Events to Exploration
Middle Ages (Dark Ages)
► Began when Roman Empire fell (350 C.E.) &
tribes overran Europe.
► Characteristics = much warfare, no learning,
little trade, disease (plague) and towns lost
population.
► Most towns are centered around a castle or
a manor.
Events to Exploration
Life on the Manor
Feudalism & manoralism = System of rule in which
lords owe loyalty and military service to a king.
Serfs work the land and in return are protected by
the Lords. Serfs are bound to the soil.
The manor was run by a lord and the land was
worked by serfs.
Serfs= people who were “bound to the soil” and
could not leave (Not Slaves).
Manors are self-sufficient= Make what is needed
to survive.
Serfs in the Middle Ages
Life on the Manor
Catholic Church is the
only organized religion
and influenced every
part of life. Catholic
Church is led by the
Bishop of Rome
(Pope).
Crusades (1100-1300 C.E.)
Crusades were religious wars waged by
Christians to regain Jerusalem (Holy Land)
in the Middle East from the Muslims.
Crusaders bring back spices, silks, gems, &
perfume and other exotic items.
Cinnamon
Clove Spice
Crusades (1100-1300 C.E.)
Results of Crusades
People in Europe have a great demand for
these new items and soon trade develops
between Europe and the East.
► Cities
Develop.
► Merchant Class arises.
► Feudalism ends in Europe.
Results of Crusades
Renaissance (Rebirth of Learning) –
(1300-1600 C.E.)
Why started:
Increased trade and travel brought Europeans
into contact with many advanced cultures.
Important Inventions:
Caravel (Small, light, sailing Ship design)
Printing Press (Gutenberg: Books are available
to all)
Astrolabe & Magnetic Compass (Navigation)
Inventions - Caravel
Inventions - Astrolabe
Inventions - Compass
Telescope
Reformation-1517
During this time most Europeans belong to the
Catholic Church.
Martin Luther: Wanted to reform the Catholic
Church because the Pope was allowing
indulgences.
Indulgences: payment for forgiveness of sins.
Luther’s demands were rejected and the Protestant
Reformation began.
Many new Protestant Churches emerged and a
series of wars broke out between Catholics and
Protestants.
Exploration
By 1400, many European countries want to increase
their wealth and break the monopoly that Italy has
with the East (trade with China, India, and the
Middle East).
To do this, a new trade route must be found that
bypasses the Mediterranean Sea.
Monopoly: Complete control by a group or
individual.
Explorations of Portugal
Prince Henry “The Navigator” of Portugal sets up an
informal school to teach explores seamanship.
Vasco Da Gama is the first to sail around Africa to
India.
Portugal establishes very profitable trade (slaves &
gold) with East & West African states.
Vasco Da Gama
Voyages of Columbus
In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
of Spain, jealous of the Portuguese, sponsor
an Italian sea Captain to find another route
East. Christopher Columbus’s idea was to
reach the east by sailing west.
Voyages of Columbus
Santa Maria
Voyages of Columbus
Voyages of Columbus
In August 1492, Columbus set sail with 3
ships. For 3 months, Columbus and 90 other
men endure extreme hardship and fear of
being lost at sea. IN October 1492,
Columbus finally sites land. The crew lands
at San Salvador, a small island in the
Caribbean. (NOT THE EAST INDIES).
Voyages of Columbus
Voyages of Columbus
Columbus Hero or Villain?
Hero:
A. Brought news of the New World to Europe.
B. Africa, Europe, and Americas come into
contact.
C. Started aggressive exploration.
D. Exchange of goods, foods, and ideas
(Columbian Exchange).
Columbus Hero or Villain?
Villain:
A. Native Americans forced to be slaves.
B. Poor Governor.
C. Brings over European diseases.
D. Native Americans lose their land.
Columbian Exchange
► Exchange
of goods and ideas that
transformed the world (people, plants &
diseases).
Explorers that followed Columbus
► Amerigo
Vispucci – first to realize that
Columbus found two new continents.
► Ferdinand Magellan – first to circumnavigate
the globe.
► John Cabot – first European to discover
North America.
► Vasco de Balboa – first European to site the
Pacific Ocean.