SS6H6 European Exploration

SS6H6 The student will analyze the impact of European exploration and colonization on various

world regions. a. Identify the causes of European exploration and colonization; include religion, natural resources, a market for goods, and the contributions of Prince

Henry the Navigator.

The Age of Exploration

• This was a time when European leaders saw the need to explore new areas in order to gain access to the spice trade in Asia, spread the religion of Christianity (Catholicism), a need for more natural resources, and more wealth.

Background Long before the sixteenth century the Crusades had introduced European people to the goods and luxuries of the East. Some

goods, such as spices, became necessities, but they were becoming increasingly costly. They had to be transported over long and sometimes

dangerous overland routes, and several middlemen each took their profits before the goods reached European merchants. What Europeans needed was a new, less costly route to Asia. Before the route was actually traversed, however, a New World was opened for conquest. This led to intense economic and political rivalry among European powers to see who could first secure the prizes it offered and who could hold the others away. Individuals went to the “New World” for many reasons, but most commonly to seek their fortunes. Young Spaniards expected to get rich through ventures connected to land and commerce. Indentured servants looked optimistically toward the end of their terms of service, when they could obtain land of their own and become independent.

For rulers and common people alike, religion was also a powerful motive. Even the Catholic rulers of Spain, Portugal and France were bent on building empires and gaining wealth, they were also sincerely committed to converting the heathen peoples of the world. The Spanish conquerors in the New World were required to take priests with them on every expedition. The English and Dutch were just as committed to spreading the Protestant gospel, and actively encouraged missionary enterprise among native Americans. Some colonists went to America specifically to escape restrictions on their religious practices at home. They sought places where they could worship freely according to their own forms and consciences.

Love of adventure, curiosity and a fascination with the possibility of locating peoples and places popularized in the mythology of the time were also factors. Some searched for Prester John, a legendary Christian king believed to rule somewhere in Africa. Others were fascinated by fables of exotic peoples – some with tails, others with no heads but with faces emerging from their chests. There were also tales of Amazon women on the mythical island of California, of a fountain of youth in Florida, of exotic plants and animals, and of the seven golden cities of Cibola. On a more realistic level, explorers also returned with accurate descriptions of plants, animals and people (Columbus brought many examples back with him from his first voyage). Technological innovation contributed significantly to European expansion, for it finally made venturing farther out to sea more practical. Ships became faster and more maneuverable. By the fifteenth century the use of the magnetic compass had become widespread. Other important developments included the astroble, a device for observing the position of the sun and stars, and the quadrant, which measured the altitudeo f these heavenly bodies. Techniques for map making and charting the seas also continually improved.

Background Questions

1. How were the Europeans introduced to Asian goods? 2. What was the main good Europeans wanted? Why was

getting this good so costly?3. What were some reasons that spurred European

exploration? 4. What were some technological advances that helped lead to

the Age of Exploration?5. How did exploration improve life in Europe? 6. How do you think this exploration and colonization affect

the relationships of European nations?

The Age of Exploration cont…

The Crusades led to the creation of trade lines between Europe and Asia, but the price was high.

The Asian traders had to mark up items each time they changed hands.

Items changed hands many times across the vast distance between Europe and Asia.

1. Where did the trade routes originate from in Asia?

2. How many stops do the routes seem to make as they travel west to Africa and the Mediterranean Sea?

3. What European country seems to be the main recipient of the Asian goods?

Asian Trade Routes

Hello! I am a trader during the Golden Age of Exploration. Traders are people who get wealth by buying items from a group of people at a low price and selling those things to other people at higher prices. During my time, traders would want to buy luxuries in Asia that were not available in Europe and sell them to make money. They would originally use routes such the picture on the previous slide of the Silk Road. I remember when the Silk Road used to link Asia and Europe through trade, however, as overland trade became more time-consuming and dangerous, and overseas trade became more popular, trade along the Silk Road decreased. Muslims also controlled land routes to Asia, therefore, European traders such as myself had to go by sea around Muslim-controlled land. Therefore, find a sea route around Africa to India, such as the one shown in the next slide, became a popular motivation or reason for exploration.

