European explorers hoped to find riches in distant countries and to discover a sea route to Asia.
Search for spices (nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, etc.) and luxury goods (silk, gold, silver, jewels, ivory, porcelains, tea, etc.) from Africa and the East.
Religious aims (God)
Europeans hoped to spread Christianity to people throughout the world and to drive Muslims out of other lands.
Renaissance spirit
Europeans adventurers wanted to test the limits of human ability and to explore the unknown. Discover far away places and settle in the new lands.
Improvements in technology
Europeans began to build stronger, faster sailing ships (caravel, a ship with two sails one each for running with the wind and for sailing into the wind.
draw an astrolabe
The hull design was improved and could ride out ocean storms.
They could also put canons on the decks of these ships).
They developed better navigational instruments (astrolabe, could tell north and south of the equator by the position of the stars
ore accurate maps with the discovery of how to find the longitude.
Immediate Effects
Sailors learned more about geography (longitude, latitude, new places, etc.) and improved navigation.
The Portuguese built plantations and trading posts in West Africa and many made Africa their home.
Prince Henry of Portugal organized a school for navigation at Sagres, Portugal and taught navigators how to develop and apply the new sailing innovations.
The Portuguese discovered a sea route to India.
Bartholomew Diaz traveled to the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa. (1488)
Columbus was the first European to reach the Americas. (1492)
Vasco da Gama discovered the route to India and back 27,000 miles (1497-1499)
The Line of Demarcation was established to prevent disputes over newly discovered lands in the America’s.
The imaginary line was drawn north to south, through the Atlantic Ocean.
Spain was given possession of lands west of that line, while Portugal could claim lands to the east of the line. (1493)
Treaty of Tordesillas moved the line of Demarcation west. Portugal received Brazil as a colony. (1494)
European nations competed to establish colonies in the Americas
They expanded their wealth and power. (Gold and Glory)
Europe established sea trade with India.
Slaves
The slave trade expanded.
Epidemics killed most of the native population in the Americas and created a need for workers.
Slaves provided a quick and available solution to the need for workers.
In 1540, about 10,000 slaves per year were brought to the Americans.
In the 1700’s there were about 70,000 slaves per year.
Triangular Trade Route
A network of trading between Europe, Africa, and the Americasmade the Triangular Trade Route.
The Europeans traded goods to traders on the west coast of Africa in exchange for captured Africans.
These Africans were then transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies and merchants brought goods produced back to Europe.
Columbia Exchange
The Columbian Exchange, the global transfer of plants, animals, disease, and food brought together the Eastern and Western hemispheres and touched, in some way, nearly all the people of the world. (page 572)
Rise of Capitalism
Rise of capitalism resulted from the growth of town and city life and the expansion of trade.
C
list the 3 countries that made up the triangular trade
apitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership and use of capital (goods and services).
Rise of Mercantilism
Rise of Mercantilism resulted from economic growth and expanding royal power.
Rulers encouraged exports (sell products to other countries) and discouraged imports (buy products from other countries).
The trade with colonies was expected to supply the home country with great wealth and new products.
