The Age of

Exploration

Europe
Encounters the
World
 RIDDLER’S MOMENT
►I always follow my brother,
although very different we are. You
can see him, but not me. You can
hear me, but not him. What am I?

►What makes my left hand, my right

hand?
 What factors were pushing
Europeans to explore?
► Decline of Mongol
Empire in 1400s made
goods from the east
harder to get, more
expensive
► Fall of Constantinople
to the Ottoman Turks
in 1453 was a major
block to trade
Ottoman Turks (Muslim) Empire
 How did these explorations begin?
► The first to encourage new
ship explorations was Prince
Henry of Portugal, known as
“Prince Henry the Navigator”

► Started an institute for

seafaring and exploring

► Combined ship technology

learned from Islam with new
European innovations

► By the time of his death in

1460, Portuguese had sailed
as far south as the Gold
Coast of West Africa
What are we learning today?
Identify reasons for
European exploration and
colonization
What were the new technologies that
enabled explorations?
► Thecaravel was a new, faster,
more maneuverable ship

► Older ships had square sails,

caravels had triangular sails
(easier to change direction)

► Bilge pump system enabled ship

to float higher (less likely to
run aground, easier to explore
coasts and rivers)

► Compass, astrolabe, maps and

other technologies from Islamic
culture all helped make
explorations possible
 New Maritime
Technology Better Maps

Hartman Astrolabe (1532)

Mariner’s Compass

Sextant
New Weapons
Technology
 Growth in Trade
► Inthe Middle Ages Marco
Polo (1254-1324) returned
from China and
encourage an increase in
trade.
► Emergence of Powerful
European Rulers
Wanted to extend their influence
through exploration.
► Desire for Profits
Capitalist economy was just
emerging and people were seeing
new wealth from investment and
trade.
► Religious Enthusiasm
Missionaries from Spain and Portugal
sought to spread Christian religion.
 What is the easiest way to
remember it all?
► The Three G’s:
 Gold
 Glory
 God

► Although a little simplistic, this

mnemonic is a great way to
remember the main motivations
of the European explorers.
 The First G: Gold
► Gold was a hot item that explorers were looking
for, but remember that it is really wealth ($$$),
not just literal gold that explorers were after.
► Europe needed gold (and silver) to fuel the rising
banking system
► Europeans also desired spices
► Other natural resources would come to be sold for
profit as well (timber, sugar, tobacco, ivory, etc.)
► This competition will be enhanced by the idea of
mercantilism, the idea that there is only so much
wealth in the world, and that to make your
kingdom strong you must have more gold and
wealth than the other kingdoms
 Exploration--Mercantilism

• Financial Reasons for

Exploration--Mercantilism Labor
Land

Principles of mercantilism:
• Nation’s wealth depends on
capital.
• Capital= one of the factors Capital

of production
• Bullion (gold or silver).
 mercantilism

Fundamental tenets of mercantilism

1.Mercantilism is : Trade=money= power
for the mother country

►converted into other forms of power: such

as military instruments, influence, and territory
The New territory exist for the Mother Country.
 mercantilism

1.Mercantilism is : Trade=money= power

For Whom?????
► Governments need raw materials for products
produced in the nation. They get the raw materials from the colonies at a
low price that they use to make a product that they sell back to the
colonies at a high price. Governments controlled corporations and trading
companies.
► Governments regulated production so nation
could be exporting more than it imported.
► Sought exclusive trading rights with foreign
powers and “new world,” which led to rivalries with
other European powers.
► Established in the colonies for purpose of bring wealth
back to the mother country.
 Think- Write- Pair Share
Explain the first reason for European Exploration?

The first reason for European Exploration is

What does Gold represent ?

In European exploration gold represents

What is mercantilism?

Mercantilism is the economic process that

 The second G: Glory
► Just like the first G, Gold,
Glory was a relatively new
idea in Europe
► Came out of the
Renaissance ideal of
Humanism, and the focus
on individual achievement
► With the rise of the printing
press, the idea of gaining
fame for one’s actions was
more possible
► Also, individual kings
wanted glory for their
The Triumph of Fame, a Flemish kingdoms, competition
tapestry from 1502. spreads
 The second G: Glory
►Spanish colonies were very
successful in brining wealth and
pride to Spain, so England and
France wanted the same thing.

