1. Aim: Why did European Nations send explorers across the oceans?
Do Now: Imagine you are a
Portuguese merchant in the
1400’s. There is high demand
for goods from East Asia, but
Muslim and Italian merchants
control most trade between Asia
and Europe. You want to cut
out the middle man and gain
direct access to the riches of the
east by finding an all water route
to Asia. Study the map of the
world. Describe one possible
route you could take to get there

2. Age of Exploration
Hello, my name is
Christopher Columbus and I
am here to tell you about a
major turning point in
history!
The Age of Exploration was a
time when brave men, like
myself, left the familiar
shores of Europe in search of
new lands, trade routes, and
riches!

3. How did it all start?
1. Crusades led to increased trade between Europe and the
Middle East.
2. The Ottoman Empire controlled the trade routes to the east.
The Europeans were forced to seek alternative trade routes to
Asia.
How will the
Europeans get
around the
Ottomans?

4. Factors which influenced the Age of
Exploration
The Crusades Renaissance Printing Press Caravel
Series of holy
Period in Europe Technology New type of ship
wars which
in which secular developed during which allowed
introduced
ideas increased the Renaissance navigators to sail
Europeans to
and people began which allowed into the wind
spices and other
to emphasize ideas to spread
trade goods from
individual quickly
East Asia
achievement

5. Reasons for Exploration
Look at the following pictures and see if you can determine the
major reasons for Exploration in the 15th thru 17th centuries!

6. Improved navigational technology which
allowed for exploration
The Magnetic Compass
A device for determining
direction. A magnetic
needle floating in a dish of
liquid, pointed north-south
allowing sailors to determine
the direction of the ship.

7. Improved navigational technology which
allowed for exploration
The Astrolabe
A device used to measure
the angles of the sun and
stars a stars above the horizon
which allowed navigators
to determine their latitude
at sea.

8. Motivations for Exploration
“Come on! Did you think we did it to find a new
vacation spot?”
1. “Gold” was a motivator! Many
had a desire to find new sources
of wealth.
2. “Glory” encouraged men to take
risks! Many wanted fame and
fortune for themselves and their
nation.
3. “God” was used to justify their
success. Due to Reformation,
some wanted to spread
Christianity.

9. Reasons for Exploration
“All this technology and the Queen only gives me
three scrawny little ships!”
4. “Water Route to the East”
was needed due to Muslim
and Italian control of trade
routes.
5. “Humanism” stressed the
power of the individual to
question and explore the
world around them.
6. “Technology” such as the
compass, sextant, astrolabe,
and the caravel made sea
travel easier.

10. Motivation
Gold Glory
Hernan Cortes conquers the Vasco de Gama rounds the tip
Aztecs to gain riches of Africa to get to the great
spice ports of India
Columbus sails west in order to
find a quicker trade route to Queen Isabella and King
the East Ferdinand agree to finance
voyages to increase Spain’s
power and influence.
God
Italian adventurers signed on as
Missionaries flock to Spanish crew members on
colonies to convert to Megellan’s voyage around
Christianity the world.

11. Would You Go?
It is a gray and windy morning in 1430. You are standing on a dock in
the European country of Portugal staring out at the dark and mysterious
Atlantic Ocean. You, like most people at the time, have no idea what
lies beyond the horizon. Now, you may find out. You have been asked
to go on a voyage of exploration. You’ve heard all the terrifying stories
of sea monsters and ship-wrecks. You’ve heard the warnings that the
currents along parts of western Africa are “so terrible that no ship
having once passed will ever be able to return.” In addition, the trip to
India would take about a year. With no refrigeration system, the only
food available is bland-tasting biscuits known as hardtack which often
went stale and contained weevils.
What possible rewards might come from exploring the seas for new lands?
What are the risks involved in embarking on a voyage into the unknown?

12. Portuguese navigators lead the way!
Prince Henry the
Navigator Bartholemew Dias Vasco Da Gamma
“The Father of Navigation”
In1497, he led four ships
Known as “The Father of In 1488, he rounded the southern around the Cape of Good
Exploration.” He set up a school tip of Africa, but turned back after Hope. After a 10 month
where he trained captains and a violent storm struck. The tip of voyage, Da Gama finally
crews for long Africa became known reached the great spice
voyages. Sent out as the Cape of Good port of Calicut on the
ships that slowly Hope because it west coast of India.
worked their way opened the way for a
down Africa’s coast. sea route to Asia.

13. Location
Iberian
Portugal
- Bartholomeu Dias rounded the Cape of
Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa
- Vasco Da Gama established an all water
route to India
- Seized port cities, or trading enclaves,
like Goa, Malacca, Mombasa, and
Canton
- Brazil was founded by Pedro Cabral in
1500 In the early 1400s,
the Portuguese led
- Had a monopoly on trade in the Indian
Ocean until the Dutch arrived in the the way
1600s.

14. The Portuguese Lake

18. Close: Predict what will happen next in both Europe
and the new places discovered as a result of
exploration. Give me 2!

