The Age of Exploration

1. The Age of Exploration MesoAmerica North American Colonies

2. BACKGROUND • Rise of Monarchies • Kings and queens paid for the exploration trips • Prestige • More territory • Printing Press • Fed rise of humanism • Access to books, more people read accounts of new lands • Scientific and intellectual inquiry • Access to maps, navigation tools

3. BACKGROUND • How did it start? • Prince Henry “The Navigator” of Portugal • Started a school of navigation in 1420 • Didn’t sail, but planned voyages and analyzed their reports • Astronomers, geographers, mathematicians shared info with Portuguese sailors and shipbuilders. • Expert mapmakers updated maps/charts

4. GEOGRAPHY

5. GEOGRAPHY • How did geography play a factor in the pursuit of new lands? • The Turks blocked the trade route from the Mediterranean Sea to the land route to Asia. • Crusades—European countries tried to regain control of holy sites that had been taken over by the Muslims and were exposed to trade items. • Portugal—They didn’t have a Mediterranean port location and needed an option. • Arabs’ prices were too high. (Middle Man)

6. SOCIAL • European explorers conquered three major MesoAmerican empires, greatly changing their lives and destinies: • Aztecs • Mayans • Incas • All three empires easily conquered • Feared white man: armor, guns = gods • Unrest within

7. SOCIAL: AZTEC SPRITE • 1200 AD – 1535 AD • G: Central Mexico • Built capital city of Tenochtitlan • Legend: priest had dream, locate city where he found an eagle holding a snake in his claws on top of a cactus. • Mexico City • Modern day Mexican flag • S: Ruler, priests and nobles, warriors merchants and artisans, farmers, and slaves • P: Empire ruled by emperor

8. SOCIAL: AZTEC SPRITE • R: Religion was polytheistic: Believed in many gods. • Used human sacrifices to please the gods. • I: Created writing system using hieroglyphics. • T: Built irrigation for crops • E: Traded cacao beans, tools, clothes, jewelry at local markets; caravans to present day Guatemala, Belize, Honduras

9. SOCIAL: MAYA SPRITE 200 AD – 900’s AD • G: Southern Mexico into Central America • S: Social Classes based on birth • P: Built city-states ruled by kings. • R: Polytheistic; Used humans as sacrifice

10. SOCIAL: MAYA SPRITE • I: Very accomplished: • Studied stars • Developed calendar • Created writing system using hieroglyphics • Invented system of mathematics with concept of 0 • T: Built pyramids as temples • E: Traded among empire/city-states • As currency, cacao beads gave way to stone beads • Gold, jade and copper = more expensive items

11. SOCIAL: INCA SPRITE • 1200 AD – 1535 AD • G: Modern day Peru along Pacific Ocean • S: “Inka” means ruler • Adapted to Inca by Spanish conquistadors to refer the people of the area, not the ruler or his family • Inca a patchwork of people from different lands • P: Government run by emperor • Civil war within empire favored Spanish conquest • R: Polytheistic • Believed in reincarnation

12. SOCIAL: INCA SPRITE • I: Architecture most important of Inca arts • Machu Picchu • Temples constructed using mortar less construction • knife couldn’t fit between! • T: Built vast network of roads and bridges • Terrace farming • E: Traded within empire • High degree of central planning: govt planned for citizens needs

13. POLITICAL • Treaty of Tordesillas(Line of Demarcation) • Spain got the West (new world) and Portugal got the East (old world) • This is why Brazilians speak Portuguese but the rest of SA speaks Spanish

14. POLITICAL

15. POLITICAL • OCEAN EXPLORERS • Spain • Columbus: Carribean • Vespucci: South American coast; “Americas” • deBalboa: Hiked mountains; first to see Pacific • Magellan: circumnavigated world; named Pacific • Portugal • Dias: Explored Africa • DaGama: Sailed around tip of Africa to India • Cabral: Explored Brazilian coast; sailed on to India

16. POLITICAL • INLAND EXPLORERS • Cortez-(Mexico) Conquered the Aztecs, put the Aztec emperor, Montezuma in prison. • Pizarro-(Peru) Conquered the Incas, executed their leader, Atahualpa. • Spanish explorers were known as conquistadors • They received grants, or special permission, to explore and claim land.

17. POLITICAL • NORTH AMERICAN EXPLORERS • Henry Hudson Sailed for England & Holland/Netherlands Hudson River (NYC) named for him • Pilgrims • See religion 

18. RELIGION • MesoAmerica • Native Americas = polytheistic • Europeans = monotheistic / CHRISTIAN, considered Indian ways barbaric • ENCOMIENDA: Spanish granted land & Native Americans to colonists in South America. In return, convert Indians to Christianity • Result = Disease, overwork killed millions of Indians • Lends itself to African slave trade

19. RELIGION • North America • Pilgrims leave England to escape religious persecution • Settle in Plymouth, Massachusetts • Indians taught Pilgrims to hunt/fish • Pilgrims still wary/distrusted Indians • Long term = leads to displacement of Indians from their land • Trail of Tears

20. INTELLECTUAL/TECHNOLOGY What were technology changes that increased exploration? • Better ships • triangular sail, sturdy rudder • Better tools • Astrolabe, magnetic compass • Better maps • Cartographer—a person who makes/studies maps Included ocean currents and latitude lines

21. ECONOMIC • Columbian Exchange • Exchange of plants, animals between continents • Provided new goods to sell, new means of transportation • Also brought diseases: killed millions of Indians • Mercantilism • Economic principal: nation’s strength depended on its wealth • Intense competition between nations 1500-1600’s

22. ECONOMIC

23. Wrap Up: 1-2-3-4-5-6 Foldable