2.1 EQ: What events and technological advances paved the way for European exploration?
New Ideas and Nations
• Crusades: European expeditions to gain control of their holy sites from the Muslims
• Marco Polo: traveled to China; described Asia's marvels in book Travels
The Growth of Trade
Knew they could benefit from trade.
Europeans wanted goods from Asia & didn't want to pay high $$$ from Arabs (ppl in Middle East) so they rerouted to the East.
The Growth of Ideas
Trade w/ Asia sparked interest in other cultures; Italian ppl studied Ancient Greeks & Romans
The Renaissance
"rebirth" of Greek & Roman learning of religion, art, & technology
Powerful Nations Emerge
Strong monarchs came to power in Spain, Portugal, England, & France;
Looked for ways to increase trade & make countries stronger & wealthier
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Technology's Impact
1400's printing press made it easier to print books; leads to increased knowledge & interest in travel
Better Maps & Instruments
1200's used astrolabe (instrument that measures the positions of the stars) & compass to make maps more accurate
Better Ships
advancement in shipmaking technology
larger ships for more cargo
caravel: 3 masts, easier to maneuver, faster
African Kingdoms
Africa played a role in trade
Africans mined gold, copper, iron ore & traded for cotton, silk from Arabs
Portuguese sailed western coast of Africa & set up trade posts
Ghana ‐ A Trading Empire
Thrived on taxes placed on trade
Muslim caravans traded in Ghana, led many in W. Africa to become Muslim
Mali ‐ A Powerful Kingdom
Northern African kingdom, Mansa Musa (king) was a powerful ruler, a Muslim
Timbuktu became an important center of Islamic art & learning
The Songhai Empire
Plan of Government
Based laws on the Quran (Muslim holy book)
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2.2 EQ: Why did Spain and Portugal want to find a sea route to Asia?
Portugal didn't have a Mediterranean port to trade btn Asia & Europe
wanted direct way to get African gold
Explorers
sponsored by Spain
sponsored by Portugal
1. Henry the Navigator: started school for sailors, updated maps
2. Bartholomeu Dias: sailed from Portugal to S'ern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope)
3. Vasco da Gama: sailed around Africa & landed in Calicut, India; "won da game"
4. Pedro Alvares Cabral: reached Brazil; claimed for Portugal then to India; established permanent forts in India
1. Christopher Columbus: Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor; found Bahamas, thought it was India; returned to Spain in triumph
2. Amerigo Vespucci: sailed S. Am. coast
3. Vasco Nunez de Balboa: hiked through Central Am. to Pacific Ocean
4. Ferdinand Magellan: through strait into Pacific Ocean; crew finished circumnavigating the globe
Viking sagas (traditional stories) told of failed attempts to settle in N. Am.
line of demarcation: imaginary line running down the middle of the Atlantic from the North Pole to the South Pole
Pope Alexander VI divided world (Spain lands west of line; Port. lands east of line)
strait: narrow strip of land
circumnavigate: sail around the globe
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2.3 EQ: How did Spain's conquests affect the economic and social development of the Americas?
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Spanish destroyed Aztec & Inca empires
settled in pueblos, missions, and presidios
introduced Catholicism, cattle, and horses
relegated Native Americans to the lower classes
introduced slaves to support tobacco & sugarcane plantations & exports
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2.4 EQ: Why did European nations establish colonies in North America?
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to spread their faith or to practice their beliefs freely
to become wealthy and powerful
to obtain resources
to trade or sell European products
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Cartier
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