The First Global Age: 1415-1796
Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas
Renaissance explorers initiate a dramatic
new era of exploration!
 1492 Christopher Columbus sails the
ocean blue!
 NOW WHAT?!?!
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Setting the scene…
Think about the sacrifice!
 Capt. Ferdinand Magellan had been
commissioned to sail around the
Americas to the Spice Islands

◦ 1519: 5 ships with more than 250 crew left
Spain
◦ 1522: ONE ship returned with only 18
malnourished, skeletal sailors
◦ Magellan was NOT one of the survivors!
WHAT? Spices!
WHY? Value!
 Food
 Cinnamon,
 Pepper
 Nutmeg
 Cloves
Preservation
 Flavor
Enhancement
 Medicinal
Purposes
 Aromatic Pleasure
Why?!?!?!
Moluccas
Map
aka Spice
Islands
 Archipelago in
modern-day
Indonesia

Where?!?
WHO?!?!?

1400s: Arab & Italian merchants controlled
most trade between Asia & Europe

The Bottom Line: NON-Italian Europeans
wanted to cut out “the middle men” –the
Italians…. Maximum profit = direct access to
Asia
Make a
Historical
Prediction!
Who takes
the lead?!
Did
you
think
it
was
Ferdinand,
Isabella,
Columbus,
and Spain!
Picture
This!!!!!!
Portugal leads the way under
the leadership
of Prince Henry.
Prince Henry (1394 – 1460)
Ushered in the great
age of European
exploration
 Nicknamed “the
Navigator” by the
English
 Never traveled the
seas but took great
financial risks
 Priority: Mapping
Africa

Prince Henry & Africa
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Realized the GREAT POTENTIAL in Africa
Envisioned a grand missionary field (HUGE
supporter of conversions)
Believed he would find the sources of riches the
Muslim traders controlled
Hoped to find an easier way to reach Asia, which
meant going around Africa!
Encouraged collaboration among scientists,
cartographers, shipbuilders, captains, and crews!
Inspired his nation to continue the quest around
Africa after his death in 1460.
20 years later:
Dead but not forgotten!
Henry’s dream realized!
28 years later (1488) when Bartholomew
Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa –
referred to the Cape of Good Hope!
 Cape of Good Hope – so named due to
the high expectations of a sea route to
Asia!

Sights on….
INDIA!
 1497:Vasco da Gama followed Dias’
footsteps & after a 10 month voyage
reached western India.
Returned with spices and made an
ENORMOUS PROFIT!
Led to the creation of a vast trading
empire!

Uh, what about Columbus?
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1497: da Gama reaches India!
1492: Columbus sets sail – what happened?
Columbus sails WEST!
Rejected by Portugal
Persuaded Ferdinand & Isabella to finance his voyage
who hoped for wealth & prestige.
Set sail on Aug. 3, 1492 with land spotted on October
12th
Spent several months cruising the islands of the
Caribbean referring to those he encountered as
“Indians.”
Returned to a hero’s welcome in 1493
Made three later voyages!
TROUBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spain vs. Portugal = Dividing the world in
half!
 Pope est. a Line of Demarcation: dividing
the non-European world into 2 zones
 Specific terms described in the Treaty of
Tordesillas 1494

◦ Spain had trading rights to the West of the
line
◦ Portugal had same rts. East of the line
The search remains!
The search for a direct route continues!
 English, Dutch, French seek a NW Passage
through North America!
 1513: Spanish explorer Balboa crosses
Panama
 1519: Portuguese captain Magellan’s crewfirst to circumnavigate the world!
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