THE AGE OF EXPLORATION

1. THE AGE OF EXPLORATION

2. New Trade Routes • After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople Portugal and Spain established water routes to Asia’s spice markets in order to avoid overland routes that were controlled by Muslim traders.

4. Movement of People and Goods • Europeans read about and were fascinated by Marco Polo’s “Travels” with his father and uncle. • ChristopherColumbuswas one of the Europeans influenced by his book.

5. Science and Technology • During the CrusadesEuropeans burrowed many technologies from the Muslim world. • These included the compassand the astrolabewhich allowed sailors to determine their direction and latitude. • The Arab sailors also used lateen, or triangular sails which made ships easier to maneuver.

6. Power • Improvements in sea travel allowed Atlantic coastal countries like Spain, Portugal, England, and the Netherlands to take control of trade from Italy. • Many Italian sea captains began looking for jobs in these countries as trade declined in Italy. Increased exploration at sea leads to… • Vasco da Gama discovering an all-water route from Europe to India. • Christopher Columbus discovering the Americas while attempting to find a western route to Asia. • Ferdinand Magellan’s crew circumnavigating the globe.

9. Imperialism • Spanish Conquistadorslike Hernan Cortez (Aztecs) and FransiscoPizzaro(Incas) took over much of South America and northern parts of modern Mexico. • They were successful because of superior weapons and help from rival Native American groups

10. Cortez Pizzaro

11. Disease • After the encounter millions of Native Americans died off because of diseases like small pox and the mumps which they lacked natural immunities to. • This also aided Cortez in his conquest of the Aztecs.

12. The Encomienda System • As colonies formed they turned most native peoples into slaves as part of the encomienda system. • A social class developed from this system. • Eventually it was decided that native slaves should be replaced with African slaves.

13. The Columbian Exchange • The exchange of goods between the Americas and Europe, Africa, and Asia became known as the Columbian exchange.

14. Mercantilism • Mother countries like Spain, Portugal, and eventually England and France saw their colonies as a source of natural resources and as markets to sell their manufactured goods to. • This economic policy is known as mercantilism.

15. Interdependence • Europeans referred to parts of Africa based on the resource they could obtain there. • Examples include the Gold Coast, the Slave Coast, the Grain Coast, and the Ivory Coast. • Most of the trade worked primarily in favor of the Europeans rather than for the African traders. • Recommended literature “The Heart of Darkness”

16. Gold coast Slave Coast Grain Coast Ivory Coast

17. The Slave Trade • The first ship full of slaves to reach the America’s was a Spanish ship that arrived in 1518. • The slave trade grew dramatically from there and became part of the Triangular Trade.

19. The trip from Africa to the Americas became known as the middle passage. • Conditions were harsh and many did not survive the trip or didn’t last long upon arrival.