1. THE AND EUROPEAN EXPLORERS (MODULE 1)

2. THE RENAISSANCE: LATE 15 TH & EARLY 16 TH CENTURIES  In 15 th century Europe there was a ‘rebirth’ or renewed interest in science and learning. (Wanted to discover the world and learn more about it).  Europeans knew only a ‘small world.’ Apart from the continent of Europe, they knew of the North Coast of Africa and parts of the Middle East.  Had vague and romantic concepts about Asia (Marco Polo’ s journeys).  The Americas, Australia, and most of Africa unknown to Europeans.

3. THE RENAISSANCE: LATE 15 TH & EARLY 16 TH CENTURIES cont’d  Powerful nations (England, France, Spain, Portugal) desired exotic spices and riches from Asia.  The Turks had control over the Ottoman Empire and blocked all land routes from Europe to Asia. Luxury goods from Asia became very expensive.  Europeans needed to discover a new route to Asia – the sea.

4. THE World Known to the Europeans

5. EUROPEAN MOTIVES FOR EXPLORATION   Commercial: acquire wealth with gold, silver, gems, spices.   Political: Attain more power by creating an empire by establishing overseas colonies.   Religious: missionary work & conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity.   Technological: more efficient ways of doing things; new navigation instruments, better ships (caravel, galleon), cartography.   Personal Prestige: glamour, display courage, be first to discover new territory.

6. IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY

7. EUROPEAN EXPLORATION & EXPANSION IN THE 15 TH AND 16 TH CENTURIES

8. THE MAJOR EXPLORERS PORTUGAL Bartholomeu Diaz (1487) – Rounded southern tip of Africa / Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama (1497) – Reached India by sea. Pedro Alvarez Cabral (1500) – Explored coast of Brazil. SPAIN C. Columbus (1492) – Sailed west to find China…hit roadblock… America! Amerigo Vespucci (1499-1503) – Explored east coast of South America. Vasco de Balboa (1513) – Crossed Central America on foot! First European to see Pacific Ocean. Ferdinao de Magalhaes (1519-1522) – First voyage around world.

9. THE MAJOR EXPLORERS cont’d ENGLAND Giovanni Caboto (1497) – Reached Labrador and New Founde Land = COD!! Martin Frobisher (1576-1579) – Explored Labrador and Baffin Island. FRANCE Giovanni Verrazano (1524) – Explored east coast of North America. Jacques Cartier (1534-1542) – Explored mouth of St. Lawrence and reached village where Montreal now exists…Yipee!!!