Portuguese ExplorationPortuguese Exploration

By Mr. EichmannBy Mr. Eichmann

The Search for Eastern Routes The Search for Eastern Routes A combination of ships A combination of ships from from VeniceVenice and other city- and other city-states, and land routes states, and land routes through the Silk Road through the Silk Road made Italian made Italian city-states city-states very powerful and rich.very powerful and rich.European European consumersconsumers did did not want to pay high prices not want to pay high prices to Italian merchants. to Italian merchants. The only option was an all-The only option was an all-sea route around Africa to sea route around Africa to reach reach IndiaIndia and and China.China.

Advantages of a Sea Route to Advantages of a Sea Route to AsiaAsia

Ships could sail Ships could sail day day and and nightnightAvoid having to Avoid having to packpack and and unpackunpack goods goodsOnly one shipper Only one shipper would profit from the would profit from the sea voyage, rather sea voyage, rather than than middlemenmiddlemenNo No taxestaxes and and tollstolls would need to be paid.would need to be paid.

Disadvantages of a Sea Route to Disadvantages of a Sea Route to AsiaAsia

Never done before Never done before by Europeans. by Europeans. Few Few mapsmaps or or charts.charts. Little knowledge of Little knowledge of windwind and and currentscurrentsWould take Would take longer longer for goods to reach for goods to reach Europe. Europe.

Portugal Makes the AttemptPortugal Makes the AttemptIn the 1440s, Prince In the 1440s, Prince Henry, who became Henry, who became known as known as Prince Henry Prince Henry the Navigatorthe Navigator, takes the , takes the lead by….lead by….Creating a school for Creating a school for navigation,navigation, the science of the science of plotting and directing a plotting and directing a shipshipInviting Inviting chart makerschart makers, , sailorssailors, , shipbuildersshipbuilders, , scientistsscientists, and , and inventorsinventors to work there.to work there.Hiring prospective sailors Hiring prospective sailors to go on journeys to go on journeys east to east to Asia.Asia.Financing Financing these voyages. these voyages.

Technological Advancements Technological Advancements for Navigationfor Navigation

Compass – tells which direction you are Compass – tells which direction you are going (improved by the Portuguesegoing (improved by the PortugueseAstrolabe - instrument that showed how Astrolabe - instrument that showed how far north or south you were from the far north or south you were from the equator (improved by the Portuguese) equator (improved by the Portuguese) Log – diary of a ship’s journeyLog – diary of a ship’s journeyKnots – Measurement for the speed of a Knots – Measurement for the speed of a ship ship

The CaravelThe Caravel

The Portuguese The Portuguese develop a ship develop a ship called the called the caravel,caravel, a small a small vessel that was vessel that was able to handle able to handle the high seas.the high seas.

Challenges for ExplorersChallenges for ExplorersInaccurate mapsInaccurate mapsStormsStormsFresh water -need for desalination, Fresh water -need for desalination, converting salt water into drinking water)converting salt water into drinking water)Cooking on a wooden shipCooking on a wooden shipScurvy – deficiency of Vitamin C Scurvy – deficiency of Vitamin C Running out of food and suppliesRunning out of food and suppliesMoral of the crew (don’t want a mutiny, a Moral of the crew (don’t want a mutiny, a rebellion by your crew) rebellion by your crew)

Portuguese ExplorationPortuguese Exploration

1445 – One of 1445 – One of Henry’s ships Henry’s ships reached modern reached modern day day Senegal.Senegal.1488 – 1488 – Bartolomeu Bartolomeu DiasDias sailed around sailed around the tip of Africa and the tip of Africa and returned to returned to PortugalPortugal

Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama

1498- 1498- Vasco da Vasco da Gama Gama becomes the becomes the first European to sail first European to sail around the tip of around the tip of Africa and reach Africa and reach India.India.

BrazilBrazil1498- 1498- Pedro Alvares Pedro Alvares Cabral,Cabral, either either intentionally or intentionally or unintentionally, took a far unintentionally, took a far western course in the western course in the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean and landed in the northern landed in the northern part of part of South America.South America. Colonies were eventually Colonies were eventually established in what would established in what would later named later named Brazil.Brazil.

Trade RoutesTrade Routes

Trade routes were Trade routes were established by established by making making connections with connections with AfricanAfrican civilizations civilizations and creating trade and creating trade relations with relations with merchants in merchants in India.India.

The Portuguese Monopoly on The Portuguese Monopoly on TradeTrade

Wars in the Byzantine Empire, and possibly Wars in the Byzantine Empire, and possibly Portuguese armies, forced the closing of the Silk Portuguese armies, forced the closing of the Silk Road to trade, giving Portugal a Road to trade, giving Portugal a monopolymonopoly on on trade to Asia and making trade to Asia and making Italy Italy less powerful. less powerful.

Success of Portugal in the Age of Success of Portugal in the Age of DiscoveryDiscovery

They built the first school of They built the first school of navigation in Europe.navigation in Europe.They made many advancements They made many advancements in navigation and shipbuilding. in navigation and shipbuilding. They were the first Europeans to They were the first Europeans to reach India by sailing around reach India by sailing around Africa. Africa.

Failures of Portugal in the Age of Failures of Portugal in the Age of DiscoveryDiscovery

They could not support their colonies They could not support their colonies with enough people from their with enough people from their country. country. Began the slave trade between Began the slave trade between Europe and Africa.Europe and Africa.They eventually lost their colonies to They eventually lost their colonies to The Netherlands. The Netherlands.