The Columbian Exchange and Mercantilism

1. The Columbian Exchange and Mercantilism Mr. Ziegler

2. I. Voyages of Discovery • The Renaissance spirit of discovery & innovation led Europeans to discover new lands during the 1400 -1500s which led to the Age of Exploration • Motivations for Exploration: • Europeans desired luxurious goods from China, and India however the Italian merchants determined the prices • Explorers set out to find their own trade routes • Many hoped to find fame, glory and honor for their accomplishments • Others set out to spread their faith around the world • Curiosity!!! The desire to see what else is out there from reading books of other travelers such as Marco Polo, told tales of exotic lands & peoples. • In other words they were motivated by GOD, GOLD, and GLORY!

3. What do you think was the main motives that drove the Age of Exploration? Are these motives still around today???

4. Advances in Technology: • Many key advancements were made during the Renaissance as well as borrowed from others around the world such as the Chinese & Muslims • The compass: Brought by the Chinese to Europe aiding sailors to calculate their locations at sea • Astrolabe: Brought by Muslim traders and allowed navigators to calculate their location based on the stars and sun position to the horizon • Deep-draft ships: Built by Europeans to ride lower in the water and withstand heavier waves as well as carry more supplies • Caravel: a light fast sailing ship that was highly maneuverable with its rudder at the stern and lateen sails and could be equipped with weapons • -These advances aided Europeans to explore further and faster into the new world

5. Explorers of Europe: • -The Spanish and Portuguese capitalized on their location as the westernmost countries in Europe  facing the Atlantic Ocean • Portugal was the first country to launch large-scale voyages due to the King’s overwhelming support and funding • Spain also sought to find new trade routes therefore King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella funded Columbus’s voyages • By the early 1500s the English and French were exploring the northern parts of North America

6. How does exploration lead to migration and the diffusion of ideas? • How have recent advances in technology encouraged exploration?

7. New Patterns of Trade • The creation of colonies in the Americas and elsewhere led to the exchange of new goods, the establishment of new patterns of trade and new economic systems in Europe • The Columbian Exchange: • Due to the voyages of many explorers a period of large-scale contact between societies of Europe and the Americas began leading to the… • Columbian Exchange- the transfer of plants, animals, & disease between the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa • The Columbian Exchange bridged the gap that existed between the Eastern and Western hemispheres in regards to the many plants, animals and food that had previously been unknown to other parts of the world. • The introduction of new foods (Corn, Potatoes, Tomatoes) became staples of both the Americas as well as Europe and provided additional nutrition, which helped people live longer. • The Columbian Exchange was not limited to the Americas and Europe as Asian and African societies also got in on and changed as a result of the exchange. • All things brought to the Americas were not positive, however; new diseases such as small pox, measles, influenza and malaria killed millions of Native Americans.

8. The Columbian Exchange

9. Please explain how the Columbian Exchange worked…

10. New Patterns of Trade cont. • Mercantilism: • Due to the influx of new goods to Europe, the European economy changed significantly resulting in a new type of economic policy known as… • Mercantilism - An economic system, which held that a nations power was directly related to its wealth. • Mercantilists believed that there was a fixed amount of wealth in the world and for one nation to become wealthier and more powerful … it had to take wealth and power away from another nation. • Increased tension and competition for wealth emerged between nations during the 1500’s – 1600’s. • Balance of Trade • European nations attempted to create a favorable balance of trade by receiving more gold and silver from other nations than it paid to them thus increasing its power and weakening its competitors. • A favorable balance of trade could be created several ways: • 1. Reducing the amount of goods imported from other countries • 2. Develop exports that could be sold for high prices. • 3. Controlling overseas sources of raw materials and metals.

11. Mercantilism

12. New Patterns of Trade cont. • Colonial Empires • The establishment of colonies was essential to the mercantilist system, as they needed to control access to sources of raw materials and provide new markets for manufactured goods. • Mercantilists believed that the sole purpose of the colony was to benefit the home country, which led to harsh laws forbidding anyone living in colonies from selling raw materials to, or purchasing manufactured goods from any nation other than the home country. • Capitalism • Increased trade between nations led to the expansion of the economic system known as capitalism where most economic activities are carried on by private individuals or organizations to seek a profit.

13. What were the main principles of mercantilism?

14. Stop and Think … • ----> Stop and Think: What do you think was the main motive that drove the Age of Exploration? Are these motives still around today??? • ----> Stop and Think: What were the main principles of mercantilism?