2. WHY EXPLORE? China India
Attracted to East for silks and spices - Silk road (over land route)
China
India
EUROPE
Middle East
CHINA

3. ALSO…

4. WHY EXPLORE? Difficult to trade with Islamic empires
1453 Byzantine Empire (Christian) fell to Ottoman Empire (Muslim)
Still do not like each other from the Crusades

5. Gold
Glory
God

6. WHY EXPLORE?
GOD
Christianity calls for Christians to spread the teachings of Jesus to others. Many Europeans used this as an excuse to kill others who refused to convert.

7. Improvements in Navigation
HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE?
Improvements in Navigation
Better maps
better ships
INVENTIONS: Astrolabe / Compass
knowledge of wind patterns

8. The Americas? Europeans referred to the new land as the West Indies.
Later on they became known as North and South America.

9. Columbus’ Calculation Mistake
Columbus learned of Alfraganus's (Muslim astronomer) estimate that one degree of latitude spanned 56⅔ miles, but did not realize that this was expressed in the Arabic mile (about 1,830 m) rather than the shorter Roman mile he was familiar with (1,480 m).
He therefore estimated the circumference of the Earth to be about 19,000 miles, whereas the correct value is 25,000 miles.
Based on these calculation Columbus could reach the East Indies (India, China, Spice Islands) faster by traveling West.

10. Another Columbus Mistake
Columbus thought he landed in India.
He thought this in part because of the darker skin of the native people there.

11. WHY EXPLORE?
Desire for wealth/trade/GOLD

12. WHY EXPLORE?
GLORY
Desire for fame, and glory for being the person to find the new route to the far east, or perhaps for conquering people in the name of your country and God.

13. WHY EXPLORE?
GOD
Christianity calls for Christians to spread the teachings of Jesus to others. Many Europeans used this as an excuse to kill others who refused to convert.

14. Columbus’ World Map

16. Columbus’s World Map

17. Columbus’ Voyages (1492)

18. Post Columbus Map

19. Post Columbus Map