“Age of Exploration”
Why Europe?
I. Why not China?
• China had been
sailing the Indian
Ocean and China
sea since 1st
century BCE
• Chinese had armed
junks with multiple
masts and sails
since the 2nd
century CE
Why not China?
Chinese junks had watertight
compartments in the ship’s hull by
the 2nd century CE
China had axial rudder since 1st
century CE
Why not China?
China invented the magnetic compass
in the 12th century CE
Chinese were more advanced with
astronomy and celestial navigation
Voyages of Zheng He
(1405-33 CE)
During the
reign of Yung
Lo, several
naval
expeditions
were sent to
India, Persia,
and Africa.
Voyages of Zheng He
(1405-33 CE)
These voyages were under the
leadership of Zheng He.
Each expedition included hundreds of
ships and thousands of sailors.
Some ships were over 440 ft. long and
carried 1,000 men.
Voyages of Zheng He
(1405-33 CE)
In contrast,
Columbus’
fleet only had
three ships,
the largest
only 115 ft.
long and
carried 40
men.
Voyages of Zheng He
(1405-33 CE)
After 1433, the Chinese government
launched no further expeditions.
In 1436, the emperor forbade building
ships for overseas voyages.
While Spain and Portugal explored
and claimed new lands, China
withdrew from sea voyage.
Reasons China did not
explore the world
1. The Chinese government had an
inadequate system of collecting taxes.
Spending exceeded revenue.
2. Chinese believed that their
civilization was superior to all others,
so foreign goods were inferior, and
there was little to learn from
foreigners.
Reasons China did not
explore the world
3. Neo-Confucian scholars held many
important government posts. Their
philosophy suppressed the desire for
worldly things. So trade was held in
contempt.
4. In the mid-1400s, Mongols began
frequently attacking China’s northern
border.
II. Why Not Arabs?
• Arabs dominated
Mediterranean and
Indian Ocean since
9CE
Arab dhow
Why Not Arabs?
•Arab ships weren’t as big as the Chinese, but they
dominated spice islands of Malaysia, gold-rich
Africa, and cotton/silk-producing Asia!
Indian Ocean Trade
•Arab merchants were ordained by the Prophet. “I
commend the merchants to you, for they are the
courtiers of the horizons and God’s trusted
servants on earth.” ~Mohammed
Why Not Arabs?
•Arabs had developed sophisticated
methods of determining latitude
Astrolabe & Quadrant
When a sailor loses sight of land, he
must have a method of determining
his direction. Determining latitude
could be done by using the astrolabe
(a simple wooden or brass stick with
degrees marked around its edge), or by
using the quadrant, (a quarter circle
measuring 0 to 90 degrees marked
around its curved edge).
quadrants and
astrolabes
Ibn Battuta
th
(14
•Arabs traveled for
discovery. Ibn Battuta, an
Islamic historian traveled
over 75,000 miles, making
him one of most traveled
men of his age. He visited
India, China, Sri Lanka,
Sumatra, and the African
interior as far south as the
Niger River.
century)
Ibn Battuta
th
(14
century)
Because he was
only a passenger
aboard ships he
was never an
explorer in the true
sense, but this did
not make his
achievements any
less important
III. European Incentive
The Crusades brought knowledge and
goods from Asia and the Islamic
world.
European Incentive
The Mongol Empire had fostered trade
between east and west; but it’s collapse
disrupted
this trade.
European Incentive
Asian spices improved European food.
But spice had to be bought from Arab
merchants
became
wealthy at the
expense of
Europe.
Trade disadvantage of Europe
1. Lack of trade items; other than
gold and silver, Europe had
nothing that the east wanted.
This led to a drain of wealth in
Europe.
Trade disadvantage of Europe
2. Geography; Europe was isolated from
Asia. They
were forced to
Relay on Arab
merchants that
acted as the
middle men in
this trade
Trade disadvantage of Europe
3. Lack of technology; Europe did
not have the technology to conquer
of bypass the Arab world.
European technological
th
changes of the 15 century
1. Better ships; Europeans developed
deep-draft ships capable of carrying
heavy loads
on the
Atlantic
Ocean.
European technological
th
changes of the 15 century
2. Magnetic compass; Europe
adopted the compass from the Arabs
who themselves got it from the
Chinese.
European technological
th
changes of the 15 century
3. Mapmaking; Mapmaking
enhanced by
humanism from
the Renaissance
became more
accurate.
European technological
th
changes of the 15 century
4. Gunpowder; Europe adopted the
knowledge of gunpowder from the
Chinese.
European technological
th
changes of the 15 century
5. Metalwork; European advancements
in metalworking allowed blacksmiths
to create the first guns and cannons.
IV. Portuguese Exploration
The man chiefly responsible for Portugal's
age of exploration Prince Henry “The
Navigator.” He
established a naval
observatory for the
teaching of navigation,
astronomy, and
cartography.
Portuguese
Exploration
From 1419 until his
death in [1460],
Prince Henry sent
expeditions down
the west coast of
Africa to outflank
the Muslim hold
on Asian trade
routes.
Portuguese Exploration
It wasn't until
27 years after
Henry's death
that
Bartolomeu
Dias ship
rounded the
Cape of Good
Hope in
[1487].
Portuguese
Exploration
Vasco da Gama
rounded the
Cape of Good
Hope in 1497
and continue
sailing along the eastern coast of
African. He located a route to India, but
had to contend with Arab strongholds.
Portuguese
Exploration
In 1502, he
returned with
14 heavily
armed ships and defeat the Arab fleet.
By 1511, the Portuguese controlled the
Spice routes. In 1513, Portuguese trade
extended to China and Japan.
V. Spanish Exploration
Portuguese success inspires Columbus
to sail west to reach the Indies
Financed by Ferdinand and Isabella of
Spain, who wanted to increase Spanish
power.
They had recently defeated the Muslims
(Moors) in Spain, and need wealth to
maintain control.
They were also eager to Christianize the
East.
Spanish Exploration
Columbus reaches the Caribbean
which he believes to be the East
Indies
For Gold
For God For Glory
Spanish Crown
Line of Demarcation
Since there were two catholic countries
vying for territory in the new world.
The Pope draws a line down the world 
Spain has rights to the land west of the
line; Portugal has rights to the land east of
the line.
Known as the Treaty of Tordesillas, it
divides the world between Spain and
Portugal.
The End!