Age of European Exploration

Marco Polo

• Traveled to China and wrote a book about his travels

• Others wanted to gain the riches

Motives

• Economic– Wanted new trade routes that bypassed the

Muslims

• Social– Wanted to experience the thrill of adventure and

receive the praise of men

• Political– Wanted to lay claim to new areas for their kings– Also claim the raw materials of the new lands

• Religious– Wanted to spread gospel to heathen cultures– Wanted to stop the spread of Muslim– Sailed in search of a mythical king, Prester John– Prester John – thought to be a Christian king who

would help defeat the Muslims

Technology

1. Shipbuilding– Invention of the caraval– Caraval – ship capable of traveling in open sea,

sailing upriver and in shallow waters– Ships played a central role in exploration, trade

and defense

2. Maps– Maps were updated as more exploration took

place– The printing press made it quicker and cheaper to

reproduce maps– Showed trade winds– Trade winds – belts of consistent winds that blow

from east to west

3. Compass– Essential for

sailing on open sea with no landmarks

4. Astrolabe– Used to determine latitude

Most sailors sailed using dead reckoning• Travel to desired latitude and then sail

east/west until they found land