19. Location
Iberian
The success of Portuguese explorations
led Spain to begin its own voyages.
- Columbus discovered the Americas for Spain. Sent
“I just wanted to conquistadors to Central and South America
get to the Indies, - Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean
but no… these
- Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe,
two big Spain settled Philippines
continents had to
- Cortes conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico
be in my way!”
- Pizarro conquered the Inca empire along the Andes
Mountains in Peru.

20. Christopher Columbus

24. The Spaniards attack
the Aztecs
The Spaniards
capture the Inca King

25. Spanish and Portuguese Explorations

26. Location
Northern European
Dutch and British
- Northern areas of the Americas –
settlements and search for a “north-west
passage.”
- Caribbean Islands – Sugar islands
- British controlled Port villages in India –
Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta
1707 map of Japan
- Dutch – Trade routes and colonies in S.E.
that depicts
Asia: Indonesia, Strait of Malacca,
Japan, and China (Only European nation William Adams’
allowed to trade with Japan) visit with
- British later replace Dutch (New York,
Tokugawa Ieyasu in
South Africa, India, Malacca) 1600

27. Henry Hudson failed to find a north-west
or north-east passage in all four of his
voyages.

28. Dutch Trading Empire

29. Oversight Institution
Iberian Northern European
The Crown – Monarch and Trading companies received
Church received 20% of charters from King
profits! Mercantilism.
East and West India Companies
Relied of King and Pope to develop – Privately funded
make decisions. Resulted in ventures with goal of
slow, ineffective process of making a profit.
rule
Mercantilism existed, but
Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494: development of capitalism
Pope made decision to split began.
New World possessions into
Decisions can be made much
spheres of interest between
faster by the settlers:
Spain and Portugal.
Mayflower Compact

31. The Columbian Exchange

32. The Columbian Exchange
From New World to Old World
Early on, people thought the tomato was harmful to eat. “If I should
eat this fruit,” explained one Italian man, “it would be injurious and
harmful to me.” One German Official warned that the tomato “should
not be taken internally”
From Old World to New World
In 1619, officials in Burgundy, France, banned the potato, explaining
that “too frequent use of them caused the leprosy.” In 1774, starving
peasants in Prussia (Germany) refused to eat the spud.

33. The Columbian Exchange
“The age of Exploration was a major turning
point in history all because of me!”
Columbian Exchange - the exchange of people, plants,
animals, ideas, and technology between Europe and the New
World.
From Old World to New World From New World to Old World
Corn Potato
Wheat Sugar
Beans Peanuts
Bananas Rice
Squash Pumpkin
Grapes Horses
Tomatoes Avocados
Pigs Cattle
Chili Pepper Pineapple
Sheep Chickens
Cocoa Tobacco
Measles
Quinine (a medicine for malaria)
Typhus

34. European Empires: 1660

35. The Commercial Revolution
The Growth of Capitalism
Spurred by expanded trade and growth of
overseas empires, capitalism (market) is an
economic system based on private
ownership and the investment of wealth
for profit

36. The Commercial Revolution
New Business Methods
Early Capitalists discovered new ways to create
wealth! Joint Stock Companies where a
group of people would pool their money
together to make more money! Like our
modern day corporations.

37. The Commercial Revolution
New Economic Policy
The theory of mercantilism was aimed at
strengthening European economies. According to
the theory, countries could become wealthy and
powerful in 2 ways.
1. Increase your gold and silver supply
2. Maintain a favorable balance of trade –
export more than import

38. The Role of Colonies in Mercantilism
Manufactured goods
(finished goods)
Mother
Colony
Country
Raw Materials
7. Colonies provide mother country with raw materials
(gold and silver)
2. Mother country maintains a favorable balance of trade with
it’s colonies.

39. Impact of Exploration
Positive Effects:
• New trade: led to weakening of the feudal system, rise
in Middle Class, and population growth in Europe.
• Animals: horses, cattle, chicken, sheep were brought
to New World
• Global Trade: Truly Global Trade! Emerged resulting in
cultural diffusion Colonies developed and settled by
Europeans searching for freedom and opportunity
The World in 1400
1600

40. Negative Effects:
• Massive Destruction: Millions of natives died due to
disease brought by Europeans, or by colonization.
• Mercantilism: economic policy that created a favorable
balance of trade for the parent country.
• Colonies: served as a source for raw materials, and as an
exclusive market for the parent country.

41. Atlantic Slave Trade: Africans faced a diaspora, or forced
movement of its people, as slavery became the dominant labor
force in the Americas.
The Triangle Trade

43. How do these two
images reflect
Northern
European
Exploration?
Merchants and Bankers
who want to make a profit
for themselves and trading
company.
Pilgrims and the Mayflower
Compact: Search for religious
freedom and settlers making
their own decision

44. How do these two
images reflect
Iberian
Exploration?
Columbus arrives in America
and plants flag for Spain. Glory
for Spain and for himself.
Columbus showing off findings
from New World to King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

45. What do you think is the reason for the
differences between Iberian and Northern
European exploration?
Here’s a hint: Pope Pius V Here’s a hint: Queen Isabella
Religious differences: Political differences: Iberians had
Iberians were Roman Absolute Monarchs with Divine Right
Catholic and Northerners and Northerners had Limited
were Protestant Parliamentary governments

46. Important People to Know
Can you name the Explorer who went on each voyage?