causes of european expansion
TRANSCRIPT
What allowed / caused Europeans to begin their exploration, expand their trade involvement, and their conquest?
CAUSES of EUROPEAN MARITIME VOYAGES
In Europe…
• Demographic recovery after the plague
• Crusading Spirit
• Fragmented state-building led to competition
• Portuguese began exploring in 1415
• Columbus reached the Americas in 1492
• Vasco de Gama sailed around Africa to India 1497-98
CAUSES of EUROPEAN MARITIME VOYAGES
Improvements in technology• Better ship design (caravel)
• The Gunpowder revolution
• Navigation –compass, sextant, astrolabe, maps.
Training and Experience
• Portuguese Seafaring Schools
• Experience in wars with Muslims
DESIRE FOR PROFIT
• FIND & Control trade routes to Asia
• Find GOLD & SILVER (for wealth in Europe and to trade in Asia)
Religious Reasons. . .The desire to:
• spread Christian religion and political control
• Defeat Islamic forces
In East Asia . . .
China and Japan
continued to
control their
own ports,
products, and
profits with little
gains made by
Europeans.
Europe compared with China• European voyages small compared to
China
• Europeans seeking wealth, converts, and national pride
• Europeans used violence to gain empires
• Chinese voyages ended, Europeans kept escalating-WHY?
– Internal competition in Europe
– Need for more land
– No single political authority
– Support of European elites