Age of Exploration
Standard 7-1.1 Use a map or series of maps
to identify the colonial expansions of
European powers in Africa, Asia, Oceania,
and the Americas through 1770.
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Global Exploration
The exploring of unknown regions of
the world.
European sea captains set sail without maps into
unchartered waters beyond the sight of land
Ocean Currents – moving streams of water
Wind Patterns – movements of the air
Sea captains had to learn these currents and patterns
to keep their ships on course.
Sailors discovered over time when to ride a current and
when to escape it.
These winds and currents could carry a ship forward
or blow it off course.
World Ocean Currents
Prevailing Wind Patterns
From Land to Sea
Marco Polo discovered the Silk Road
 Europeans were connected to China – silks, spices ,
perfumes
 Ottomans took over the Silk Road - prices became too
high
 Europeans needed to find an all-water route to Asia.
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Around Africa
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Portugal took the lead in the exploration of this new
route to Asia
Prince Henry the Navigator set up a naval research
center on the southwestern tip of Portugal
He sent sailors to map the coast of West Africa
The Portugal empire grew out of this exploration
Empire – a group of territories or nations under a
single ruler or government
Across the Atlantic
 1492
– Spain backed Christopher Columbus, an
Italian sailor to find a water route to Asia by
sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean
 Columbus left with three ships: the Nina, the
Pinta & the Santa Maria
Portugal and Spain Divide the New
World
Portugal did not want to be outdone by Spain and the
foothold Columbus gave them in the Americas
 Portugal asked the pope to draw a line of demarcation
down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean from the North
Pole to the South Pole.
 Spain controlled all lands
to the west of the line
 Portugal controlled all lands
to the east of the line
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Explorers
 Bartholomeu
Dias sailed for Portugal to the
southern tip of Africa
 Vasco da Gama sailed for Portugal around the
southern tip of Africa and made it to India
 Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese sea
captain, sailed for Spain around the tip of
South America to Asia. His ships were the first
to circumnavigate the globe.
 Conquistadors - Spanish conquerors
Colonial Expansion
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Wherever these European explorers went in
the world they claimed the land and
conquered the people.
Colonies were created.
Colonies are the settlements in a new territory
that keeps close ties with the homeland.
Three C’s
1. Claimed the land
2. Conquered the people
3. Created settlements
Three G’s
1. God
2. Gold
3. Glory