1. European Explorations
The Age of Early
European Explorations
& Conquests

2. New Monarchies: What are they?
Increasingly centralized governments of nation-states
Under Royal Control
Administration was in the king, not feudal courts (justice for example)
Taxes were for the king
Occurred right as the reformation and exploration were happening.

3. Why did the New Monarchies occur?
Decline of the Feudal System
a weakened Nobility led to an increase in royal power
Crusades were a financial woe
Other conflicts arose
New methods of warfare (gunpowder, mercenary armies) reduced royal dependence upon the nobles
Black Death reduced European population so Nobles were not in a place to demand labour (supply and demand)
Decreased influence of the Church
Church slowly loses support
Great Schism
Catholic Church conceded power to monarchs in exchange for support

4. Why did the New Monarchies occur?
Rise of the Capitalist Class
the growth of a middle class led to a reduced power in nobility
business people wanted a strong government
territorial expansion would lead to new money
Growth of nationalism

5. Why Explore? How would Humanism encourage countries to explore?
Why would stronger centralized kingdoms give rise to exploration?
Why would Europeans not use overland trade routes?
How would the Reformation encourage overseas exploration?
Other reasons?

6. Motives for European Exploration
God, Glory & Gold!
Crusades  raised interest in Asia.
Renaissance  curiosity about other lands and peoples.
Reformation  refugees & missionaries.
Monarchs seeking new sources of revenue. (competition between them)
Technological advances.
Fame and fortune. (The rise of banks and commercial ventures)

7. New Maritime Technologies
Better Maps
Astrolabe
Mariner’s Compass
Sextant

8. New Weapons Technology

9. What problems might arise from exploring new territory with these motives? (Think short term & long term)
God, Glory & Gold!
Crusades  raised interest in Asia.
Renaissance  curiosity about other lands and peoples.
Reformation  refugees & missionaries.
Monarchs seeking new sources of revenue. (competition between them)
Fame and fortune. (The rise of banks and commercial ventures)

10. Prince Henry, the Navigator
School for Navigation, 1419

11. Portuguese Maritime Empire
Prince Henry explored the west coast of Africa in search of gold.

12. Christopher Columbus[1451-1506]

13. Columbus’ Significance
Columbus ushered in a new era of European exploration and domination in the world!

14. Columbus’ Four Voyages

15. Other Voyages of Exploration

16. Atlantic Explorations Looking for “El Dorado”

17. Old Imperialism vs. New Imperialism
Old: Characterized by establishing posts and forts on coastal regions but not penetrating inland to conquer entire regions or subjugate their populations.
New: outright conquering entire regions and subjugating their populations.

18. The First Spanish Conquests: The Aztecs
vs.
Fernando Cortez
Montezuma II

19. Mexico Surrenders to Cortez

20. Why would the
'Columbian Exchange'
be considered the
tsunami of
unintentional
"bio-terrorism"??

21. The “Columbian Exchange”
Squash
Avocado
Peppers
Sweet Potatoes
Turkey
Pumpkin
Tobacco
Quinine
Cocoa
Pineapple
Cassava
POTATO
Peanut
TOMATO
Vanilla
MAIZE
Syphilis
Trinkets
Liquor
GUNS
Olive
COFFEE BEAN
Banana
Rice
Onion
Turnip
Honeybee
Barley
Grape
Peach
SUGAR CANE
Oats
Citrus Fruits
Pear
Wheat
HORSE
Cattle
Sheep
Pigs
Smallpox
Flu
Typhus
Measles
Malaria
Diptheria
Whooping Cough

22. Cycle of Conquest & Colonization Official European Colony!
Explorers
Conquistadores
Official European Colony!
Missionaries
Permanent Settlers

23. Treasures from the Americas!

24. Triangular Trade

25. Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

26. Slave Ship
“Middle Passage”

27. “Coffin” Position Below Deck

28. African Captives Thrown Overboard Sharks followed the slave ships!

29. European Empires in the Americas

30. New Colonial Rivals

31. Your Task for Today Make a chart or a Venn Diagram.
One side will be positives of exploration, one side will be negatives of exploration.
Share in a small group and expand your own charts.

32. Your Task for Today
In many ways the story of Cortez represents a challenge in doing history: How do we accurately and fairly represent history?
With events like Cortez, it is a challenging task to portray Cortez in a neutral and unbiased way. Different people see him as both a Hero and a Villain? Is it up to us to decide? Is it even possible to write a neutral history?

33. Your Writing Tasks
Using your chart decide whether European exploration was good or bad. Answer with a ½ page to page response. Take a side!
Do you see debates in our society today over the spread of ideas or products? Where today is the same action seen as “good” and “bad” at the same time?
What can we learn from the challenges in doing history? (Both for the history and our world today)

34. Assessment: Examples Organization Depth of thinking
In the end you will hand in your Chart and answers to all three questions.