1. The Age of Exploration

2. The 1400’s
What were the causes of European exploration and colonization in the 15th Century?

3. Why did Europeans go exploring?
The 3 G’s…
Why did Europeans go exploring?
GOLD: New trade routes opened up opportunities for wealth.
GOD: Missionaries wanted to spread Christianity.
GLORY: Explorers were considered famous heroes; countries competed for colonies.

4. The Crusades
The Crusades were military expeditions sent by the Catholic Church to capture the Holy Land from the Muslim Turks.
They were not successful, but did have a few positive results:
Europeans learned to draw better maps and build better ships.
Exposed Europeans to spices & goods from the E ast.

5. The 1400’s People grew tired of paying high prices for Asian goods
People realized they needed to find a new route to Asia
They wanted Gold, Silk, and Spices

6. Prince Henry the Navigator
Son of Portugal’s king
Opened a school for mapmakers, shipbuilders, and navigators
Navigator: expert sailor
his skilled shipbuilders built a ship called a caravel (a ship that was larger, stronger, faster, and easier to steer that other ships during that time)
Portuguese sailors were also expert navigators
Used a compass
Measured their latitude and longitude with an astrolabe (a device used by sailors to measure latitude)

7. Portugal Takes the Lead
Prince Henry wanted his sailors to sail around Africa to Asia
While traveling they would build trading ties with Africans
Would also convert them to Christianity

8. Vasco de Gama
In 1497, Vasco de Gama sailed around the southernmost tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope)
Sailed into the Indian Ocean to India
Brought back spices and precious stones

9. Christopher Columbus
Italian born Christopher Columbus believed he could reach India by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean
This made sense to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain who supported Columbus’ voyage.
What would Columbus run into on his voyage??

10. Columbus’ Voyage Did not realize he would “run into” the Americas
Spain found gold and other resources
Conquered the ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas

11. Impact of Columbus
Other European countries were eager to send their explorers to these “new” lands
England
France
The Netherlands
Europeans began founding colonies which ended up bringing Europe wealth and power

12. Ferdinand Magellan Was a Portuguese officer in the Navy
Voyage was not supported by Portuguese king so he got Spain to support him
Set sail in 1519 with 5 ships
Sailed through the passage called the Strait of Magellan (who was this named for???)

13. The 1st to Circumnavigate
Magellan and crew sailed in the Pacific to the Philippines
Magellan was killed in 1521 in battle with a Philippine ruler.
3 years after they initially set sail, one ship returned to Spain with 18 men.
These men were the first people to circumnavigate the world.
Circumnavigate: to sail around the world.

14. James Cook Australia was colonized by Great Britain in 1770.
James Cook explored the area of New South Wales and created a penal colony
A penal colony is a place for prisoners and debtors to go (kinda like a jail only it’s a country!)

15. Review of the 3 G’s
God: Some Europeans believed it was their duty to spread the Christian faith throughout the world
Gold: competed for natural resources such as gold, silk, and spices
Glory: the more colonies a country had, the more wealth it had