European Exploration

1. European Exploration • The 3 G’s of Exploration • “For God, Glory and Gold” 1

2. Eurasian Empires, 1300 - 1700 Eurasia on the eve of European expansion was dominated by a complex of huge, interlocking, land-based empires, linked by overland trade routes, and by the Arab trading along the Indian Ocean. The four empires highlighted here were land-based, inward-looking, and ill-prepared for the challenge of European imperialism that would arrive by sea and, over the next four hundred years, effectively undermine them. (excerpts from Spodek, The World’s History)

3. Why European Exploration Matters? • In the 1500s and 1600s, Europe emerged as a powerful new force on the world scene – The voyages of exploration marked the beginning of what would become European DOMINATION of the globe. • In the centuries ahead, COMPETITIONfor empires would spark wars in Europe and on other continents. • European expansion would spread goods and other changes throughout the world- revolutionizing European ECONOMY and transform its society. • The concept of “the WEST”itself emerged as European settlers transplanted their culture to the Americas and, later, to Australia and New Zealand.

4. Many Factors Encourage Exploration • Europeans Seek Greater Wealth • Merchants and traders hoped to benefit from the trade of spices and luxuries from Asia • Muslims and Italians controlled this trade – at high prices • Spread of Christianity • Europeans hoped to convert the peoples of Asia and the Americas • Achieve Glory and the first two factors • “…to serve God and His Majesty to give light to those who were in darkness and grow rich as all men desire to do.” Bartolomeu Dias, early Portuguese explorer.

5. European Exploration : Portugal Leads The Way Prince Henry the Navigator – (1394 – 1460) For military reasons and trade routes he encourages Sailors to push farther and chart new areas. The Portuguese sail down the African west coast, as they do so they set up trading stations along the coast… these trading stations would later become the origins of the African slave trade. 1492 - Christopher Columbus lands in San Salvador and calls the locals Indians; thinking that he had arrived in India (he thought the earth was 8,000 miles around)… 5

6. Why was the Strait of Malacca coveted by the Portuguese?

7. Technological Advances Make it Possible • Portuguese Shipbuilding - Combining old designs the Portuguese were able to make a small, fast and maneuverable ship design • With the help of the compass “borrowed” from the Chinese, the Portuguese are able to navigate well • Sailors used the astrolabe perfected by the Muslims to determine how far North or South they were from the equator

8. Technological Advances Viking ships had square sails to capture the wind… Early Chinese ships had triangle sails, allowing them to cut through wind currents… 8

9. Technological Advances The Portuguese combined the 2 sail designs to come up with their own design. This design was later Modified by the Spanish… The Galleon… 9

10. Early Portuguese Voyages 1488 – Bartolomeu Dias rounds the southern tip of Africa but returns home exhausted 1498 - Vasco de Gama, a Portuguese sailor, goes around the southern tip of Africa en route to India and returns home a hero De Gama finds himself in the Indian Ocean and finds a century- old ocean trade network (Arabs and Africans). 10

11. Portuguese Successes The Arab and African ships were not equipped with any sort of weapons… The Portuguese were, they had front mounted cannons… They forced the Arabs into moving goods for them. Now Europeans use naval technology to affect naval trade. 11

12. Portugal faces European Trading Rivals • 1492 - Spain finances Christopher Columbus’ voyage to Asia by sailing West –finds the Caribbean instead. • Rivalry with Portugal Grows Tense • 1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas – establishes imaginary Line of Demarcation through the Atlantic Ocean • Portugal won right to control lands to the East - Africa, India Asia • Spain got lands to the West – most of the Americas • 1600s English and Dutch enter East Indies • Each formed their own Dutch East India Company

13. China Rejects European Outreach • Ming Dynasty led by Hongwu replaces Mongol rules for 300 years • Hongwu’s s Yonglo wants to make contact with other Asian People • The voyages of Zheng He • 1405 – Zheng He led several fleets to SE Asia , India, Arabia and Africa during 7 voyages to show Ming Chinese superiority • Chinese Began to isolate themselves and limit trade to 3 coastal ports • Christian Missionaries accompanied traders • Qing (Manchu) Dynasty – peace and improved agricultural production continue Policy of Isolation • Population doubled – China pulled back • Confucianism – focused on agriculture rather than commerce.

