Exploration
Late 1400’s, 1500’s
When one group suffers,
another group prospers.
• You are leading a
mission to Planet X, a
newly discovered planet
in our galaxy. Very little
is know about this planet
other than its existence.
• Why do you want to go
explore Planet X? What
are your goals for this
mission?
2
Essential Questions
• 1. What were the causes and/or
motivations for exploration?
• 2. How is exploration an example of
cultural diffusion?
• 3. How did cultural diffusion through
exploration impact societies?
What did Europe know?
Why start exploring?
• God
–Europeans wanted to convert
people to Christianity (spread the
word)
– Missionaries = those who travel to
new areas to spread their religion
• Gold
–Spices, raw materials = $
–Eliminate the Italian &
Muslim middlemen
Portugal
Spain
Italy
Ottoman
Empire
China
India
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• Glory
–Renaissance -> spirit of inquiry
–Honor to their name, desire to
be the first country to claim
• Bragging Rights
Put it together:
• Create a cartoon that includes the three
motivations for exploration in ONE unified
picture.
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Why now?
• Technological
Advances
– Created sturdier ships
called caravels
– Triangular sails can
sail against the wind
– Navigation
techniques
• astrolabe and
compass
Why are
these advances important for
exploration?!
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Create an Analogy
The
Caravel/Astrolabe/ is to
Compass
Exploration
Text
Relationship: A technological change that enables the event
AS...
is to
Reformation
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Space Exploration
• 1. Read the article titled “ The Real Reasons We Explore Space”
with a partner.
How can our study of
exploration relate to
• 3. Answer the following questions in complete sentences
modern day exploration?!
– Do you agree with the author’s argument about the reasons for
• 2. Compare and Contrast the motives for European exploration
with the motives for space exploration though a venn diagram
or chart.
space exploration? Why or why not?
– Do you think space exploration is more, less, or equally as
important as the European age of exploration? Why or why
not?
– Based on what we learned about the motivations for
exploration, the context for european exploration, and the
innovations of the time, what do you think would have to
change to spur a greater interest in America in space
exploration? Why? How is this similar to European
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exploration?
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Explorers
Portuguese
Henry the Navigator - Funded exploration
Vasco da Gama (1498) - India
Cabral (1501) - Brazil
Spain
Columbus (1492) - Caribbean
Ferdinand Magellan (1519)- Circumnavigated
the globe
Hernando Cortes (1519) - Mexico
Francisco Pizzaro (1532) - South America
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What did they find?
Match the following answers and questions
1. This motive relates to European
desire for new raw materials
A: Gold
2. He is a portuguese Prince who
funded exploration
B. Vasco da Gama
3. He is a spanish explorer that was the
first to sail around the world
C. Astrolabe
4. Missionaries were motivated by this
reason for exploration
D. Glory
E. God
5. European countries wanted to be the first
to explore new areas for bragging rights.
6. A technological innovation that allowed
explorers to find where they are going
7. A Portuguese explorer who sailed to India
and spurred interest in Indian spices
F. Magellan
G. Henry the Navigator
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What was the impact of
exploration?
•
•
•
•
1. Effects on Native Populations
2. European Empires Begin
3. Columbian Exchange
4. Commercial Revolution
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Impact of Exploration
1. Effects on Native Populations
•
•
•
•
Death by Disease
Conquered
Converted
Enslaved
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Effects on Native Populations:
Disease
–Native American populations
dropped due to smallpox, measles,
malaria and the flu- about 80%
Effects on Native
Populations:Conquered
• Conquistadors = European explorers who
conquered large populations in Central
and South America
– Cortes ( Aztecs in Mexico)
– Pizzaro (Incas in Peru)
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Cortes
Pizzaro
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Effects on Native Populations:
Conquered
• Why were these
conquistadors able to
conquer such large
populations?
– Cortes
• Resembled Aztec god
• Made allies of native
Aztec enemies
• Had guns and artillery
• Diseases
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Effects on Native Populations:
Conquered
– Pizzaro
• Kidnapped ruler
Atahulpa and
killed him after
receiving ransom
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Effects on Native Populations:
Converted
• Native populations were forced to convert
to Christianity by missionaries
• Leads to loss of cultural heritage
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Effects on Native Populations:
Enslavement
• Native populations enslaved under the
Encomienda System
– Native populations enslaved and forced to
farm or ranch for European landowners
– In Central and South America
– Named for large farms/ranches called
Encomiendas
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Connecting History
Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513 where he pens the
famous phrase “the end justifies the means” after
Columbus’ voyages beginning in 1492.
Based on the Columbus point/counterpoint article answer
the following questions
1. Do you think Machiavelli would have agreed with
Columbus’ actions? Why or why not?
2. Do you think the interactions between explorers and
natives had to happen the way it did or could this
interaction have been different in history? Why or why
not? * Hint: think about where each group’s mindset and
the time period
3. Do you think exploration was a good thing? Why or why
not?
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HW
• You are one of the remaining Native
Aztecs who has survived the conquering
of your city by Cortes and experienced life
both before and after the arrival of the
Spanish. As an old man/woman you are
reflecting on your life and the changes that
have occurred
• Your job - write a letter to your
son/daughter referencing the four effects
of European exploration on native
populations
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Impact of
Exploration
• 2. Beginning of
Empire building
- European
countries claimed
territories in new
world
• 3. Columbian Exchange
– Exchange of plants, animals, people, disease and ideas
between the Eastern and Western Hemisphere after
1492
– What are some items that are exchanged?
Impact of Exploration
• 4. Commercial Revolution
– Joint Stock Companies
• Many investors together funded exploration
– Mercantilism
• Wealth = power
• Increase wealth in two ways
– 1. More gold and silver
– 2. Favorable balance of trade (sell more than you buy)
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• Mercantilism continued..
–A country must be selfsufficient
–A colony exists for the parent
country to provide either gold,
silver, raw materials
Mercantilism
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The Pros and Cons
• Identify the pros and cons of exploration.
Create a T chart to show this information.
You need to have at least 3 pros and cons
Pros
Cons
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What about Non-European
Exploration?!
• China
–Ming Dynasty
–Great Ming Naval Expeditions
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Chinese Exploration
(1405-1433)
• Zheng He sailed from the
Indian Ocean as far as Africa
• 300 ship fleets
• Demonstrated Ming China’s
power
• After Zheng He, China stopped
funding explorers and turned
to isolationism - Why?
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• Why become isolated?
–Voyages were
expensive
–European traders
–Christian
missionaries
Why would this cause
isolation?
–Potential loss of
tradition
http://famoustraveler.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Results of being Isolated
–Smugglers still brought in
products
–Failed to keep up with European
advances