1. The Age of Exploration

2. AIM What drives Europeans to want to explore India?
Versus
DO NOW: Pretend you are an explorer in the 1400’s. You are asked to explore a completely UNKNOWN island. You do not know what lives there, how to get there (exactly) or how long you will be there.
What will you do?
What rewards (besides jewels) might come from exploring the sea?
What risks might you entail by embarking on such an unknown journey?

3. FOR GOLD, GOD, and GLORY! GOLD! (WEALTH! )
New spices in Europe (introduced during the Crusades) = demand for the spices.
Europeans wanted to cut out the middle man !
Europeans try to find new trade routes because they want new sources of wealth.

4. GOD (Spread of Christianity)
The Crusades pushed Christians to feel it was their duty to spread their religion and convert people to Christianity (and not to be Muslim).
Bartolomeu Dias – “To serve God and His Majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness, and to grow rich as all men desire to do.”

5. GLORY ! BEING “The FIRST!” First to: Find an spice?
Find a area?
Create a trading port?
Control a COUNTRY!?

6. TECHNOLOGY HELPS !
The introduction of the Caravel made travel easier !
65 feet long = more space for food/crew.
Able to explore
close to shore.
Larger sails for
easier movement
and power!

7. New Maritime Technologies Better Maps [Portulan]
Hartman Astrolabe (1532)
Mariner’s Compass
Sextant

8. New Weapons Technology

9. Christopher Columbus [1451-1506]

10. Columbus’ Four Voyages

11. Other Voyages of Exploration

12. Ferdinand Magellan & the First Circumnavigation of the World: Early 16c