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European Exploration

European Exploration. The Causes. Our Learning Targets. I can explain how a desire for natural resources and riches, such as gold and spices, led to European exploration and colonization.

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European Exploration

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  1. European Exploration The Causes

  2. Our Learning Targets I can explain how a desire for natural resources and riches, such as gold and spices, led to European exploration and colonization. I can explain how the desire to spread Christianity by missionaries led to European exploration and colonization. I can explain how a desire for trade and controlling markets led to European exploration and colonization. I can discuss the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator.

  3. Why did explorations happen when they did? • A variety of factors all came together to make the time period (1450-1700) the “Age of Exploration” • Some of these factors were agricultural and other resources they wished to have (gold, silver, spices, precious stones, etc.) • Some were pulls, motivations and things that attracted the Europeans

  4. What is the easiest way to remember it all? • The Three G’s: • Gold • Glory • God • Although a little simplistic, this mnemonic is a great way to remember the main motivations of the European explorers.

  5. 3 G’s • Gold • God • Glory

  6. Gold • In the 1400s, European countries were competing with each other for Natural Resources • They competed for natural resources such as gold, silk, and spices • Spices were especially valuable • Many of these things could be found in India. • Traders had to travel great distances over land to get these natural resources.

  7. Gold and Natural Resources • Transporting goods across these great distances was costly. • Everyone along the way had to be paid and wanted to earn a profit • By the time the spices and goods reached Europe, they had to be sold at extremely high prices.

  8. The First G: Gold • Gold was a hot item that explorers were looking for, but remember that it is really wealth, not just literal gold that explorers were after. • Europe needed gold (and silver) to fuel the rising banking system • Europeans also desired spices (Da Gama’s voyage to India made him a 3000% profit!) • Other natural resources would come to be sold for profit as well (timber, sugar, tobacco, ivory, etc.) • This competition will be enhanced by the idea of mercantilism that emerges, the idea that there is only so much wealth in the world, and that to make your kingdom strong you must have more gold and wealth than the other kingdoms

  9. Gold and Natural Resources • European Merchants new that if they would trade directly with people in Asia, they could make enormous profits. • In the 1400s, Europeans began searching for a sea route to Asia.

  10. God • Some Europeans believed it was their duty to spread the Christian faith throughout the world. • They felt that they could convert the Native people they met in their journeys into Christians.

  11. The third G: Glory • Glory was a relatively new idea in Europe • Came out of the Renaissance ideal of Humanism, and the focus on individual achievement • With the rise of the printing press, the idea of gaining fame for one’s actions was more possible • Also, individual kings wanted glory for their kingdoms, competition spreads The Triumph of Fame, a Flemish tapestry from 1502.

  12. Glory • As Europeans began exploring the Coast of Africa, they began settling Colonies. • Colonizing new areas added to a country’s territory (more natural resources, more wealth) • Colonizing also opened new markets • European countries could sell things to the people in these areas and make even more money

  13. Glory • The more colonies a country had, the more wealth it had • More colonies meant more prestige or Glory • Countries began competing with one another for colonies • When one Country takes over another it is called Imperialism

  14. What were the new technologies that enabled explorations? • The caravel was a new, faster, more maneuverable ship • Older ships had square sails, caravels had triangular sails (easier to change direction) • Bilge pump system enabled ship to float higher (less likely to run aground, easier to explore coasts and rivers) • Compass, astrolabe, maps, sextant and other technologies from Islamic culture all helped make explorations possible

  15. New Maritime Technology Better Maps Hartman Astrolabe (1532) Mariner’s Compass Sextant

  16. New Weapons Technology

  17. Which Country started the Exploration?

  18. Prince Henry the Navigator • Portugal • Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal began the age of European exploration • Prince Henry began Portugal’s exploration of Africa in the mid 1400s. • He hired sailors who explored the coast of Africa and opened the way for future journeys

  19. Prince Henry the Navigator • Henry also opened a school of Navigation in Portugal • He wanted shipbuilders, mapmakers, sea captains, and inventors to learn and work together.

  20. For the next 200 years, Europe’s largest countries began exploring Africa, Asia, and North America. • They set up Colonies, new markets, and spread Christianity.

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