Notes: Unit 2: Exploration & Colonization
#1 Reasons for European Exploration
1. Crusades (1095)
 A series of holy wars that lasted centuries.
 Crusaders from Europe tried to capture the Holy
Land and holy city of Jerusalem.
 Result:
 Crusades increased trade between Europe and
Asia (silks & spices).
2. The Spice Trade with Asia
 While in the holy land the Crusaders were introduced to
many new products.
 Europeans used many new products (luxury goods) that
improved their lives.
 Examples of Spices: pepper, cloves, and ginger (made food
taste better)
 Silks & dyes were used for clothing. Oriental rugs imported.
 Results:
 Nobles of Europe were willing to pay large amounts of
money for these goods.
 Increased Spice Trade & Silk Trade (Road) between Europe
and Asia.
 Merchants who could find and sell spices became very rich.
3. Explorers
 Marco Polo, From Venice, Italy.
 Found a land route to the silks & spices of the
Orient (China/India/Far East).
 Results:
 Italy controlled the silk & spice trade (became
wealthy).
 Other European nations tried to find a
shorter/cheaper route eastern Asia (silks &
spices).
 European explorers began to search for a water
route to Asia (da Gama, Columbus, Magellan).
II. Discovery of the Americas
1. Christopher Columbus

Sailed from Spain to find the riches of the Orient (silks &
spices).
 Journey paid by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of
Spain.
 Columbus wanted to sail west from Spain across the
Atlantic to reach the Far East (Orient).
 Results:
 Columbus was right about the shape of the earth, he
was wrong about the size. Columbus was off by 
11,000 miles.
 Columbus arrived in the Caribbean Sea: He believed
he had reached the East Indies and named the
indigenous (native) people “Indians”.
 Columbus failed in his mission. He set out to find the
riches of the Orient, not a new world.

“It appears to me, that the people are ingenious (clever), and
would be good servants and I am of opinion that they would very
readily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion.”

“For I, with the force I have under me, which is not large, could
march over all these islands without opposition…They have no
arms (weapons), and are without warlike instincts (peaceful); they
all go naked, and are so timid that a thousand would not stand
before three of our men. So that they are good to be ordered
about, to work and sow, and do all that may be necessary, and to
build towns, and they should be taught to go about clothed and to
adopt our customs.”

“With fifty men I could subjugate (control) them all and make them
do everything that is required of them.”
~ Christopher Columbus 1492
2. The Columbian Exchange Changes
the World
 Columbus’ discovery of the Americas changed
the economy of the new world (Americas) and
old world (Europe).
 Both sides received new products and foods.
 The Columbian Exchange created a global
economy.
3. Negative (-) Results of the Columbian
Exchange:
 Europeans brought disease (smallpox & influenza).
 Millions of Native American Indians die.
 Many Native Americans are enslaved.
 Causes the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
 Native American cultures are destroyed.
 Marks the beginning of Old Imperialism.
4. Positive Results of the
Columbian Exchange:
New foods and resources were made available.
Some Europeans sought religious freedom in the
New World.
New opportunities for Europeans emerged in the
New World.