WHII: SOL 4a-f

Age of Exploration

Factors contributing to the European discovery of lands in the Western Hemisphere

• Why did Europeans go exploring?• Demand for gold, spices, and

natural resources in Europe–Used to flavor and preserve food,

make medicines and perfumes

Factors (Continued)

• Support for the diffusion of Christianity–Spread of Christianity thru missionaries

• Political and economic competition between European empires–Increased of trade and control of new

lands=WORLD POWER!!!!!

Factors (continued)

• How were Europeans able to go exploring across oceans?

• Innovations of European and Islamic origins in navigational arts– Mapmakers (cartographers) more accurate maps– Compass– Better ships– Astrolabe (to determine latitude)

• Pioneering role of Prince Henry the Navigator

Prince Henry the Navigator• Led the way in sponsoring

navigation in Portugal• Saw promise in Africa

(convert Africans, gain control of riches dominated by the Muslims)

• Hoped to find a maritime route to Asia by going around Africa

Prince Henry the Navigator• Gathered scientists, cartographers, and experts to

adjust maps, design ships, and trained captains and crews

• Portuguese slowly made their way down the west coast of Africa

• 1460-Prince Henry dies• 1488- Bartholomew Dias rounds the Cape of Good

Hope

Group Work• Students will work in 7 groups to

create the “notes” for an explorer.–Country of origin–Country they sailed for– Important Dates–Where did they explore?–2 important contributions (at least)

• These will be presented to the class

Establishment of overseas empires and decimation of indigenous populations

• Portugal: Vasco da Gama• Spain: Christopher Columbus, Hernando

Cortez, Francisco Pizarro, Ferdinand Magellan• England: Francis Drake• France: Jacques Cartier• Atlas pgs. 68-69, 76

Vasco da Gama• From: Portugal• Sailed for: Portugal• Explored: Cape of Good Hope, India (Calicut)• Dates: – 1497-sailed around Cape of Good Hope– 1502-forced treaty with Calicut

• Contributions: confirmed Portugal as a world power, established a trade empire in Indian Ocean

Christopher Columbus• From: Italy (Genoa)• Sailed for: Spain• Explored: Caribbean (North America) (West Indies)

• Dates: 1492-discovered North America• Contributions: established Spain as a major

power in “New World”, discovered North America

Hernando Cortez

• From: Cuba• Sailed for: Spain• Explored: Mexico (Central America) • Dates: 1519-landed in Mexico, 1521 captured

Tenochtitlan• Contributions: conquered Aztec empire,

decimated the population

Francisco Pizarro

• From: Spain• Sailed for: Spain• Explored: South America• Dates: 1532 arrived in Peru• Contributions: captured Incan empire, killed

Atahualpa (ruler)

Ferdinand Magellan

• From: Portugal• Sailed for: Spain• Explored: the Pacific Ocean• Dates: 1522-circumnavigated the world• Contributions: 1st to circumnavigate the world

Francis Drake• From: England• Sailed for: England• Explored: Atlantic and Pacific, 2nd to

circumnavigate the world• Dates: 1577- followed in Magellan’s footsteps

and circled the Earth• Contributions: 2nd to circumnavigate the

globe, pirate who stole from other nations and provided gave spoils to England

Jacques Cartier

• From: France• Sailed for: France• Explored: Canada• Dates: 1534- began exploring eastern Canada,

discovered the St. Lawrence river• Contributions: claimed much of Canada for

France, discovered and named the St. Lawrence river

• England• Ireland• Spain• France• Portugal• Italy• Iceland• Belgium• Denmark• Netherlands• Switzerland• Sweden• Norway• Finland• Germany• Poland• Austria

• Hungary• Czech Republic• Slovakia• Turkey• Russia• Atlantic Ocean• North Sea• Baltic Sea• Mediterranean Sea• Adriatic Sea• Bay of Biscay• English Channel