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Age of Exploration 1400-1625. Growth of Trade. Goods from Orient Cinnamon Pepper Cloves and spices Perfumes Silks Precious Stones Became harder to get these goods from Asia-one reason was because the Mongol Empire collapsed. Technology’s Impact. More accurate maps Ocean currents
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Age of Exploration 1400-1625
Growth of Trade • Goods from Orient • Cinnamon • Pepper • Cloves and spices • Perfumes • Silks • Precious Stones • Became harder to get these goods from Asia-one reason was because the Mongol Empire collapsed
Technology’s Impact • More accurate maps • Ocean currents • Lines of latitude • Astrolabe: measured position of stars • Compass • Caravel: 3-masted ship • Sailed faster • More cargo room • Shallower waters
Portuguese Explorers • Searched for a route to Asia around Africa • Henry the Navigator (1420) • Bartholomeu Dias (1487) • Vasco da Gama (1497) • 1st to succeed
Christopher Columbus • Planned to reach Asia by sailing West • Most people believed the world to be round • Spain backs Columbus • King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella • 1492 • Ships: Pinta, Nina, Santa Maria • Underestimated distance • Reached the West Indies (Caribbean Islands) on Oct 12,1492 • Later expeditions made clear it was new land (Not Asia) • Claimed land for Spain
Amerigo Vespucci • 1499 Explorer • Mapped South America’s coastline • Confirmed new continent • Called America in honor of Amerigo
Ferdinand Magellan • 1519 • Sailed around southern tip of South America • “Strait of Magellan” • Reached Asia • Killed in the Philippines, crew continued • 1st to Circumnavigate (sail around) the world
John Cabot • 1497 • English Explorer • Search for Northern route to Asia • “The North West Passage” • Landed on present day New Foundland
Henry Hudson • Hired by the Netherlands, then British • Search for North West Passage • Sailed due west, landed in Hudson Bay • Thought it was the Pacific Ocean • Couldn’t find way out • Crew set Hudson, his son, and few sailors adrift on a small boat • Never seen again
The Commercial Revolution • Mercantilism – country gains power by building up its supply of gold and silver • Export – sell goods to another country • Import – buy goods from another country • Colony – settlement of people living in a new territory controlled by their home country
Commercial Rev. con’t • Commerce- buying and selling of goods in large amounts over long distances • Invest – entrepreneurs (buisnessperson) put money into a project - goal was to make even more $ when project was done