I.
Age of Exploration
A. Europe enters Trade
1. Motives


Economic – search for silks, spices and other goods
Religious – Spanish Reconquista – take colonial
possessions before Muslims could gain influence
2. Means


Resources – Stable government/monarchy & $$
Technology – Portolini (navigation maps), compass,
astrolabe, knowledge of wind patterns
Portuguese Maritime Empire
II.
A. Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460)



Wanted to find a mythical Christian Kingdom in Africa to ally
against Muslims
Acquire new trade opportunities
Extend the influence of Christianity
B. India and Vasco da Gama


original goal of da Gama’s mission was to destroy the Muslim
monopoly over the Spice Trade (economic)
1497 sails around Cape of Good Hope in Africa
Success = military superiority & seamanship
Global Exploration 1415 – 1522 C.E.
Flow of Commerce in Portuguese World 1600
III. Lure of Discovery
A. Spain
Success = naval superiority, military strength & religious zeal
Spanish Model:




crown maintained control over colonies
most colonists were male (intermarried)
wealth based on exploitation of native population and slaves
(not African)
system of economienda (service to the local Spanish governors)
1592 Slave Laws – Catholic Church convinces Crown to outlaw the use
of the Native population as slaves
http://www.history.com/search.do?searchText=columbus
Link for History Channel information on Christopher Columbus
B. France (1534-1635)
1. North America – 1534 Cartier (fur trade)
2. Caribbean – Haiti – SUGAR (becomes most
important)
C. English Attempts
1. Roanoke, VA (Sir Walter Raleigh), 1585
2. East India Company 1591 (India)
English in North America
French Exploration in Americas
D. Dutch Overseas Empire
1. Dutch East India Company 1602
designed to breakup Portuguese monopoly
2. 1621 Dutch West India Company
(WIC) – Caribbean & North America
New Amsterdam (New York) – Fur Trade
Curacao (Caribbean – slave trade, pirating, cacao trade)
Trade with Native Americans in North America:
Creates problems for French & English and a mini arms race among Native Americans in the
Northeast for furs. In exchange for beaver pelts – guns, gun powder, steel headed tomahawks
& alcohol!
Dutch Atlantic Empire
Related Links for European Exploration:
http://www.nps.gov/seac/outline/07-exploration/index.htm
http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/steel.html
PBS Link for Guns Germs & Steel
The Columbian Exchange:
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/nattrans/ntecoindian/essays/columbian.htm
Link to national Geographic Columbian Exchange
Please read this link – you are responsible for this information on your quiz!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgnmTY_rGQ&feature=PlayList&p=45D4733CA0074584&playnext=1&playnext
_from=PL&index=5
Link to Guns Germs Steel
Please watch this link on YouTube, parts 1 - the first
part of 13 (Episodes 1 and 2). This really summarizes
much of what you’ve learned about pre-history and
early civilization in this semester and leads into
modern history. It is an interesting theory that is posed
in this book/video and is debated very much in
history.