European

Exploration

1400-1900

E.Q: Why did the desire for gold,

riches, natural resources and

spices lead to the European

Colonization?

Why Explore?

• A strong desire for wealth, land, and honor

spurred Europeans into a period of

exploration across the globe.

• Explorers wanted to open up and find new

trade routes.

GOLD, GLORY, and GOD

• A desire for natural resources and riches,

such as gold and spices.

• Missionaries wanted to convert conquered

people (indigenous people) to Christianity.

• A desire for fame and fortune. People

wanted to be known for what they found,

they wanted to be famous for their travels!

• SELFISH REASONS!

A List of Reasons

• To find a sea route to the spices of Asia.

• To find gold, silver, and precious stones.

• To expand their knowledge of the world.

• To build and control larger empires.

• To expand the Christian religion.

• To find natural resources.

Portugal’s Empire • In the 15th century , Portugal led the world in sea exploration and

explored the western coast of Africa.

• The Portuguese wanted to find a trade route around Africa to Asia

because:

o They believed they could make a lot of money as traders if they

could get Asian goods for a cheaper price.

o They also wanted to spread Christianity along Africa’s west coast.

Prince Henry the Navigator-

Portugal

• Provided money

to:

• study navigation

• Develop better

boats

• Encourage

voyages along the

coast of Africa.

Prince Henry the Navigator• He was the son of the Portuguese king.

• He sent more than 50 expeditions down the west coast of

Africa.

o He wanted to establish Portuguese colonies & break the

Muslim hold on trade routes.

• He also created a naval observatory (navigation school) that

taught students navigation, astronomy, & cartography

Prince Henry the Navigator• He was unable to make much money trading gold, so he tried

creating sugar cane plantations.

o Sugar cane was a very profitable crop, but required lots of labor.

• Prince Henry imported slaves from Africa to work the fields.

o This was successful & was later copied in the New World.

o His actions encouraged a slave trade that lasted another 400

years…

What Were the Results of

Exploration?

• A Clash of Cultures- European countries

founded many new colonies on the coasts

of Africa and S. America. Lives of the

natives (indigenous) people were never

the same.

• Religious Conversions- Missionaries were

sent to convert conquered indigenous

people to Christianity.

Effects Continued..

• Spread of Disease- Without knowing it, the

European explorers carried diseases

including smallpox, malaria, and measles.

• Slavery- European explorations led to an

expanding slave trade.

What is this political cartoon trying to tell us?