context age of discovery” was a reflection of the intellectual and political self-confidence of...
TRANSCRIPT
ContextAge of Discovery” was a reflection of the
intellectual and political self-confidence of Europe. After 1,500 C.E. cross-cultural encounters took place on a larger geographical scale and became more disruptive.
Europeans linked the lands and peoples of the Western and Eastern hemispheres, as well as Oceania. This projection of European influence brought about a decisive shift in the global balance of power
Main Long-Term Effect was the Columbian Exchange = Global Diffusion of Plants, Animals,Ideas Diseases, and Technology across
all Continents
Causes of Exploration: GeneralConsolidated European Kingdoms => political
self-confidence (eg. Spanish Reconquista and strong crusading spirit)
Urbanization and Developed PortsTechnology
Chinese rudder introduced in 12th centurySquare sails replaced by triangular lateen sales
Work better with cross windsNavigational instruments (astrolabe, magnetic
compass)Knowledge of winds, currents. Now one could also
use lateral winds.
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Wind and current patterns in the world’s oceans
Motives for Exploration: God, Gold, and Glory Money and Trade
Spices become luxury goods during Crusades Value of Spices: kept food from rotting, added flavor to bland foods Nutmeg, Indian pepper and Chinese ginger With rise in demand or spices, goods became more expensive and trade more profitable. Europeans thus sought less costly routes to Asia
Religion Christianity (still) is a missionary religion Prince Henry the Navigator saw exploration as his personal mission to save
souls Portugal and Spain were both involved in driving out Muslims and Jews
during the Middle Ages Secular and Spiritual went hand in hand
Personal and National Glory
European monarch wanted to increase their lands and power
Portuguese Breakthroughs1488 Barolomeo Dias rounds Cape of Good
Hope, enters Indian Ocean basinStorms, restless crew force return
Vasco de Gama reaches India by this route, 1497By 1500, a trading post at Calicut
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Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)Believed Earth was smaller
Estimated Japan approximately 2,500 miles west of Canaries (actually 10,000 miles)
Portuguese kings do not fund proposed westward trip
Fernando and Isabel of Spain underwrite voyage
Discovers Bahamas, Cuba
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Hemispheric LinksColumbus tries three times, never reaches
AsiaBut by early 16th century, several powers
followEnglish, Spanish, French, Dutch
Realization of value of newly discovered Americas
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European exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, 1486-1498
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Circumnavigation of the GlobeVasco de Balboa finds Pacific Ocean while
searching for gold in Panama, 1513Distance to Asia unknown
Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) not supported by Portuguese, uses Spanish support to circumnavigate globe in 1519-1522Sails through Strait of Magellan at southern tip of South
AmericaCrew assailed by scurvy, only 35 of 250 sailors survive
journeyMagellan killed in local political dispute in Philippine
Islands
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Formation of Colonial Empires
1510 Portuguese Alfonso de Albequerque conquers the port of Goa in India. Portuguese were not a big and powerful country so they established trading posts in Africa, China, and Indonesia. The only big Portuguese colony was Brazil
Spain had a true colonial empire because of the conquest of Mexico (1519-1921) by Hernan Cortes and Peru (1432-1533) by Francisco Pizzaro
European trading posts in Africa and Asia, about 1700
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ConsequencesEconomic = trade shifted from the
Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. Spanish colonies brought more silver and gold to Europe and the appearance of inflation (the more money circulates the lesser its value)
Social = role of the middle classes increases (bnakers, merchannts, artisans)
Intellectual = greater knowledge of the world (geography, botany, zoology, medicine); proof the world was round