1. What is a trader?2. Why did traders from Europe want to buy items from Asia?3. Who controlled the silk trade routes in Asia?4. Why do you think European traders would sail to Asia rather than use the

original “Silk Road” route?

Exploration route to Asia1. What country did the

European trade route begin?

2. What country in Asia was the main stop for European traders?

3. Notice how the trip to Asia the European traders sail very close to Eastern Africa, but not so much on the trip back. Why do you think this is?

4. What do you think Europeans would do with the resources they brought back from Asia?

1. What is this map showing us?2. What country in Africa did the Portuguese reach?3. Did Prince Henry accomplish the goal he had set with his exploration? Why or Why not?4. What can be inferred about the Portuguese's knowledge of Africa according to this map?

Exploration Under Prince Henry the Navigator

1. Where is Portugal in relation to Africa?

2. According to the map when did the rounding of Africa take place?

3. Who were the two explorers that have routes on this map?

4. What were the explorers trying to accomplish? Why?

Prince Henry the NavigatorRuler of PortugalHe was among the first to realize the power that would come with control of the spice trade.He founded the first school for navigation in Europe.Under his rule, exploration of Africa was expanded in an attempt to find a sea route to Asia.He never went on any expedition himself.

To bring Portugal more trade and power and to spread Christianity, this prince sponsored expeditions beyond the safety of the Mediterranean.

1. What country did Prince Henry Hail from?

2. What were some of his accomplishments?

3. What were the main goals of his expeditions?

4. Do you believe Prince Henry deserves as much credit as history gives him?

Some of the biggest cultural changes Europeans brought to places they conquered were in religion and language. Christians set out to convert people to their religion. Missionaries went to Asia and Africa, and they also worked to convert American Indians to Christianity. In some places, their religion blended with native traditions to create new kinds of religious practices. In addition to spreading Christianity, missionaries ran schools. They taught their European languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch, the language of the Netherlands.

1. Who are the Europeans interacting with in the above picture. 2. What were two of the major changes that Europeans brought to places they

conquered?3. Look at the picture, Who else came to the New World with the Explorers ?

Why did they come? 4. How do we see this spread of their religion in our world today?

ReligionThe historical drawing below shows an encounter between European explorers and crew with

the local natives.

Desire for Resources and WealthThe exchange of products between European countries and their colonies changed economic relations around the world. European countries saw their colonies as a way to get rich.

This new view of the colonies was part of an economic system called mercantilism—a system in which a government controls all economic activity in a country and its colonies to make the government stronger and richer. In the 1500s a country’s strength was measured by how much gold and silver it had. Under mercantilism, then, governments did everything they could to get more of these precious metals. Mercantilism was the main economic policy in Europe between 1500 and 1800

1. According to the paragraphs how did European countries see their colonies, Why?2. What is mercantilism? Why was mercantilism practiced by European countries? 3. What became the most important resources to European countries? Why 4. Look at the map, what does England gain from India? And in return what does

India gain from England?5. How does this form of an economy benefit England? Do you believe it is fair for

India Why or Why not?

Market for Goods. . . If we deprive them [Muslims] of this their ancient market there, there does not remain for them a single port in the whole of

these parts, where they can carry on their trade in these things. . . . I hold it as very certain that if we take this trade of Malacca away out of their hands, Cairo and Mecca are entirely ruined, and to Venice will no spiceries . . . [be] . . . conveyed except that which her merchants go and buy in Portugal.

AFONSO DE ALBUQUERQUE, from The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalbuquerque

1. Who was it that said the quote above?2. Who do the Europeans want to deprive

from their markets?3. What effect do the Europeans believe

taking Malacca away will have?4. What 4 countries are the main

colonizers on the map? 5. Which country seems to control the

most land?6. What do you think that the European

powers will use these colonies for?

Task

• You will receive a graphic organizer. Use the Mini DBQ to complete the graphic organizer.

• Your thesis question and hook are done for you. You need to answer the hook question. This answer is your thesis.

• Your mini theses are done for you, just provide evidence for each.

• In the closing boxstate reason why

Empire Building