Age of Exploration (1450 - 1750)

I. Motives for Exploration

A. Technological Advances

1. improved navigational methods:

- magnetic compass andastrolabe

- improved maps and charts

2. improved ship designs

Example- the caravel ship -allowed sailing with and against the wind

3. improved weapons

- gunpowder and cannons

Why would this be important?

Desire for wealth (GOLD)

1. gain access to the spice trade (also sugar and silk)

Arab and Italian merchants had a monopoly

2. find new sources of gold and silver

Religion (GOD)

1. desire to convert new people to Christianity

Glory

1. desire to learn about the world (intellectual curiosity)

- Marco Polo returns with stories of the riches in Asia.

2. desire for adventure, fortune, fame and glory.

II. Portugal and Spain

A. Portugal

1. Portugal led the way

in exploration

a. Prince Henry the Navigator encourages exploration and the study of improvements in seafaring.

b. Set up a navigational school to teach Europeans the newest sailing techniques

b.location –Portugal was well situated to explore based on routes available to explore.

2. Portuguese sailors explored the coast of Africa in an attempt to find a water route to Asian trade.

3. Portuguese explorers included:

Bartholomeu Dias - first to sail around the southern tip ofAfrica

Vasco da Gama - discovered an all water trade route between Portugal and India.

B. Spain

1. Columbus sails West in an attempt to reach Asia.

-1st to reach the New World during the Age of Exploration

Ferdinand Magellan –

attempted to find a Western route to Asia, one of his ships will complete the first circumnavigation of the earth. (1519-1522)

Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived inMexico in 1519.

Cortes along with native allies defeated the Aztec.

Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in Central America

Pizarro defeated the Incas.

Amerigo Vespucci – Spain

Explored the coast of the newly discovered lands in the New World

Suggested Columbus had actually discovered a new world

Vespucci’s name begins to appear on maps of the New World

The Americas were named after him

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)- Spain and Portugal sign a treaty

dividing the newly discovered lands between the twonations