1. Chapter 1, Section 2 An Age of Exploration p. 12-19
European exploration and conquest has far-reaching effects on the world.

2. Section Focus Question
How did European exploration link the Americas to other parts of the world?

3. What was America like before the Age of Exploration?

4. The “New World” in the 1400s: (The Americas)
Main Idea: Before 1492, American civilizations were cut off from the closely linked lands of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Incas (So. America)
Aztecs (Meso-America)
Plains Indians
Iroquois and Algonquian (Northeast)

5. The “Old World” in the 1400s (Europe, Africa, Asia)
Main Idea: Before 1492, American civilizations were cut off from the closely linked lands of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Crusades: lead to growth of trade between Europe and the Middle East
Renaissance: Europeans rediscover Greek and Roman ideas forgotten in the Middle “Dark” Ages.
Black Plague wipes out 1/3 of population of Europe.
Silk Road allows Muslim merchants to bring goods from the East (Asia and China)
China sends Zheng He to explore outside world
“Old World” Trade Routes

6. Europe Begins to Explore
Main Idea: Europeans began to explore the oceans because they wanted to trade with the lands of Asia.
Why did they explore?
Europeans desire luxury goods from the East $$$
Advances in technology spur exploration for economic gain $$$
Shipbuilding: caravels
Cartographers make newer more accurate maps
The astrolabe allows ships to sail outside the sight of land
New trade routes needed!
To break Italian and Muslim monopolies on goods from the East $$$

7. Columbus Reaches the Americas
Main Idea: By sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean, Columbus brought Europe and the Americas into contact.
Italian sailor convinces Spanish monarchs to finance trip to Asia by sailing West
“Discovers” America October 12, 1492
He was really lost. (He thought he was in the East Indies.)
Beginning of the Spanish Empire, starts colonies (p. 14)
Topples native empires
Brings Christianity & “civilization”
Exploits natural resources and native populations (people)
Columbus “discovers” America

8. The Columbian Exchange
Main Idea: The voyages of Columbus started a worldwide exchange of products and ideas.
p. 16 in your book
New Products & Ideas: crops like potatoes, corn, and tobacco. New medical treatments with herbs & plants. New religious beliefs & governments.
DISEASE - European diseases wipe out entire Native American populations.
Within 75 yrs. of Columbus’ arrival 90% of people of Caribbean Islands & Mexico are dead.
Growth of Slavery: with the loss of native labor, Europeans look to African slaves to work the plantations (large estate farms) and mines.

9. Section Focus Question
Q: How did European exploration affect the Americas and other parts of the world?
A: European exploration resulted in the Columbian Exchange (an exchange of goods and ideas), linking the Americas to Europe and Asia.