the european age of discovery

E. Napp

The European Age of Discovery

In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:

Motives for the European Age of Exploration

The Significance of the Compass and Moveable Rudder

Ferdinand Magellan

E. Napp

The Crusadesgreatly

increasedEuropeaninterest in

goods fromthe East.

E. Napp

The Crusades greatly stimulated European interest in East Asian

goods like spices, perfume, and silk.

E. Napp

Improvements in Technology

• Better navigation skills and instruments allowed Europeans to sail farther than ever before.

• The compass and the moveable rudder greatly benefited navigators.

• Navigators could sail away from the shore and find their way to land again.

E. Napp

The Chinese invented the compass.The compass allowed navigators

to travel far.

E. Napp

A rudder is a device used to steera ship.

E. Napp

Spreading the Gospel• European rulers wanted to spread the

Christian religion.

• European missionaries traveled to foreign lands to convert individuals and nations to Christianity.

• The spreading of the Christian religion was another motive or reason for the European Age of Exploration.

E. Napp

European rulerscorrectly

believed thattrade with Asia

would bringthem vast

wealth.

E. Napp

Explorers

• With better navigational instruments and a desire for wealth and conversion, European rulers funded exploration.

• From Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal to the King and Queen of Spain, explorers were given ships and crews to journey the vast seas.

E. Napp

ChristopherColumbus

believed thatby traveling

West, he wouldarrive in the East.

E. Napp

Columbus never arrived in Asia buthe did land in the Americas.

E. Napp

Ferdinand Magellan’s crew was thefirst crew to circumnavigate the world.

E. Napp

Magellan’s journey opened the worldto European navigators.

E. Napp

Questions for Reflection:

• List three motives for the European Age of Exploration.

• List two inventions which revolutionized navigation.

• Who was Christopher Columbus and what was the significance of his travels?

• Who was Ferdinand Magellan and how did his journey affect future navigators?