1. The Age of Exploration
A period from 1400 to 1600 in which Europeans traveled the rest of the world in search of goods, raw materials, land, and trade partners, as well for the purpose of spreading Christianity.
Also known as the Age of
Discovery

2. The Factors that Led to European Exploration
The following are the reasons that Europe began to explore the rest of the world…
1.) The demand for natural resources
such as…
Gold
Spices
Other natural resources that Europe
did not have

3. The Factors that Led to European Exploration
2.) The competition between European countries
Mercantilism
Also known as the mercantile system
The practice of increasing wealth through
trade
Nation increases its wealth by selling more
goods than it is buying
Responsibility of government to increase

4. The Factors that Led to European Exploration
3.) Innovations in maritime technology
Portugal was the leader in developing and applying new sailing innovations
Prince Henry the Navigator
Established a school of navigation
Directed Portugal’s journeys and establishment of colonies

5. The Factors that Led to European Exploration
4.) The desire to spread Christianity
Missionaries where sent with explorers to convert the indigenous people (original inhabitants)
Colonists brought their faith and culture
with them

6. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
Portugal
Vasco de Gama ( )
Established trading posts along the African and Indian coasts

7. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
Spain
Christopher Columbus
( )
Claimed territories in Central America for Spain
First landed on the island of San Salvador in the Caribbean Sea
Made four journeys total

8. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
Spain
Hernando Cortez ( )
Claimed territories in Central America for Spain as well
Conquered the Aztec Empire with the aid of…
Disease
Native enemies
Superior Weapons

9. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
Spain
Ferdinand Magellan ( ; 1522)
Claimed the Philippines in Southeast Asia for Spain
His voyage was the first to circumnavigate (to circle) the world – he died along the way (1521)

10. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
Spain
Francisco Pizarro ( )
Claimed territories in South America (Peru) for Spain
Conquered the Incan Empire

11. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
France
Jacques Cartier ( )
Claimed Canada for France

12. Major European Explorers and the Territories that they Claimed
England
Sir Francis Drake ( )
Famous sea captain and first Englishman to
circumnavigate (to circle) the world

13. Other Important Figures of the Age of Exploration
Portugal
Prince Henry the Navigator
England
Queen Elizabeth I
Encouraged overseas exploration
and the establishment of colonies, which made an already standing conflict with Spain even worse.

14. Other Important Figures of the Age of Exploration
England (cont’d)
Queen Elizabeth I
The Spanish Armada (1588)
A Spanish naval invasion force sent against England by Philip II of Spain in 1588 to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and halt English expansion and influence.
Some ships were destroyed on the way to England by a storm.
What was left of the Spanish fleet was destroyed by the English fleet of the coast of the British Isles.

15. The Treaty of TordesILLAS (1494)
Divided the unexplored world between Spain and Portugal by the Line of Demarcation
Spain received the western half and Portugal the eastern half
Spain
Portugal

16. Exit Ticket:
Out of all of the reasons for exploration discussed today in class, which one do you think was the most important and why? Out of all of the important people discussed today in class, who do you think had the greatest impact on the Age of Exploration and why?