►Workers/Farmers: wanted to
move up the social ladder.
 The third G: God
► Europeans have always felt it was their godly duty to
spread Christianity and convert non-believers to their
form of Christianity.
► After the Protestant Reformation, competition will
spring up to convert people to their form of
Christianity
► Colonization of the new world will become a race to
convert native peoples to a particular brand of
Christianity
► Jesuits (Catholics) are some of the most active
► People came to the New World to be able to practice
their religion without fear of persecution
Use your notes above to complete the
Cause section of your thinking map

Exploration
 Effects of European Exploration
► Spanish Explorers claimed “New Spain” which is
present day Mexico.
► France set up Fur trade with the Native
American in “New France which was Ohio River
valley to the Mississippi River and up into
Canada.
► England (Great Britain) claimed the land along
the Atlantic Ocean called it the thirteen
colonies.
 MAJOR POWERS EXPLORING
England/
Great Britain France
Spain

as as

Mexico, Texas,
and the West United States
Coast of U.S. colonies along Ohio River Valley
the East Coast and Canada
► Explorationled to colonization of the new
world which shifted wealth and power away
from Mediterranean region to the countries
of Western Europe toward Spain, England
and France.

► Spainwas enriched by American gold and silver.

Spanish colonies were very successful in bringing
wealth and pride to Spain. This led to England and
France to start Exploration and colonization.
 Effects of Exploration
• England rulers desired to
stake a claim for lands and
riches to match Spain’s
wealth.
• France set up a fur trade with
Native American to gain
wealth.
 Columbian Exchange
Columbian Exchange : exchange of plants, animals and diseases
between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres that occurred
after 1492
Columbian Exchange

Europe introduced New World introduced

Sugar, wheat, Corn, tomatoes,

oranges, grapes, potatoes, and chocolate
and onions
Tobacco, Quinine
Horses, sheep,
goats, cows, cats, turkey
and rats

Diseases: smallpox,
typhus, cholera,
and measles
Now complete your Cause and Effect thinking Map

Exploration
 Compare political, economic,
religious, and social reasons for
the establishment of the
Colonies.
 European People’s reason for
coming to New World
New Merchant class wanted to get rich
through overseas trade.

Middle/Lower class: wanted a better life and

could not afford to live in England but could in
the new world.

Unemployed farmers wanted to own land

 What did the Americas have to
offer to the people
Pushing them out
of Europe Pull towards America
What did Americans have to offer?
What was pulling people away
from Europe and pushing them
to the New World?  Religious freedom
 Less restricted government
Religious persecution  Beginning of self-rule
Strict government rule

Less resources Untapped resources

King nobles owned land Could purchase cheap land
Very few opportunities Tons of opportunities
► Some migration is not always by choice but by
force.
Can you think of an example of forced migration?

Do you think that if they were forced to move they are still
immigrates? Why or Why not?
 The Political, economic, religious and
social reasons for English Exploration
$$$$ making and spending
money
--New Merchant class:
wanted to get rich
through overseas trade
--Middle /Lower class:
wanted a better life- could
not afford to live in
England.
-- Unemployed farmers:
wanted to own land
Way of life –how they lived
day to day including religion
Workers/Farmers: wanted
to move up the social
ladder.
England Higher class was
forcing Debtors, prisoner
and to get them out of
England
Religion
Immigrants came to
practice their own
religious beliefs without
persecution
Government
Wanted to escape the
King’s strong control
Get away from the
nobles and the caste
system
Rivalry with Spain and
wanting England to be
better.
 ROLES ON A SHIP
► CAPTAIN – Overall leader of the ship
► QUARTERMASTER – Maintaining order, settle
disputes and distribution of food and essentials
► SAILING MASTER - Navigation and Sailing
► BOATSWAIN-Maintenance and Logistics of the ship
► CARPENTER AND SURGEON – Doctor and Repair
► MATE (FIRST MATE) –Ship Captain’s Right Hand
man
► MASTERGUNNER – weapons and ammunition