The Age of Exploration

Key Question: What were the reasons, obstacles,

and results of exploration?

The Renaissance
Renaissance means rebirth - a period of
rebirth in learning and knowledge.
TECHNOLOGY Printing press - Johannes Gutenberg 1454
Astrolabe - tool that measures the height of
the sun or a star above the horizon
Compass
Gunpowder, guns, cannons
School for Navigation in Sagres, Portugal- set
up by Prince Henry of Portugal
Caravel - small, light ship with triangular
sails

Its All About the Money, Money, Money . . . !

A Sea Route to Asia
Merchants believed if they found a sea
route to Asia they could make more
money. This caused countries to race
to establish . . .

1. Trade
2. Settlements
Profit - the money a business has left over
after all of its expenses have been paid

1487 - Bartolomeu Dias

Portugal
Explored coast of West Africa, but a
storm blew him off course. He
accidentally sailed around the southern
tip of Africa.
The Cape of Good Hope - Dias proved
it was possible to sail around Africa and
reach its east coast. From there they
knew it was possible to get to Asia.

1498- Vasco da Gama

Portugal
Sailed to reach India. 1498 reached the
Indian port of Calicut. Other sailors
followed this route to trade for spices in
India.

1492 - Christopher Columbus

From Italy; Sailed for Spain
Studied Navigation; believed he could sail
across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Asia
Asked King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
to pay for voyage in 1486, but Spain was at
war so they said no. In 1492 Columbus
asked again and they agreed. They hoped
to make money and wanted to teach others
about their religion, Roman Catholicism.

Columbus (continued)
August 3, 1492 - 90 men - supplies
for 1 year - 3 ships (Nina, Pinta, and
the Santa Maria)
Midnight October 12, 1492 a sailor
spotted land. The ships arrived at an
island in the Caribbean Sea - San
Salvador (present-day Bahamas).
Columbus thought he had reached
Asia. Named the islands West Indies
and the people Indians.

Columbus (continued)
Columbus took 3 more voyages (4 total)
Ferdinand and Isabella wanted him to start settlements and to search for gold.
Ways Europeans Helped New World

Ways Europeans Hurt New World

Brought new crops: wheat, barley, sugar

cane

Cut down rainforests to build sugar

plantations

Brought new animals: horses, pigs, cows

Many plants and animals were destroyed

Brought diseases that had never been
present and many died
Within 50 years of Columbuss arrival,
almost no Taino people were left.

Pedro Alvarez Cabral

Portugal
Explored eastern South America in 1500

Amerigo Vespucci
Italy
Several voyages to South America and the
Caribbean; called South America the New
World; 1507 America was named after him.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Spain
1513 Sailed to Panama; crossed
jungles and mountains; sighted the
Pacific Ocean

Ferdinand Magellan
From Portugal; Sailed for SPAIN
1519 left Spain with 5 ships & 250 men; crossed Atlantic; sailed to Brazil; spent
winter in Argentina; sailed down east coast and around to Pacific Ocean. Magellan
named Pacific Ocean because it looked peaceful. Reached Philippine Islands off
coast of Asia, Magellan was killed in battle. ONE ship and 18 men survived and
arrived back in Spain September 1522. First to CIRCUMNAVIGATE the earth;
proved that Columbuss theory was correct -earth is round.

So what now?
Spain is just getting started.
They want more!
Sending out the
CONQUISTADORS!
Hernan Cortes, Francisco Pizarro, Juan Ponce de Leon,
Hernando de Soto, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Estevanico
Dorantes, Fransisco Vasquez de Coronado, Pedro Menendez
de Aviles, Juan de Onate

Gold, Glory, God!

Spains mission was to find gold, land and power,
and spread their religious beliefs.

Cortes - conquered the

Aztecs in Mexico