14. Japan Limits Western Contacts • Civil war erupts in 1467 • 1590 Toyotomi Hideyoshi unifies Japan under Tokugawa Shogunate – which lasted until 1868 • Contact between Europe and Japan begins in 1543 • Missionaries arrived in 1549 and converted about 300,000 Japanese to Christianity. • Banned by 1637 • 1639 Japan’s borders sealed open only to Dutch and Chinese • Tight control over foreign contact for next 200 years

15. Spanish Conquests in the Americas By Columbus’ time (1492) the last of the Muslim Strongholds in Spain had been defeated, this led to a Shift in European focus… How did the ending of the Crusades (pushing the Muslims out of Spain), impact the above motivation for exploration? - Pre 1517 - The focus of Europe was fighting the Muslims - After 1517 - Their focus is on spreading Christianity to new lands… you can’t let the heretics get to them first! 15

16. Spanish Conquests in the Americas Spread the good word! 1492 - Christopher Columbus sets out to find new Trade routes to India and China to cut out the middle-men (the Ottomans) The Ottomans were Muslims… bad to Christians… Every time Europeans wanted to trade with China or India they had to pass through Ottoman trading posts; this meant that they had to give money to the Muslims. If money = power, who was getting powerful in this deal? 16

17. Spanish Conquests in the Americas • 1492 – Columbus claims the Americas for Spain • Spain begins to create colonies • 1519 - Hernando Cortez came to Mexico and defeated the Aztec Empire led by Montezuma II • 1533 – Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire of South America

18. The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade Christopher Columbus unknowingly set in motion an exchange of goods between Europe and the Americas that would become known as the Columbian Exchange. The exchange involved: - Plants (Early Islam 700-1100CE previously) - Foods (Early Islam 700-1100CE previously) - Crops (Early Islam 700-1100CE previously) - Animals (Early Islam 700-1100CE previously) - Human populations - DISEASES!!! - Smallpox, measles, diphtheria, w. cough - 1519 = Smallpox devastates Aztecs (17-1.3m) - 1500-1800 = 100m + Overall, the Columbian Exchange increased world populations… 1500=425m, 1600=545m, 1700=610m, 1800=900m 18

19. 4.4The Columbian Exchange From Europe: Wheat Horses Cattle Pigs Sheep Goats Chickens From the Americas: Maize Potatoes Beans Tomatoes Peppers Peanuts Pineapples… 19

20. The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade • The Commercial Revolution – caused by growth in overseas trade • Capitalism – private ownership and investment of wealth for profit • Joint Stock Companies – like the modern Corporation – people pool $$ for profit • Mercantilism – theory that a country’s power depended on its wealth.

21. The Columbian Exchange and Global Trade The Mentality Mercantilism - Policy by which a nation sought to export more than it imported (balance of trade) and to build up it’s supply of gold and silver (wealth). Bottom Line: Gain as much wealth for the empire as possible. How could you gain wealth in the 15th century? Question: Following the Renaissance and the Rise of Monarchies, why do you think Europeans went exploring? Answer: MONEY and RESOURCES!!! War was a big drain! 21

22. 4.4Emerging Global Trade For the first time Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Europe, AND the Americas were connected in global trade. China, the premier power at this time will use it’s muscle to set the conditions of trade by demanding Silver (their basis of currency). This global market sets the stage for global resource exploitation by the 1600s. 22

23. Prediction • Now that global trade had begun and naval power became important: • WHAT MIGHT START TO HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS ADVANCEMENT IN TRADE?