The Age of Exploration1400-1625

During the Crusades, Western European countries (Spain, England, France, Portugal) made pilgrimages to holy lands which brought them in contact with Middle Eastern countries and the goods they sold from Asian lands.

Strong new European governments along with the interest and money created by these new goods helped to start the Age of Exploration.

Technology The Printing Press invented in

the 1450’s Better maps from a wider range of

sources The Compass allowed sailors to

determine their direction The Astrolabe could determine

your latitude using the stars

New Sailing TechnologyThe Caravel ship was

revolutionary because of its triangle sails, stern rudder, increased storage, and the ability to sail into shallow water.

Economics European countries traded with Asia and the Middle

East, but it was very expensive. Western Europeans wanted to find new trade routes

to Asia. They could cut out the middle men in Italy and the

Middle East to make more money. European countries also wanted to start colonies in

these countries to find natural resources (wood, iron, gold, spices).

Mercantilism was the idea that money equals power for a country.

The Growth of Ideas The Renaissance made t he general population

more curious about the world around them. This helped grow a desire to explore.

New ideas like banking would place value on knowledge & consolidation of city-states to help support exploration.

Religion also played a part in both the Renaissance and motivation for exploration. Some political leaders (like Queen Isabella of Spain) looked at exploration as a chance to spread Catholicism to new lands and people.

Famous Explorers

Leif Erickson Viking explorer who found

current day Canada around the year 1000

Archeologists have found remains of Viking settlements near current day Newfoundland

Europeans were unaware of these voyages so Columbus received credit for discovering the Americas

Famous Explorers

Prince Henry “The Navigator” of Portugal

Founded the first Sea College in 1420

Helped train new explorers

Famous Explorers

Vasco De GamaThe first Explorer to

complete an eastern sea route to India (Asia) in 1498.

Sailed from Portugal

Famous Explorers Christopher Columbus Expedition backed by Queen

Isabella and Kind Ferdinand of Spain for religious and economic reasons. Was trying to find a route to Asia.

Sailed in 1492 with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria

They reached the Bahamas (West Indies) first on October 12, 1492. Then in later voyages Cuba, Jamaica and South America

Believed they were in Asia

Columbian Exchange Exploration brought together the continents of

Europe, Asia and Africa with the peoples of the Americas for the first time.

This contact lead to an exchange between these cultures of plants, animals, diseases and ideas. This became known as the Columbian Exchange.

Famous Explorers

Pedro CabralWas the first to reach

Brazil and claimed it for Portugal in the early 1500’s

Today Brazilians largely speak Portuguese instead of Spanish due to their influence

Famous Explorers

Ferdinand Magellan First person to circumnavigate

the world in 1520-1523 Originally set sail with 5 ships

and 200 men. Magellan found a strait through

the Americas which allowed him to sail around the world.

As a result of the extended time and numerous hardships only 1 ship and 18 men survived the journey. Magellan was killed in the Philippines during the trip.

Famous ExplorersAmerigo VespucciBegan mapping the

coast of South America in 1499

Discovered through the use of his maps that they were not in Asia but had found a new continent.

Geographers named the continent after him.

Famous Explorers

Juan Ponce De Leo’nLanded in Florida in

1513 which lead to the first Spanish settlement and Spanish claim to North America

His writings inspired the myth of the Fountain of Youth

Famous Explorers

John CabotSent by the English in

1497 to find a northern route to Asia

Landed in current day Newfoundland, Canada

English used his settlement as their claim to North America

Famous Explorers

Samuel de Champlain Established a settlement

in current day Quebec, Canada for the French. This lead to the French claim to North America

The French were interested in North America for its fishing and fur trade with the Native Americans

Famous Explorers Henry Hudson Hired by the Dutch in

1609 to find a passage through the Americas.

His exploration would lead to settlements by the Dutch in current day New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia

This would lead to the Dutch claim to North America

By the end of the Age of Exploration, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, and France all had claim to the new lands in North America.