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Early European Explorers

Early European Explorers. Need a NEW Water Route to Asia. WHY? – Italians had a monopoly on the Mediterranean Sea (military) Too dangerous to go by land Caravel – (Prince Henry – Portuguese) ship with triangular and square sails allowed the boat to sail into the wind

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Early European Explorers

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  1. Early European Explorers

  2. Need a NEW Water Route to Asia • WHY? – • Italians had a monopoly on the Mediterranean Sea (military) • Too dangerous to go by land • Caravel – (Prince Henry – Portuguese) ship with triangular and square sails • allowed the boat to sail into the wind • July 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias (Portuguese) reached southern tip of Africa

  3. Water Route to Asia • 1498 – Vasco da Gama • Sailed to southern tip of Africa and then north and sailed across the Indian Ocean • IMPORTANCE? – • ALL WATER ROUTE TO ASIA

  4. Columbus’s Plan • Italian Sailor – thought he knew a faster way • Plan: Sail WEST across the Atlantic  thought it was shorter • Mistakes – • Followed writings of others  WRONG about size of Asia • Underestimated the distance around the world – thought it was 1/3 smaller

  5. Help From Spain’s Rulers King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella • Support • Wanted to share in the riches • Wanted to spread Christianity • Against • Royal counsel doubted his calculations • In the middle of a war against the Muslims to drive them out of Spain • Columbus wanted a high payment

  6. Day of Opportunity • January 1492 – • Spanish conquered the last Muslim stronghold in Spain • Still had doubts about sending Columbus • Finally allowed him to go!!!!

  7. Setting Sail • Difficulty finding a crew • August 3rd, 1492 - Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria left the port of Palos de la Fontera in southern Spain • Two Log Books – • Shared with men • Secret – held the truth about the journey

  8. Returning Home? • October 10th, 1492 – • Men lost courage and wanted to return home (at sea for 10 weeks) • Columbus made a bargain – sail for three more days and then return home if hadn’t spotted land • October 12th, 1492 – “Tierra, Tierra” • “Land, Land!” • Two days later, sailor on the Pinta saw land

  9. Reaching the Americas • Greeted by Natives – called them Indians because Columbus thought he had landed in the Indies • San Salvador and Espanola – traveled looking for Japan • Relationship with Taino people – BAD angered the Tainos by stealing and committing violence against them

  10. An Expanding Horizon • Four more voyages to the Americas – • Never brought back treasures • After 4th voyage Spain refused to fund anymore trips • Queen Isabella’s Goal – FAILED • Upset that Columbus had mistreated and enslaved the Taino people

  11. Columbus’ Legacy

  12. Columbus’ Legacy • 1506 Columbus died thinking he had reached Asia – but also thinking he was a failure • Changed the way Europeans viewed the world • The ocean became a bridge that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas. • Began an era of great wealth and power for Spain

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