“Age of Exploration”
Why Europe?
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.
The End!