Today’s StandardSS6H6 The student will analyze the impact of

European exploration and colonization on various world regions.

a. Identify the causes of European exploration and colonization; include religion, natural resources, a market

for goods, and the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Intro to our…..Essential Question

What factors, including the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator, influenced European

nations to begin overseas exploration?

R26The Age of Exploration

Trade Between Europe & Asia

During the Middle Ages, the people of Europe knew

little about the rest of the world.

One man did much to change his people’s views of far away places in the east.

An Italian merchant named Marco Polo would expose Europeans to the lives of

people a half a world away for the first time.

Trade Between Europe & Asia

Marco Polo traveled all the way to China.

He spent many years living with Kublai Khan, a

leader in China.

Upon his return to Europe, he told stories of “mountains higher than birds can fly” (Himalaya’s) & of “black stones that would burn”

(coal).

Trade Between Europe & Asia

The stories of Marco Polo inspired other Europeans to explore

these unknown places.

Many of these explorers established trade with these

faraway places in Asia & Africa.

Europeans enjoyed desirable products such as:

New Spices, Fine Silk, Fine Cottons, Precious Stones, Tea, Ivory, & Many Other

Goods

The Asian Spice TradeBefore refrigeration, meat and

fish spoiled quickly.

To help preserve these foods and make them taste better,

Europeans employed the use of spices.

This made the Asian spice trade very important to Europe.

Many European merchants became quite wealthy.

The Silk Road

For many years, the silk road was the main trade route between Asia & Europe.

The CrusadesBetween the 11th & 13th centuries, the Christians of Europe

fought against the Muslims of the Middle East for control of the Holy Land (modern Israel & surrounding areas).

The Christians of Europe ultimately lost the Crusades & with it, easy access to the silk road.

After the Crusades…

The only Europeans that were allowed easy access

to the silk road traders were Italian merchants from Venice & Genoa.

They inflated the prices & soon European kings & queens wanted to find

their own routes by sea to avoid getting ripped off by the Italian traders.

.

Leaders in Exploration

Possibly because of its geographic location, Portugal became a leader in exploration.

The Portuguese had a head start on

navigating the Atlantic Ocean and western

coast of Africa.

Leaders in Exploration

Prince Henry of Portugal, orPrince Henry the Navigator

as he was called, was determined to find a safer,

cheaper trade route to Asia.

Henry was convinced that there was an all-water route to the “Indies” (India) from Europe.

He thought that his explorers could go around Africa to get

there.

Leaders in Exploration

To help achieve his goal, Prince Henry established a

school for sailors in 1418.

The best cartographers, sailors, & astronomers in

Europe were assembled at this school.

The sailors learned how to use the stars to find their

way at sea.

Leaders in Exploration

Though Henry did not go on these expeditions, he sent

many sailors down the west coast of Africa.

They came back with many new things, like ivory &

gold.

By the time Henry died in 1460, his sailors had made

it as far as Sierra Leone.

Leaders in Exploration

After Henry’s death, Portuguese explorers

continued to push farther down the West African

coast.

In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of

Africa.

The Portuguese called it the“Cape of Good Hope.”

Leaders in Exploration

Less than a decade later, Vasco da Gama led an expedition all the way to

India.

Vasco da Gama traveled 317 days before reaching the

coast of India.

He was the one who achieved the goal of Prince Henry

the Navigator.

Leaders in ExplorationPortugal was not the only country in the exploration

business.

Spain & England also sought a trade route of their own.

Some explorers thought that the easiest way to get to the east was to sail west.

They had no idea that the America’s existed.

Spanish Exploration

In 1492, an Italian named Christopher Columbus& 90 crew members left

Spain on 3 ships.

The Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria.

This voyage to find a westerly route to Asia was funded

by Spain.

Spanish ExplorationAt first, the crew began to

lose faith.

They had underestimated the size of the Atlantic Ocean.

After about 3 months at sea, they spotted land.

He thought he had found Asia.

He actually landed in the Caribbean & claimed it for

Spain.

Spanish Exploration

In 1519, Spain again funded an attempt at finding a westerly route to Asia.

This time it was Ferdinand Magellan that left Spain in

search of a route.

He left with over 200 sailors and 5 ships.

Magellan’s journey was rough.

Spanish Exploration

Magellan had to deal with many problems such as

lack of food & fresh water.

He also had to deal with a small mutiny.

Magellan died in the Philippines during a battle

among native groups.

Spanish Exploration

After three years, only one ship with 18 men returned to Spain. They were the first people to circumnavigate, or

sail completely around the world.

English Exploration

Giovanni Caboto known in English as John Cabot, was

an Italian navigator and explorer commonly credited as one of the first early modern

Europeans to land on the North American mainland,

aboard the Matthew in 1497.

He was sent by Henry VII to find a northwest passage to Asia.

He landed at Newfoundland in modern Canada.

English Exploration

In 1610, an English sailor named Henry Hudson was also hired by the

British East India company to find a northwest

passage to Asia.

He accidentally ended up in what is now called the

Hudson Bay.

He began to map and explore its eastern shores.

English Exploration

His ship was stuck in the ice for sometime.

When the ice cleared, Hudson wanted to continue the journey, but his crew

rebelled.

They kicked him, his son, & some other’s off the ship &

headed home.

They were never found again.

The Outcomes of Exploration

The Kings & Queens of Europe sent out many explorers to find new

routes to Asia.

They ended up getting much more than

spices.

They ended up with many new territories and people to rule.

European Colonialism by 1763

A Clash of CulturesMany of these Kings and

Queens of Europe established colonies along

the coasts of North America, South America, &

Africa.

Many of these territories were already home to many indigenous, or native

populations.

They had ruled themselves for many years, and had

their own traditions.

Religious Conversion

All of the King’s and Queens of Europe were Christians.

Many of these rulers sent missionaries to try to

convert the natives from their traditional religions to

Christianity.

The leaders of Europe thought this might also stem the rising tide of

Islam in the world.

A Clash of CulturesAfter the arrival of the Europeans, the lives of these people would be

changed forever.

Some didn’t fight off the Europeans, others did.

The practice of one country controlling the government

and economy of another country or territory is

called imperialism, or “Empire Building.”

Colonialism is basically the same thing.

The Spread of Diseases

Many of the Europeans carried diseases from their native soil with

them to the New World.

Diseases like small pox, malaria, and

measles killed many indigenous people

who came in contact with Europeans.

Slavery

As time went on some Europeans began to use

indigenous populations as slaves.

Many Europeans began to buy slaves in western

Africa to use at home and in their colonies.

The slave trade began to grow tremendously.

Bartholomeu Dias

Vasco da Gama

Ferdinand Magellan

Christopher Columbus

John Cabot

Henry Hudson

Return to our…..Essential Question

What factors, including the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator, influenced European

nations to begin overseas exploration?