. Wanted to spread Christian faith around the world
Find ocean route from Africa to Asia
3. Find source of gold from Southern Africa
B. Prince Henry brings together experts – design sturdy ship
1. Caravel
Age of Exploration
Occurred during the 1400s and 1500s
Made more accurate maps of the world

4. Ancient Timbuktu

5. Mansa Musa
Three African Empires
Ghana
700 AD to 1050 AD
Located inWest Africa
Capital was Kumbi
Primarily Muslim
Mali
Replaced Ghana Empire
Timbuktu - largest trading city
Mansa Musa – strong leader, created large buildings and universities

6. Songhai
Replaced Mali around 1500 AD
Grew rich from gold and ivory trade
Ruler – Askia Muhammad
Strong Muslim influence
Built many Mosques
i. Islamic Temples

8. Portugal’s Search for Riches
While looking for gold, named coasts along Africa
Enslavement of Africans
Brought Africans to Portugal and sold at public auctions
Were thought of as property

9. Bartholomeau Dias
A Passage to India
Prince Henry’s goal of finding riches and profits is met
Still needs to find a way around Africa to Asia
1488
Bartholomeau Dias sailed to present-day South Africa into Indian Ocean
Portuguese king encouraged by Dias’s report and names tip of Africa the Cape of Good Hope

10. Vasco da Gama
Crossing the Indian Ocean
1497 – Vasco da Gama rounded Africa
May 1498 landed on west coast of India